Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill was arrested and charged with one count of misdemeanor aggravated domestic violence late last month in Kentwood, Michigan, following a holiday altercation with his brother, James Anthony Hill, who was contracted by “Sweet Dreams” to clean his vacant home.
According to the police report obtained by MMA Fighting, Hill floored his brother with two separate strikes, including a “sucker punch,” knocking a tooth out and causing “significant swelling.” The altercation, which reportedly took place in front of Hill’s three children, was later corroborated by an unidentified witness.
The report also states that James accused Jamahal of “being disrespectful to women and abandoning his own daughter” before getting struck. The arrest did not take place until later in the evening after Jamahal failed to respond to texts from his brother asking for an apology. In addition, James “debated whether or not to call the police” because he “didn’t want to ruin Jamahal’s UFC fighting career.”
Jamahal, 32, recently posted his own statement online (read it here) insisting “the truth will be told in court.” Since Hill was already out of action with a torn achilles tendon and not expected to return to UFC until mid-2024, his current legal matters are unlikely to interfere with his fighting future, barring unforeseen circumstances.
When Hill does return, the promotion is expected to book him against newly-crowned light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira. “Poatan” captured the vacant title (with this second-round knockout) after “Sweet Dreams” vacated the strap due to his debilitating injury. A timeline for that championship showdown has yet to be established.
Hill returns to court to answer for his charges in January.