On Saturday night, in their final showdown at UFC 300, Alex Pereira and Jamahal Hill looked into each other’s eyes and predicted each other’s elimination.
Hill fought off a reception in Las Vegas in the face of boos from the crowd and talked about his comeback from a potentially career-ending Achilles injury.
“This means everything to me,” he told UFC commentator Joe Rogan after exchanging looks with champion Pereira. “No matter how you boo or how you feel, what I lost, what I almost lost, what happened to me, what I actually lost, that’s what’s on my mind. It lit a fire in me.
“Anyway, I’m coming to leave everything there. I’m really happy to be back.”
Hill groaned and stepped away from the microphone, clearly still excited about the showdown.
Meanwhile, Pereira promised at the press conference for Saturday’s event that he would make his first-time light heavyweight title challenger pay for his disrespect. Hill dangled the stone head that Pereira had been using to promote himself and slammed it to the ground after a heated confrontation.
This was in contrast to the friendly exchange of handshakes and autographs that Hill had asked for earlier in game week. Pereira made it clear that he was not happy with this turn.
“Well, fighting at UFC 300 is a great opportunity,” Pereira said through an interpreter. “It’s a big opportunity. I’m very excited. A few days ago this guy told me he respects me and even asked me to sign his shirt, and I did the same thing yesterday. But He’s going to have a great day tomorrow.”
Pereira and Hill headline UFC 300 on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Pereira defended his belt by knocking out Jiri Prochaska at UFC 295 to win the vacant title. Hill is hoping to regain the belt he lost when he vacated the title after being sidelined for 15 months with an Achilles tendon injury following his dominant title fight. Glover Teixeira at UFC 283.
