Alex Pereira, the former kickboxing champion who made his UFC debut, delivered a devastating left hook that knocked out Jamahal Hill in the first round of their title fight at UFC 300. However, it was Pereira’s celebration that caught Hill’s attention.
Hill, the former light heavyweight champion, took umbrage with Pereira’s post-fight antics. While Pereira respected his mentor Glover Teixeira after defeating him for the vacant light heavyweight title at UFC 283, he expected the same respect from Hill. Instead, Hill reacted nearly two months later, prompting Pereira’s bemusement.
“To be honest, I don’t get why he’s doing this so late,” Pereira told Fox Sports Australia through an interpreter. “It’s been almost two months. People usually do that right away, but maybe he just woke up from the knockout.”
Alex Pereira and Jamahal Hill exchanged words on Hill's latest social media post 👀 pic.twitter.com/f5vQGHd0dk
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) June 6, 2024
Alex Pereira Opens Up on Jamahl Hill’s Disrespectful Approach Prior To Their Fight
Pereira emphasized the principle of reaping what one sows, highlighting Hill’s more disrespectful approach during the lead-up to their fight. He took a shot at Hill, saying,
“It’s kind of like you harvest what you seed,” Pereira said. “During Glover’s fight, he was respectful. Glover, he got respect at the end. With us, he was a bit more disrespectful – so he got what he put on.”
As Alex Pereira targets a rematch with Jiri Prochazka, whom he knocked out to claim the vacant 205-pound title at UFC 295, Hill will face Carlos Ulberg at UFC 303 on June 29.