Former UFC champ announces change in weight class

Jamahal Hill, the former UFC light heavyweight champion, has announced his intention to move up to heavyweight division in pursuit of becoming a simultaneous two-division titleholder.

Hill made the announcement on his YouTube channel, explaining his reasoning for the weight class shift. The 35-year-old fighter, nicknamed "Sweet Dreams," captured the vacant light heavyweight title in January 2023 by defeating Glover Teixeira via five-round decision at UFC 283. However, he was forced to relinquish the belt after suffering an Achilles tendon rupture during a pickup basketball game.

The fighter's return to competition proved difficult. At UFC 300, he was knocked out in the first round by then-champion Alex Pereira. That setback preceded losses to Jiri Prochazka and, most recently, Khalil Rountree, who defeated Hill by unanimous decision at UFC on ABC 8 in June 2025. A knee injury has since kept Hill sidelined for several months.

Regarding his heavyweight ambitions, Hill expressed confidence that winning a title at the heavier weight class would represent a greater achievement than reclaiming his light heavyweight crown. "I think double champ is better than two-time champ," he stated. Hill has targeted rising heavyweight contender Josh Hokit, who recently defeated Derrick Lewis on the UFC White House card, as a potential opponent for his divisional debut.

Hill is targeting a return to competition by the end of 2026, with hopes of fighting at Madison Square Garden or headlining a card late in the year. If that timeline cannot be met, he indicated he would look to return in the first quarter of 2027. The move represents a significant career shift for a fighter seeking to rejuvenate his championship aspirations.