For the first time in its history, the UFC lands in Azerbaijan with a high-stakes light heavyweight clash headlining UFC Baku: former champion Jamahal Hill takes on explosive striker Khalil Rountree. This bout has been rebooked multiple times due to injuries, but now the matchup finally takes center stage in what promises to be a pure stand-up war. With Hill ranked #4 and Rountree at #7 in the division, both men are hunting for redemption and a path back into title contention.
Jamahal Hill’s journey has been turbulent since capturing the vacant title against Glover Teixeira at UFC 283. A torn Achilles forced him to vacate the belt, and upon his return at UFC 300, he suffered a first-round knockout loss. Despite a strong showing against Jiri Prochazka at UFC 311, Hill came up short again. On the other side, Khalil Rountree has built a reputation on ferocity and power, but his record is streaky. He most recently gave a gutsy—albeit punishing—performance against current champ Alex Pereira in October 2024.
Stylistically, this matchup pits Hill’s crisp, measured boxing against Rountree’s Muay Thai aggression. Rountree tends to start hot but has shown a tendency to fade in longer fights, while Hill has proven his gas tank can hold up over five rounds, even on short notice. If Hill can survive the early storm, many believe he’ll take over in the later rounds, potentially securing a decision win or late TKO as Rountree slows.
Though a win here won’t guarantee a title shot, it solidifies the victor as a top contender. Hill could find himself matched with rising star Carlos Ulberg or former title challenger Dominick Reyes next. For Rountree, a win keeps him in the mix, while a loss may relegate him to facing fighters on the fringe like Volkan Oezdemir or Nikita Krylov. Regardless of the outcome, UFC Baku promises fireworks in a division long overdue for clarity.