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Jamahal Hill’s reign as the UFC light heavyweight champion has come to an abrupt end. The 29-year-old has suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon that will require surgery and keep him out of action for a long time. Hill revealed the news on his YouTube channel on Thursday night.
Hill said he injured his Achilles while playing basketball with some other fighters ahead of UFC 290 in Las Vegas. He said he felt a pop in his leg and knew something was wrong.
He will undergo surgery to fix the tendon, but he does not know how long he will be sidelined. A torn Achilles is one of the most serious injuries in sports, and it could take up to a year or more for Hill to recover.
Hill became the 205-pound champion in January, when he knocked out Glover Teixeira in the first round at UFC 287. He was supposed to defend his belt against former champion Jiri Prochazka later this year, but that fight is now off the table.
Hill said he decided to vacate his title because he does not want to hold up the division. He said he hopes to come back stronger and reclaim his belt in the future.
The UFC has not announced what will happen with the light heavyweight title next. There are several contenders in the division, such as Prochazka, Magomed Ankalaev, Jan Blachowicz, and Anthony Smith, who could vie for the vacant belt