Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill isn't interested in the excuses surrounding Khamzat Chimaev's loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 328.
Strickland (31-7 MMA, 18-7 UFC) reclaimed the UFC middleweight championship with a unanimous decision victory over Chimaev (15-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) in the main event in Newark, New Jersey, earning back the title he had lost to Dricus Du Plessis 15 months earlier.
In the aftermath of the fight, reports emerged that Chimaev endured a difficult weight cut before making the 185-pound limit. There has also been speculation that "Borz" could move up to the light heavyweight division in the near future.
Speaking to Home of Fight, Hill dismissed the narrative that Chimaev's weight cut should lessen the significance of Strickland's victory, arguing that making weight is part of the job.
“That's not his problem. That's his fault. That's part of the damn game. You had a bad weight cut, that's on you, mother**ker. So what?” Hill said.
Hill went on to criticize what he sees as a growing tendency among fans to diminish fighters' accomplishments after big wins.
“That's one thing I hate about this shit, bro. Everything has been about ‘how can I take away from this person's win?’”
The former UFC champion then compared the reaction to the loyalty sports fans show their teams through difficult periods, pointing to the NBA's New York Knicks as an example.
“The Knicks haven't won in 53 years. Imagine what that win means to these people, bro. That's because they've been there through the ups and the downs. That's what sports is. If you're not going to back somebody through the hard times and shit, just stay in the corner and shut the fuck up. You know what I mean?”
