“I have no ill will towards Johnny Walker. I respect Johnny Walker. He’s been in here putting in his work, putting in his time,” Hill says, gesturing to the Octagon just behind him. “Regardless of whatever happened, it’s the job. He’s living his dream. It’s a great job. He’s just a competitor. We just got a tough question to answer: ‘Can you f*** with me?’”
That question will get answered Saturday here at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas. Hill is 3-0 here, and while he reiterates he doesn’t believe in luck, he concedes “it’s feeling homey, it’s feeling very homey.”
And on the eve of his potential breakthrough moment, Hill is careful to look around and soak it all in.
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“I’m going to make sure I enjoy this entire experience. That’s what it’s about every single time I come out to one of these things. You only have so many trips out to fight, so many times that you’re able to fight a year, so many times you’re able to fight in a career. I don’t take these moments for granted because I remember when I didn’t have them. So now I enjoy them all.
“Even the little things; just sitting, chilling, hanging out, talking to my coaches. Hanging with my son, my son [visiting] somewhere different. I take it all in. I don’t take anything for granted. I’m enjoying every single moment of it.”
Don’t miss a single round of UFC Fight Night: Walker vs Hill, live from the UFC APEX on Saturday, February 19 on ESPN+. Prelims begin at 4pm ET/1pm PT. Main card begins at 7pm ET/4pm PT.