Alex Pereira (image via UFC/YouTube)

By FCF Staff

Jamahal Hill has climbed to the top of the UFC’s light heavyweight mountain and secured the promotion’s title. But, according to the man who currently holds that belt, Alex Pereira, there are several light heavyweights on the UFC roster who are better than Hill.

Hill won the light heavyweight crown in January, 2023, by recording a decision win over Pereira’s training partner and friend, Glover Teixeira. But, the 32-year-old never ended up defending the title, as Hill vacated the belt after rupturing his Achilles tendon.

Fast forward to today, and Hill is set to face Pereira in the headliner of UFC 300, which is taking place on April 13th. Recently, Pereira appeared on The MMA Hour, and while doing so, the champ reported he doesn’t think Hill is one of the UFC’s top three light heavyweights (quotes via MMA Fighting.com).

“He’s not in second,” Pereira said in Portuguese. “I don’t know which position I’d put him, but at least fourth. … If I were to move up to light heavyweight today and had to make my debut and there’s Jamahal Hill, Jan Blachowicz, and Jiri Prochazka, and I had to choose the best fight for me out of those three, I’d choose Jamahal.”

The 36-year-old Pereira (9-2) won the light heavyweight title in November by stopping Jiri Prochazka in round two. The former middleweight champ was tapped for a title shot after Pereira recorded a splt decision win over Jan Blachowicz in July, 2023.

UFC 300 will be hosted by the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.