If not Jiri Prochazka, Jamahal Hill eyes winner of Jan Blachowicz vs. Alex Pereira

LAS VEGAS – UFC light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill sees two options for his first title defense.

Hill (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) captured the vacant heavyweight belt at UFC 283 in January when he battered Glover Teixeira for five rounds. His next assignment was already set; former champion Jiri Prochazka (29-3-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC), who vacated his belt after suffering a severe shoulder injury which required surgery.

Growing tired of waiting, Hill previously claimed that it’s the next man up if Prochazka isn’t ready to go soon. That next man up however will not be Magomed Ankalaev. Instead, Hill has his eyes on the winner of Jan Blachowicz (29-9-1 MMA, 12-6 UFC) vs. Alex Pereira (7-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC), which takes place in the UFC 291 co-headliner on July 29 at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City.

“In my personal opinion, (Ankalaev) hasn’t earned the shot – just like Jan has to go out and get another shot, and get another win because it ended in a draw,” Hill told MMA Junkie Radio on Radio Row at UFC X during International Fight Week in Las Vegas.

“A lot of people feel Jan won that fight. Some people feel Magomed. Just because a lot of people feel that Magomed won the fight doesn’t mean he deserves a title shot. He’s in the same position that Jan is in. He needs to win another fight.”

Although he has no date or opponent finalized, Hill definitely expects to compete before the end of the year.

“One hundred percent, I expect to fight again this year,” Hill said. “I would have liked to have already fought again and been looking out to fight in another fight, but I definitely, 100 percent expect to fight before the end of this year.”