UFC 300 exclusive: Jamahal Hill annoyed by 'flat-out disrespect' ahead of Alex Pereira title showdown

Jamahal Hill is "annoyed" by the "flat-out disrespect" shown towards him in the build-up to UFC 300 in Las Vegas, where he will take on Alex Pereira in the main event, exclusively live on TNT Sports.

Pereira is the clear bookmakers' favourite for the light-heavyweight title showdown, with the Brazilian currently occupying the throne at 205 pounds following a TKO victory over Jiri Prochazka in November.

The title was vacant at that time due to Hill dropping it through injury, having damaged his Achilles tendon while playing basketball.

'Sweet Dreams' won the belt himself in January 2023, going into the lion's den and beating Glover Teixeira in Brazil via unanimous decision.

Now fighting his third Brazilian in succession and aiming to improve on his 12-1 record in the professional ranks (6-1 in UFC, following his triumph in Dana White's Contender Series), Hill is aiming to prove his doubters wrong.

The American told TNT Sports: "It's funny. It adds a little bit more. Yeah [it annoys me]. Some of it is just flat-out disrespect. It's a complete disregard for who I am and what I've done, what I've put on the line even by doing this.

"There's some annoyance, there's a chip there. I want to go in and show who I truly am at my peak form. I believe at my peak form, there's nobody close to me. I'm not going to talk you to death, I'm not going to try and convince you of anything. I'll just show it."

Hill was also keen to stress he held no ill feeling towards Pereira for capitalising on the situation last year, which saw the former relinquish his status as champion. He continued: "I've enjoyed it. I'm a fan.

"That's the reason why I stepped aside, for business to continue as usual. The show must go on, and I'm not exempt from that. I'm not a hater. I want to see people accomplish their goals. I want to see everybody make it, fulfilling their dreams.

"The division progressing only benefits me. I'm excited to see these new guys coming in, I'm excited to see these guys reinventing themselves. We're in for some great times: 205 hit the lottery. We have very solid talents and very solid fights upcoming in this division."

However, the 32-year-old Chicago native doesn't see any issue in dispatching the two-division king.

On Saturday night's outcome, he promised: "Domination. It's what I come with every time. One thing I've stood for the entire time I've stepped in this game, the entire time I've been active fighting, is domination."

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