JAMAHAL HILL has VACATED the UFC light-heavyweight title due to injury.
The American claimed the belt in January with a lopsided decision victory over former champion Glover Teixeira in Brazil.
GETTYJamahal Hill battered Glover Texeira in January to claim the vacant 205lbs title[/caption]
GETTYAn Achilles injury has forced Hill to vacate the title after less than six months[/caption]
YOUTUBE@CHAMPCHATPODCASTHill made the announcement on his YouTube channel[/caption]
A showdown with former titleholder and MMA fan favourite Jiri Prochazka – who gave up the belt last year after suffering a horrific shoulder injury – was understood to be on the cards for Hill.
But a ruptured Achilles has put paid to that fight and prompted Hill to relinquish the UFC‘s 205lb crown title.
He said on his YouTube channel: “Everyone knows that I’ve been waiting for months now to face Jiri Prochazka and defend my belt and my title
“[But] unfortunately we’re going to have to wait a little bit.
“I’ve ruptured my Achilles.
“It’s just one of those things that happens.
“It’s one that will require surgery and time and rehab and things to be out for a while.
“Also, with that, I was given an opportunity. I was given an opportunity. Jiri Prochazka was the champion.
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“He suffered an injury, as these things happen and he had to – he gave up the belt and allowed for others to not hold the division up, to keep the division moving forward to make sure the people had a champion. I’ll do the same.
“Right now, the biggest thing is focusing on my recovery, focusing on getting back to 100 per cent.
“I need to take some time and focus on my health and make sure that I’m 100 and make sure I’m the fighter that everyone knows I am.
“In order to do that, I need to focus on getting ready and rehabbing.”
Hill, 32, claims the UFC brass have promised him the first crack at the winner of the third consecutive vacant 205lb title fight.
UFC president Dana White and the rest of the matchmakers have a big decision to make on the future of the beltGETTY
He said: “On my road to recovery, I’ve been promised that I will fight for my title immediately as soon as I am able.
“As well as the other things that come with that. Yeah, man. It’s just part of the story.”
Hill’s relinquishing of the title has left UFC matchmakers and Dana White with a big decision to make on the future of the belt.
They could opt to put it up for grabs in former champion Jan Blachowicz’s upcoming showdown with Alex Pereira at UFC 291 later this month.
Or they could decide to wait for Hill to recover and have him fight the soon-to-be-fit Prochazka at some point next year.