UFC strawweight contender Angela “Overkill” Hill has confirmed she plans to compete in the upcoming ADCC East Coast Trials, scheduled for November 15th and 16th, as she continues to evolve her grappling game alongside her MMA career.
“I’d love it. Now that I understand the rules a little bit more, I feel like I could at least get past the first match,” Hill said regarding her intentions to compete at the prestigious submission grappling tournament.
Hill’s previous ADCC trial experience wasn’t ideal. “My ADCC trial last time was kind of a dud. I got penalized and then I couldn’t pass,” she explained in interview to Alex Wendling. However, that experience proved valuable for her development. “That match actually forced me to get better at passing guard and I feel like every time I get out there and compete, I learn a little something that makes my MMA game a lot better.”
Currently ranked 12th in the UFC strawweight division, Hill has been actively working to enhance her jiu-jitsu skills at multiple training facilities in San Diego. “I’ve been grinding in the jiu-jitsu department. I’ve been training with Alliance a lot,” she said. She also mentioned training at Tenth Planet with PJ Barch and working with Justin Flores, as well as wrestling sessions with Bellator veteran Phil Davis.
The 38-year-old believes her grappling improvements have already begun changing perceptions about her skills. “The funny thing is people keep forgetting that I grapple in my fights. They’re like, ‘Oh yeah, Angela Hill, she’s a striker,'” Hill noted. “And then I get the takedowns, I get the top position, I go for submissions.”
Hill’s submission game was showcased in her performance against Loma Lookboonmee, where she secured a mounted guillotine victory that earned her a Performance of the Night bonus. The success of that submission came through repetition. “I had drilled that guillotine so much for a few fights beforehand, it was like in the muscle memory,” she explained.
She also maintains an active training schedule with a strong women’s training group in San Diego. “We have a great group of girls,” Hill said, mentioning training partners including Jessica Penne, Jenna Bishop, Cat Zingano and Ashley Yoder. “I can have a solid fight camp with all women and they’re all talented.”
While no official UFC bout has been announced for Hill, she expressed interest in facing several opponents upon her return, with Yasmin Lucindo topping her wish list. In the meantime, the ADCC East Coast Trials will provide another opportunity for “Overkill” to test and improve her evolving ground game.
