UFC light-heavyweight champion Alex Pereira sends a snarky response to Jamahal Hill’s yawning after his win at UFC 300.

Alex Pereira won against Khalil Rountree at UFC 307. Jamahal Hill, who was watching from the crowd, sarcastically yawned, mocking Pereira’s performance. This was likely due to their history from UFC 300, where Pereira knocked Hill out. However, ‘Poatan’ had a fitting response to Hill’s gesture.

At the post-fight press conference, a reporter asked Alex Pereira what he thought about Jamahal Hill. The UFC light-heavyweight champion humorously quipped that Hill might still be sleepy from that knockout at UFC 300.

The tension between the two fighters stems from this previous match, where Hill felt disrespected by Pereira’s post-fight celebration. That sparked this ongoing rivalry between the two. While Hill has appeared eager for a rematch, Pereira has shown little interest, focusing instead on other goals like moving up to heavyweight.

Alex Pereira is asked to respond to Jamahal Hill yawning, implying the fight was boring.

Pereira: Maybe he just woke up from UFC 300.#UFC307 #Chama pic.twitter.com/iHXYrTX2fw

— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) October 6, 2024

‘Poatan’ made his UFC debut in November 2021. But within a remarkably short span, he became a two-division star. At UFC 281 in 2022, he claimed the UFC middleweight title via a TKO victory over reigning champion Israel Adesanya. He moved up to the light heavyweight division and secured a split decision victory over Jan Blachowicz followed by a TKO win over Jiri Prochazka at UFC 295 capturing the vacant light heavyweight title.

What is the beef between Jamahal Hill and Alex Pereira?
Jamahal Hill has made several unusual accusations against Pereira following their fight at UFC 300. Hill took issue with the knockout, accusing Pereira of using unsportsmanlike tactics during the match. He claimed that Pereira faked a low blow to force the referee to step in while closing the distance between them and landing the knockout punch, just a few seconds later, before even he had his concentration back (Hill’s POV).

Jamahal Hill and Alex Pereira’s beef (Image via Imago)

Hill suggested that this was a form of cheating. UFC commentator Joe Rogan echoed the same, pointing out that Pereira did not reset fully after the referee intervened. Pereira, on the other hand, has dismissed Hill’s accusations. He appears unfazed by Hill’s complaints and has focused on his upcoming fights.

Jamahal Hill comments on Herb Dean not separating him and Alex Pereira during the final sequence of their fight:

“In the moment… I stopped, and you can see Alex continues to close the distance on me.

I understand it’s a cool moment… it wasn’t a groin strike, and him closing… pic.twitter.com/VynBriNQye

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) April 25, 2024

The situation is further complicated by allegations that Pereira might have used a racial slur against Hill during the post-fight taunting. Nevertheless, the beef between the two fighters has only intensified as both continue to trade verbal jabs.