Jamahal Hill after his win over Johnny Walker (Credits: MMA Junkie)
Jamahal Hill is all geared up for his upcoming clash against Glover Teixeira
UFC 283 is set to be headlined by Jamahal Hill and Glover Teixeira for the vacant light heavyweight throne. The promotion will return to Brazil for the first time since March 2020’s UFC Fight Night: Lee vs. Oliveira, which took place in Brasilia. After Ibaneis Rocha, the governor of the Federal District, announced that large gatherings had been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this event took place behind closed doors.
Jamahal Hill is relishing the opportunity to fight Glover Teixeira and more importantly, is raring to make the best out of his maiden title shot. Teixeira was originally scheduled to challenge then-champion Jiri Procházka in a rematch at UFC 282, but Procházka withdrew due to a serious shoulder injury and vacated the title.
The UFC changed the main event between former champion Jan Bachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev into the new title fight for the vacant belt after Teixeira refused to fight Magomed Ankalaev. The organization decided to book Teixeira and Hill after that contest ended in a split draw.
Previewing the upcoming clash on his Instagram channel, Jamahal Hill wrote:
“Up can’t sleep in my head, ready for war I long to hear that cage lock with Glover Teixeira across from me!!! I wish y’all could feel this fire burning in me but the real one know how I’m coming and it’s demon time when I’m locked in!!!#UFC283 #ANDNEW”
The UFC’s light heavyweight division is in a state of transition. After Jan Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev fought to a split draw in the main event of UFC 282, UFC president Dana White decided to put the vacant title up for grabs at the first pay-per-view of 2023.
White announced that Glover Teixeira vs. Jamaal Hill has been added to UFC 283, with the title at stake. White did note that the fight had been verbally agreed upon and that contracts were still required.
Speaking about the fight in the UFC 282 post-fight press conference, Dana White said:
“I don’t even know. I started to zone out after like f****ng three rounds. What are you going to do? I thought the main event was terrible. What are you going to do? You do Glover vs. Jamahal Hill in Brazil for the vacant title. Done.”
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