Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill is facing a misdemeanor aggravated domestic violence charge after allegedly assaulting his brother earlier this week.
Hill, 32, was picked up by the Kent County Sheriff’s Department this past Monday, following an altercation with his brother that resulted in “serious or aggravated injury upon him.” News of Hill’s arrested was first reported by TMZ on Friday.
James Anthony Hill Jr., the fighter’s brother, was described in that report as “a resident or former resident” of Jamahal Hill’s home.
Not long after the news broke, Hill’s management agency, Sucker Punch Entertainment, released a statement saying that Hill maintains his innocence, while referencing the alleged dispute with his brother.
“The recent ‘click bait’ headlines about [Jamahal Hill] were based on an alleged dispute between him and his older brother. Jamahal adamantly maintains his innocence and denies the false accusations,” read the statement, posted to Twitter/X. “We will not be commenting anymore about this until the truth comes out in court.”
Hill was arraigned via video, Cageside Press has confirmed, and has since been released with his next hearing set for January 22, 2024. A settlement conference was also scheduled for March 4, and a jury trial date of March 20, 2024 penciled in, though that is subject to change.
Jamahal Hill captured the UFC light heavyweight championship when he defeated Glover Teixeira in January 2022. Hill then vacated the title after rupturing his Achilles tendon, which led to another former champ, Jiri Prochazka, facing Alex Pereira for the vacant title at UFC 295. Pereira won his second UFC championship via TKO in the second round, setting up a showdown between himself and Hill.
