Jamahal Hill suffers ruptured Achilles, relinquishes UFC Light Heavyweight title

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is once again without a Light Heavyweight champion. Indeed, late Thursday evening (July 13, 2023), Jamahal Hill announced on his YouTube channel that he ruptured his Achilles tendon and has relinquished his Light Heavyweight championship.

“I have unfortunately suffered an injury — I’ve ruptured my Achilles,” Hill said. “This is one of those things that happens, you know, it’s a tough injury. It will require surgery. It will require time, rehab, and things for me to be out for awhile.

“So also with that, you know, I was given an opportunity, I was given a blessing, you know, and that came at the misfortune of someone else,” Hill continued. “Jiri Prochazka was the champion, and he suffered an injury — he gave up the belt to allow the division to keep moving forward. To keep it entertaining, to make sure that people had a champion. And I’ll do the same.

“Right now, the biggest thing is focusing on my recovery, focusing on getting back to 100 perfect,” Hill concluded. “I need to take some time to focus on my health and make sure that I’m 100 perfect and I’m gonna fight it.”

Hill, 32, won UFC’s 205-pound belt in Jan. 2023, defeating Glover Teixeira at UFC 283 in Brazil. He has been waiting for former division champion, Jiri Prochazka, to return after he suffered a horrible shoulder injury.

“Sweet Dreams” thanked UFC for taking care of him and revealed that he was promised an immediate title shot when he returns to action.

“On my road to recovery, I’ve been promised that I will fight for my title immediately as soon as I am able,” Hill said. “As well as the other things that come with that.”

Unfortunately for fight fans, UFC — seemingly waiting for Prochazka to get healthy — hasn’t done a great job teeing up another contender for the Light Heavyweight belt. Former champion, Jan Blachowicz, is is set to fight Alex Pereira at UFC 291 later this month (details here). And No. 2-seeded contender, Magomed Ankalaev, hasn’t fought since a dreadful draw against Blachowicz.

Aleksandar Rakic? Ugh.

The winner of Blachowicz vs. Periera against the returning Prochazka appears to be the most logical path forward, but only time will tell.

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