UFC 300 News: Jamahal Hill Argues He’s the ‘True Champ’, Not 'Steward' Alex Pereira

'Sweet Dreams' re-enters the title conversation in the UFC 300 headliner.

Jamahal Hill isn't happy with #1 contender status.

For the former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and top-ranked contender, he prefers the throne. After winning the vacant title at UFC 283 over Glover Teixeira, Hill was forced to relinquish his title last summer after rupturing his Achilles. 

One road to recovery later and Hill finds himself fighting to reclaim gold at UFC 300 vs. newly crowned champion Alex Pereira. 

UFC 300 News: Jamahal Hill Addresses Health Concerns Before Return Fight

Hill wants some more respect on his name heading into the headliner, after all, the 12-1 fighter never lost the belt to anyone. 

"This number 1 ranked light heavyweight just don't seem right to me," Hill told

The Schmo

. "True champ. [I'm] the true champ.

"Just had to have a steward sit on the throne for a little bit. I wasn't well. I believe there's a policy, right? Whenever the president gets sick or he's dealing with some stuff, vice president takes over for a while. Although he is acting as the president, he is not such."

Like Hill, upcoming opponent Pereira won the vacant title over former champion Jiri Prochazka at UFC 295. 'Poatan' put on quite the performance in New York City, TKO'ing Prochazka in two rounds.

Pereira was thought to make his first title defense in his native country of Brazil against Hill, but when the promotion needed a main event for UFC 300, it was Pereira and Hill who stepped up to the plate.

"Originally, the plan was to fight in in Rio at [UFC] 301, but, plans change. Call was made, and here we are now, headlining 300."

Still, though, that won't stop Pereira from planning a quick turnaround at UFC 301, should he come out on top (and rather unscathed) against Hill. 

UFC 300 News: Alex Pereira Plots Speedy Return After Title Defense vs. Jamahal Hill

'Sweet Dreams' wants to bring the Brazilian back to reality.

"It's a funny statement to me," Hill said of Pereira's comments. "That's a funny statement to me. If you think you won't take any damage at all, even if you were somehow to win, the fact that you think you were taking no damage is crazy."

We'll see how much damage piles up along with who the real champion is at UFC 300 on Apr. 13 when Alex Pereira and Jamahal Hill collide for the light heavyweight title. 

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