The first PPV main event of 2023 featured forty-three year old former champ Glover Teixeira taking on rising star Jamahal Hill at UFC 283 in Rio de Janeiro, home turf for Teixiera.
Glover won the belt in 2021 but lost it in 2022’s ‘Fight of the Year’ against Jiri Prochazka. A truly wild set of events took place to make this fight happen, with Jiri getting hurt, vacating the belt, and the ensuing title fight ending in a disappointing draw last month at UFC 282. Before the end of the night, the UFC had booked Teixeira versus Hill for the main event of 283, and preparations began. It seemed likely heading into Saturday night that Glover would be looking to take down Jamahal and utilize his jiu-jitsu while Hill would look to use his knockout power to take out the elder statesman of the division.
The first round began with Teixeira feinting a takedown. Only ten seconds later he shot a real attempt and was stuffed but ended up in the clinch. Hill broke free and landed a monster knee on the break. Hill used his long legs to kick and knee at Glover’s body and legs from range for a while after that. Glover then had yet another single leg shot stuffed before eating a massive straight right hand from Jamahal, then a massive three piece combo. Glover was not out of it though, as he fired back and landed with shots of his own, but Hill was out ahead early on. An eye poke from Teixeira paused action but only momentarily. When they resumed, Hill stuffed another takedown despite Glover getting in deep on his hips. Teixeira pressured forward for the rest of his round and the fighters each landed good shots in the last ten seconds of a round that Hill clearly won.
Round two saw Glover pressuring forward behind his lead hand until Jamahal returned the favor from round one by eye poking the Brazilian early on. Glover got back to action after a short break while saying, “One to one.” Teixeira came back to the fight with a vengeance but Hill turned it back around on him and hurt the former champ. Glover shelled up against the fence but was able to stay alive. While bleeding from his face he stormed forward with shots of his own, landing on the younger fighter and opening up a cut on Hill’s face as well. The fight started to turn into a barn-burner, with both fighters landing big shots. Halfway through the round Glover was able to finally get Hill to the ground. They were against the fence with Glover in side control. Hill got mounted briefly but was able to get his guard back. Hill managed to use the fence to get back to his feet with one minute left in the round. Jamahal unloaded on Glover briefly but by the end of the round Glover had gained the front foot and was on the attack when the bell rang.
Glover opened round three with a single leg takedown and then switched to a double leg against the fence. Hill was able to use an over-under to defend and get back to striking range. Jamahal switched from trying to land bombs to pumping his jab out and touching the face of Glover, from both stances. A big head kick was partially blocked but still wobbled Glover, who staggered backwards across the cage and then fell to his back. Hill looked to slam down ground and pound on top of the Brazilian, who barely survived massive blows for over a minute as Mark Goddard looked on. Glover’s face was masked in blood. Eventually Hill let Glover up so he could take him on in striking again. Teixeira just kept marching forward, despite being seriously beat up. Hill began to show signs of tiring but the pace of his striking only decreased slightly. Jamahal ended the round with a big knee to the head and a follow up right hand at the buzzer.
Hill came out southpaw for the championship rounds. A big knee in the clinch landed from Hill early on. Teixeira tried to turn it into a takedown but failed yet again. Another big high kick from Jamahal wobbled Glover despite hitting the guard, but he still stayed in the fight, somehow. Glover looked done at one point as he retreated but then he came back with a two punch combo that hurt Hill somewhat. That emboldened him and made him march forward again momentarily, but the blood pouring down from above his eyes made him dab at his head and back up soon after. Hill swarmed with strikes that hurt Teixeira but Glover fought back when urged to from Mark Goddard. But that was not enough to get Hill off him as the American swarmed more, landing big punches and knees in the clinch which devastated the former champ. The blood from the eyebrows made it almost impossible for Glover to see as the fourth round ended.
One of Glover’s cornermen, John Hackleman, wanted to stop the fight between rounds but it was not to be. After a doctor’s examination, Teixeira came back out for the final round. The first thirty seconds saw Glover shoot a takedown, get stuffed, but then chain that attempt into a successful outside trip which let him get on top in half guard. Glover worked to pass half guard and got into full mount with three minutes left in the fight. Hill was able to sneak out from underneath Glover’s legs as Teixeira got too high in the mount. Jamahal got on top in half guard then and rained down elbows which cut the already wide open forehead of Teixeira. Glover eventually worked to get up and Hill let him, choosing to go back to striking. Teixeira pressed forward in the final minute, looking for a desperation knockout as Hill retreated. Glover tried to goad him into attacking by calling him on but Hill was not to be baited into needless risk.
Hill broke the record for most significant strikes by a fighter in a light heavyweight fight which went the distance, previously held by Marvin Vettori. Jamahal Hill broke down in tears, later screaming to the sky before the scorecards were even read, knowing he had just done enough to become champion. Bruce Buffer read the scorecards and all three had a clean sweep for Hill, with a 10-8 round thrown in for good measure. Hill collapsed to his knees and sobbed once more as the belt was wrapped around his waist.
The emotions are sinking in for Jamahal Hill ahead of the official decision #UFC283 pic.twitter.com/q4IuvCFDZy
— UFC (@ufc) January 22, 2023
Following the bout, Teixeira announced his retirement, saying he would focus on coaching Alex Pereira. He added that it was an honor to retire on the same night as legendary fellow UFC light heavyweight champion Shogun Rua.
Official Result: Jamahal Hill def. Glover Teixiera by Unanimous Decision (50-44, 50-44, 50-44)
