The light-heavyweight title is once again up for grabs due to a serious injury blow after current champion Jamahal Hill announced that he is having to step aside in order to undergo surgery for a ruptured achilles tendon.
“I have unfortunately suffered an injury. I’ve ruptured my Achilles. Yeah,” a clearly emotional Hill said in a video on his YouTube channel. “This is one of those things that happens, you know, it’s a tough injury. It will require surgery. It will require time, rehab, and things for me to be out for a while.
“So also with that, you know, I was given an opportunity, I was given a blessing, you know, and that came at the misfortune of someone else. Jiri Prochazka was the champion, and he suffered an injury…he gave up the belt to allow the division to keep moving forward. To keep it entertaining, to make sure that people had a champion. And I’ll do the same.
“Right now, the biggest thing is focusing on my recovery, focusing on getting back to 100 perfect. I need to take some time to focus on my health and make sure that I’m 100 perfect and I’m gonna fight it.”
It’s a highly unusual and unfortunate situation for two champions in a row to be forced to vacate the title due to serious injuries and it once again throws the division into uncertainty, with everyone now looking to see what the UFC’s plans are in terms of a potential fight for the vacant belt in the coming months.
