Jamahal Hill wanted to prove himself as a light heavyweight contender, and he did it with authority.
With one perfectly placed punch, Hill (10-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) knocked out Johnny Walker (18-7 MMA, 4-4 UFC) in the first round. It took him less than three minutes to get the job done in his first UFC main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
“(The title is) definitely what I want,” Hill said in his post-fight interview. “I’m ready to come for that. But right now, we’re going to see. I’m going to take a look at the division and see what’s up and get with everybody. I’m going to get with the head bosses and see what makes sense.”
Walker kicked to the body early, then went up high. A minute in, he tried a sinning attack, but Hill saw it coming and countnered with a right hand. Hill circled to the right and pulled Hill into a high right kick. After a scramble on the feet, Walker clinched Hill up and pushed him to the fence. Hill broke away with a knee, then threw a pair of lefts. Hill stalked Walker down and kept him backing up midway through the frame.
But out of nowhere, Hill drilled Walker with a right hand to the temple. Walker fell back immediately and was out.
“I’m feeling great,” Hill said. “I just wanted to come out here and show myself again and show what I can do. It’s time to start having a different kind of conversation, because you all are asking the wrong questions about me. ‘Where’s he going next?’ How good am I for real? Stop doubting. Start believing, ’cause it’s for real.”
Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 201 results include:
- Jamahal Hill def. Johnny Walker via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 2:55
- Kyle Daukaus def. Jamie Pickett via submission (D’Arce choke) – Round 1, 4:59
- Parker Porter def. Alan Baudot via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Jim Miller def. Nikolas Motta via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 1:58
- Joaquin Buckley def. Abdul Razak Alhassan via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- David Onama def. Gabriel Benitez via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 4:24
- Stephanie Egger def. Jessica-Rose Clark via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 3:44
- Chas Skelly def. Mark Striegl via TKO (knee, punches) – Round 2, 2:01
- Gloria de Paula def. Diana Belbita via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Chad Anheliger def. Jesse Strader via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 3:33
- Jonathan Pearce def. Christian Rodriguez via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Mario Bautista def. Jay Perrin via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
