Donte Johnson credits Jamahal Hill for advice ahead of UFC 330

Donte Johnson will step into the cage again soon with the kind of momentum that can be hard to manufacture from scratch, and he says a new relationship has helped. Johnson, who is scheduled to compete for his third UFC bout since last November, told Yahoo Sports that he has found a “newfound pal” and mentor in former UFC champion Jamahal Hill, and that Hill’s advice has shaped Johnson’s approach heading into UFC 330.

The story Johnson describes is less about tactical secrets and more about preparation and perspective. Hill, a former titleholder, is presented by Johnson as someone who understands the mental demands of competing at the highest level and the way a fighter has to manage expectations while still treating every training day and media moment as part of the job.

Johnson’s comments position Hill as more than a friendly face in the gym. According to Johnson, Hill’s guidance has been practical, giving him a clearer sense of what to prioritize as he narrows his focus toward the specific pressures of UFC 330. That includes maintaining discipline when the noise around a fight grows louder, and staying grounded in the basics rather than chasing distractions.

For Johnson, the UFC itself is still a relatively new environment. His upcoming appearance will mark another step in what has been a compressed run of Octagon experience since last November, a stretch that typically requires fighters to adjust quickly to higher pace, deeper scouting, and the reality that each fight can change how fans, coaches, and matchmaking evaluate them.

Hill’s role in this narrative also reflects how champions often become informal teachers even after their own championship runs end. Hill remains a recognizable figure in the promotion due to his history at the championship level, and Johnson’s framing suggests that Hill is helping him think like someone who can handle both the emotional swing and the tactical demands that come with being featured on a major UFC event.

While Johnson’s remarks highlight Hill’s influence, the specifics of how that advice will translate inside the Octagon are still not fully detailed. Without additional confirmed details about Johnson’s opponent, bout circumstances, or any measurable changes to his training plan, the best interpretation is that Hill’s guidance is aimed at process, not at a single moment or technique.

What to watch next is whether the “mentor” effect shows up in Johnson’s fight execution and composure. UFC 330 is the immediate test, but Johnson’s longer-term challenge will be to convert any off-cage stabilization into consistent, measurable performance across multiple rounds and changing fight dynamics. For Hill, the question is whether his mentorship continues to resonate as Johnson moves further into the UFC and faces the sharper end of the promotion’s matchmaking.