Jamahal Hill abandons light heavyweight to chase UFC double-champion status

Jamahal Hill is done with light heavyweight. The former UFC champion announced on his YouTube channel that he is moving up to heavyweight, setting his sights on becoming a double champion rather than a two-time titleholder at 205 pounds.

“I’m going to go ahead and say it now: I’m going to heavyweight,” Hill said. “It’s been something I’ve been working on now for a few months, putting on the necessary weight and putting on the muscle and everything like that to move up.”

Hill, 35, last competed in June 2025, when he suffered a unanimous decision loss to Khalil Rountree in the UFC on ABC 8 main event. A knee injury has kept him out of action since. The setback to Rountree was the third consecutive defeat of his career, following losses to Jiri Prochazka and then-champion Alex Pereira, who stopped him via first-round KO at UFC 300.

Hill’s light heavyweight run peaked at UFC 283 in January 2023, when he claimed the vacant title with a five-round decision over Glover Teixeira. He was forced to relinquish the belt before defending it after rupturing his Achilles tendon in a pickup basketball game.

The appeal of a heavyweight title, Hill explained, outweighs the prospect of reclaiming what he once held. “Wouldn’t it be better if I came back and went and won the heavyweight title? I think that means more than winning the light heavyweight title again. I like the way double champ sounds.”

Hill has identified fast-rising heavyweight Josh Hokit as a potential first opponent in the new division. Hokit recently stopped Derrick Lewis on the UFC White House card and represents a credible proving ground for a fighter making his debut at the heavier weight.

On his return timeline, Hill was cautious but optimistic, expressing a desire to fight at Madison Square Garden or headline a card before the end of 2026. “I would really like to fight on the MSG card,” he said. “That’s the plan, to come back in 2026 at the latest. If we can’t figure nothing out with that, beginning of the year, first quarter, right at the beginning for sure.”