Jamahal Hill took a major step toward contention with his victory over former title challenger Thiago Santos in the UFC on ESPN 40 headliner, but “Sweet Dreams” nonetheless believes there is plenty of room for improvement.
“I’m happy with the win, but I’m not happy with my performance. I need to get back to the drawing board and do a much, much better job. That’s what I’m going to do,” Hill said at Saturday’s post-fight press conference. “Always look to improve. Always need to get better. Always. So even if it’s the smallest thing or it could be something really small and stupid, I still need to improve on it.”
The action was fast and furious at times between the two light heavyweights at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, and that’s one area that Hill would like to work on. While Hill ultimately outlanded his opponent by an 89-to-53 count in significant strikes, those moments where he engaged in a slugfest could leave him vulnerable.
“[I need to] be a little bit more patient. Don’t get drawn into that firefight,” Hill said. “I got that dog in me sometimes so I can get drawn into it so just stay disciplined. Stay disciplined.”
While Hill and Santos traded wildly at times, “Marreta” also adopted a wrestling-heavy approach that led to him shooting for 20 takedowns in the fight. In the third round alone, he grounded Hill five times, but those efforts took a noticeable toll on his gas tank. In the fourth round, Hill poured it on and earned a stoppage with punches and elbows at the 2:31 mark. Santos has lost five of his last six UFC appearances — but all of those defeats have come against high-caliber opposition.
“I expected a war,” Hill said. “I expected a man that’s been up at the top and fighting in battles at the top, fighting and battling the top guys to not quit. To not back down, to not give an inch in there and to bring it. I made mistakes and he made me pay for them. I’m coming. I don’t stop. I don’t know how to stop coming.”
Hill is in the midst of a three-fight winning streak that also includes first-round knockouts of Johnny Walker and Jimmy Crute. He has lost just once — a TKO defeat to Paul Craig at UFC 263 — in seven Octagon appearances overall. Hill now has his sights set on the top of the division, including reigning 205-pound champion Jiri Prochazka.
“I want a shot at Jiri. I’ve been calling for Jiri for about two years now,” Hill said. “I want him. I don’t care if he’s the champion. I’ve got twice as many wins as he does in this organization. I want him.
“I can’t get him, give me the man that used to sit on the throne. I’ll take Jan [Blachowicz]. I’m hungry. I want gold. The lion is hungry for gold. Present or former.”
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