FILE – US Jamahal Hill celebrates victory over Brazilian Glover Teixera after their fight for the light heavyweight title at the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event at the Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on January 21, 2023. (Photo by MAURO PIMENTEL / AFP)
LAS VEGAS — UFC light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill will relinquish his title after rupturing his Achilles tendon.
Hill said on his YouTube page late Thursday that the injury will require surgery and lengthy rehabilitation.
“If I had my choice, would I like to give up the belt?” he said. “No, I wouldn’t. You got to be consistent. I understand, it’s the business. The show must go on. I’m not exempt from that.”
Hill won the then-vacant light heavyweight title by beating Glover Teixeira at UFC 283 in January and had planned to defend it against former champion Jiří Procházka. Procházka previously held the title before vacating it due to a shoulder injury last year.
Hill was on a four-fight win streak and is 12-1 overall.