There are hundreds of young mixed martial artists across Canada that share the goal of one day fighting in the UFC.
Most don’t ever step foot inside the Octagon.
But every now and again, someone like a Rory MacDonald, Jordan Mein, Nick Ring, Mike Ricci or Jesse Ronson comes along where within their first few pro bouts you begin to realize they’re destined to be in the UFC at some point. Their skills are too potent to deny.
Add bantamweight Josh Hill of Stoney Creek, Ont., to that list of rising stars.
Now, comparing him to a UFC contender like MacDonald is premature, but Hill has the chance to show millions what he’s capable of when he appears on The Ultimate Fighter 18.
Hill, 26, competes against 15 other men in order to secure one of eight spots on the UFC’s popular reality show, which features women’s bantamweight stars Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate as coaches this season.
Watch The Ultimate Fighter 18 every Wednesday on Sportsnet 360 starting with the season premiere on Sept. 4 and get weekly episode recaps on sportsnet.ca – Broadcast Schedule
Since making his MMA debut in 2009, Hill (9-0) has steadily progressed and the hardcore Canadian MMA fan base has seen his potential from the very early stages of his career.
Hill feels that while he still has a lot to learn, he is ready for the UFC spotlight.
“I think I’m definitely at that level now. I’m training with guys that are in the UFC and I do well with them,” Hill told sportsnet.ca.
“I know my skill set is definitely there, I’ve just got to show everybody that I can’t hold anything back. I have to show them my full skill set. My major dilemma now is I have to be more confident in my skill set and believe in myself.”
At a Score Fighting Series event in Hamilton, Ont., against Eric Wilson in March 2012, those in attendance believed it would be Hill’s final bout on the regional circuit before graduating, so to speak, to the UFC.
The atmosphere at Hamilton Place Theatre was electric from the moment Hill walked to the cage with Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” blasting through the venue.
Hill dominated Wilson from start to finish as the crowd chanted “UFC! UFC! UFC!” throughout the entire fight.
Despite the memorable performance, the North American Grappling Association champion didn’t get a shot at the UFC.
Instead, he was matched up with John Fraser in his next bout.
At the time, Fraser was on a seven-fight win streak and the two were regarded as the top two non-UFC bantamweights in the country. It was expected to be an even contest, but Hill won a fairly dominant unanimous decision.
“The fight didn’t exactly go the way I thought it would go,” Hill said. “I thought it would be a lot more back and forth.”
His fight with Fraser took place in August 2012 and Hill hasn’t had a pro bout since.
Hill was a staple of the now-defunct Score Fighting Series — arguably the best MMA promotion in Canada at the time and a home for many of Ontario’s best fighters — but after the promotion folded, Hill found it difficult to get fights.
“It sucked. It was brutal,” Hill explained.
“My manager was calling everywhere. Things just weren’t playing out. A lot of promotions didn’t want to bring me in because I don’t sell tickets out West or whatnot, like when I fight in Ontario.”
Hill said he finally managed to book a fight for July with the Aggression Fighting Championship, but when the opportunity on TUF arose, he chose to take a shot.
He was in Las Vegas at a trade show for one of his gyms when he heard that TUF 18 was holding tryouts for 135-pound fighters.
One month later he was back in Sin City trying out for TUF alongside dozens of the best prospects in MMA.
“It was a no-brainer for me,” Hill said. “I was hoping for a direct shot (at the UFC) but at the time I was having trouble finding fights in Ontario.
“The Ultimate Fighter is a great avenue. You get a lot of exposure; you get more of a fan base too.”
Hill explained that he had an open mind throughout the entire TUF process and promised himself that no matter what happened he would treat the experience as a positive.
One of the only criticisms of Hill, who has won five straight fights by decision, is his tendency to favour a grappling-based attack that focuses on control and position.
Despite his proficiency on the ground, Hill said his standup is much different and more effective than it was when he fought Fraser or Wilson.
“A lot of people see me as a wrestler even though I’ve never really wrestled in my life. I just picked it up through MMA. Striking was definitely the hardest to grasp for me. Maybe just my body frame or whatever it is, but over the last year I’ve developed it and have a totally different look to my striking now,” said Hill, who spends time training at House of Champions MMA in Hamilton with Kru Alin Halmagean and at Para Bellum MMA in Oakville.
“I’ve developed my own movement, my own way that works best for me.”
Fans will have to tune in to TUF 18 to see if Hill was able to showcase his improved striking.
No matter how far Hill makes it in the tournament – he has to fight his way into the house first — the Canadian feels his career is on an incline and is looking forward to continuing to test himself against tougher competition.
“I’m going to step up, I want to step up and keep getting higher and higher in competition.”
