The sport of MMA is as unforgiving as it is rewarding. Fighters often go through incredibly difficult circumstances leading up to their bouts. According to UFC light heavyweight Anthony Smith, his friend Jamahal Hill endured an especially excruciating road to his ill-fated UFC 303 clash against Carlos Ulberg.
Anthony Smith talked about Jamahal Hill’s condition in a recent video posted by Michael Bisping on his YouTube channel. He provided some sobering behind-the-scenes details on Hill’s painful setback. Smith revealed Hill withdrew from UFC 303 due to justifiable reasons.
I don’t wanna tell his business too much but he was battling through some stuff and he was really struggling the last couple days…He was in a lot of pain and he was struggling… He called me and… we just kind talked about it and he wasn’t able do it. He just couldnt, not at the highest level where he could be successful.
Anthony Smith via Michael Bisping YT
While intense training camps are certainly par for the course, Jamahal Hill‘s struggle seemed to go far beyond the usual aches and pains. A knee injury bothered the former light heavyweight champion in the lead-up to the fight. The details by Smith paint a portrait of an athlete pushing himself to the absolute brink, desperate to honor his commitment to fight.
However, as Smith explains it, the pain became too overwhelming, the risk too extreme, forcing Hill’s hand. Hill is currently coming off a KO loss to Alex Periera at UFC 300. His next fight will probably decide how he ranks in the highly competitive light heavyweight division. As for now, Smith will now take Hill’s place and face Carlos Ulberg at UFC 303.
Anthony Smith doesn’t believe the fight against Carlos Ulberg is ‘short-notice’
The UFC’s best-laid plans continued crumbling in the lead-up to UFC 303. Khalil Rountree withdrew from the co-main event, then Conor McGregor withdrew, and Jamahal Hill soon followed. The officials turned to veteran light heavyweight Anthony Smith to replace Hill against Carlos Ulberg. Smith has remained active throughout his career and accepted the short-notice matchup.
Anthony Smith gives his take on fighting Carlos Ulberg (via X/ Sports Illustrated)According to “Lionheart” himself, taking the assignment against Carlos Ulberg on just over two week’s notice wasn’t as daunting as it may have seemed. The veteran fighter revealed that he didn’t see this fight as a short-notice bout.
I really don’t look at this as a short-notice fight because we were on this journey… I’m already in good shape, I have already been thinking about Carlos Ulberg for like 4 weeks… My whole team in Omaha is Carlos Ulberg-centred already.
Anthony Smith via Michael Bisping YT
The confident stance seemed to stem from Smith’s training with Jamahal Hill for his now-canceled fight against Ulberg. Smith said he sparred well with Hill and remains in shape to accept any short-notice bout. Moreover, he felt less pressure to take the bout and believes he will win at UFC 303.
