Angela Hill, a UFC strawweight fighter, made her debut in 2014. Besides being a high-level mixed martial artist, she is also a cosplayer, a video game enthusiast, and a firm believer in the existence of aliens. Hill’s family has a unique connection to UFO folklore. In 1961, her grandparents, Barney and Betty, claimed to have been abducted by aliens, an incident that has become one of America’s most famous alien abduction stories. Hill has always known about their experience and feels that it is a significant part of her family’s history. Despite skepticism from others, she firmly believes that something did happen, even if the details may not align with what has been widely publicized.
The New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources has recognized Barney and Betty Hill’s account by placing a historical marker at the site where they claimed to have seen the UFO. Barney passed away at the age of 46, just seven years after the alleged abduction, while Betty, who was not blood-related to Hill, lived until 2004. Hill finds it intriguing that her grandfather, being a black man, was involved in an extraterrestrial encounter as it adds an additional layer to the story. She believes that the portrayal of black characters in films like “Nope” directed by Jordan Peele will lead more people to consider the possibility of her family’s story being true. Hill thinks that representation in media can make it easier for others to relate and find answers in the possibility of extraterrestrial life.
After her grandfather’s death, Betty became heavily involved in the UFO subculture, participating in documentaries, attending conventions, and sharing her perspective on the incident. Hill feels that her side of the family has been overlooked since her grandfather’s passing. Interestingly, Hill mentions that Barack Obama’s production company, Higher Ground, which is producing a Netflix film about the incident, has not approached her family. She speculates that this might be out of respect for her grandmother, who strongly disliked the story and believed her husband was lying. Despite this, Hill remains deeply fascinated by aliens and closely follows the emergence of new stories in the United States.
In September, NASA released a 36-page report addressing hundreds of UFO sightings. While there was no evidence to suggest that aliens were behind the phenomenon, the possibility could not be ruled out. Hill remains convinced that alien life exists and believes it would be ludicrous to dismiss the potential of extraterrestrial beings. She asserts that there is so much left unknown that it is a blow to humanity’s ego whenever new information challenging our understanding of the universe emerges. Hill acknowledges that contact with extraterrestrial life remains a topic of debate, but she highlights that there are still many unexplained occurrences on Earth, suggesting that there may be some truth to these experiences.
Despite her fascination with aliens, Hill’s focus is currently on her upcoming fight against Denise Gomes in Brazil. As the number 12 ranked strawweight fighter, she aims to bounce back from a recent defeat against Mackenzie Dern in May. Hill emphasizes the importance of being present in the moment and not allowing the pressure of the fight result to distract her. Each fight is a pivotal point in her career, and she acknowledges that the difference between a win and a loss can have significant implications in the competitive world of MMA.