Jamahal Hill didn’t have the best night at UFC 300. He was knocked out in the first round, with Alex Pereira being one of the night’s highlights. As a result, his dignity was shattered, along with his face. That’s never a fun time.
However, life works in funny ways. A successful person learns from their mistakes, picking themselves up and looking at what they did wrong. For Hill, this is the perfect learning opportunity as he strives for greatness.
So what hard lessons can “Sweet Dreams” learn so he doesn’t have… sweet dreams again? What takeaways can Hill grab so he can become a better fighter? Here’s a breakdown of the Grand Rapids native’s performance at UFC 300.
What Jamahal Hill Did Wrong
Alex Pereira is well-known for not being a rash fighter. He’s extremely patient and waits for his opponent to make the first move. He did this against Jiri Prochazka to win the title and had resounding success against Jamahal Hill in this fight.
When Hill took a crack at striking Pereira in the first round, he left himself wide open to a barrage. Therefore, “Poatan” took advantage and the champion did his best Khaby Lame impersonation.
Leaving yourself open to a devastating counter is a recipe for disaster, specifically if it’s the face. The opponent can do serious damage and end the fight, even if the fighter’s guard is down for a second. Just look at what happened to Justin Gaethje in the fifth round against Max Holloway.
What Hill Can Do Instead
One thing the former light heavyweight champion can do is read his fighter better. Trying to anticipate when an opponent strikes is never easy. MMA isn’t like poker (or Punch-Out), where the fighter has a specific tell. Alex Pereira isn’t going to nudge his eyebrows like Piston Honda, after all. Therefore, it’s on Hill to turn the tables.
Jamahal Hill also isn’t the type of person who takes people to the ground. “Sweet Dreams” is a pure striker, letting his fists (and feet) do the talking. Therefore, well-timed strikes and using Pereira’s strategy against him would’ve worked better.
Otherwise, the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion made the Grand Rapids native look one-dimensional. By taking away his striking ability, Pereira put “Sweet Dreams” in a deep slumber. But this is a learning opportunity for Hill. Sometimes in life, painful lessons must be learned to become the best person possible. For Hill, UFC 300 can help him grow and develop into one of the best fighters in the promotion.
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