Rio de Janeiro – UFC light heavyweight Jamahal Hill went from fighting on another fight night card to headlining a major pay-per-view in Brazil against former champion Glover Teixeira on Saturday night at UFC 283.
Fighting in Brazil really hasn’t brought anything negative for the title challenger who has taken time to walk around Rio with his team.
“It’s great here. Love the weather, love sights, everything. Awesome weather and all that,” Hill told reporters on Wednesday.
Being in enemy territory, fighting a Brazilian in Brazil, hasn’t really been Hill’s experience during fight week.
“Haven’t felt that way at all. It’s been nothing but love. It’s great vibes, great energy. I’m really happy to be here,” he said.
Hill (11-1) never really put in much thought as to where his first title opportunity was going to take place, but he knew that regardless of location he had to be prepared for anything.
“You just got to be prepared for anything. It’s just one of those things that it’s the fight game. Things change on a dime just like in a fight things change on a dime. Just got to be ready to adapt and adjust to anything,” he said.
Fighting a former champion and MMA legend in Teixeira is not lost on Hill who had nothing but respect for his opponent.
“I think he’s a OG of the game. He’s been around for a long time for a reason. You can’t be doing what you do at his age and not be one of the best of all time,” said Hill.
“(I’m) just hungry bro. Hungry ready for the kill. Whenever I’m in a face-off or whenever I’m in the cage you see the difference in my eyes. It’s a competitor. It’s a competitor, it’s a killer.”
The advantages, to a fan, would be quite clear between Teixeira’s ground game and Hill’s stand up. Hill knows it doesn’t really matter in the end as he takes on one of the greatest of all time.
“There are no easy fights in the UFC. Specially at this level. Nah I don’t really look at it that way. I just look at it I just need to be sharp everywhere, and be on point and on my game and implement myself, and do me,” he said.
As far as the crowd on fight night goes Hill was unfazed.
“I don’t care. The crowd can’t fight for him. It doesn’t matter to me. However he feels it don’t matter. I’m going to do what I do and we’re going to see what he can take,” said Hill.
Watch the entire media day scrum with Jamahal Hill above. Hill takes on Glover Teixeira for the UFC light heavyweight title as the headliner of UFC 283 on Saturday night in Rio.
