Khalil Rountree Jr tied the UFC light heavyweight record for knockdowns with 14 during his dominant win over Jamahal Hill at UFC Baku, marking a historic night and a bounce-back victory that puts him in the title picture, despite some criticism of the fight's entertainment value.
Khalil Rountree responded dismissively to fans and UFC champion Magomed Ankalaev who criticized his performance at UFC Baku, where Rountree won a unanimous decision over Jamahal Hill. Despite some fans leaving early and Ankalaev's comments about the fight being boring, Rountree focused on his victory and expressed openness to fighting for the title again, leaving his future matchmaking to the UFC.
At UFC Baku, fans left early during the main event between Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree Jr., which was considered underwhelming, leading to comparisons with a low-capacity UFC Apex fight, despite Rountree's victory. The event was marred by a lack of excitement, with many fights ending in decisions and a notable finish by Nazim Sadykhov.
Khalil Rountree Jr. convincingly defeated Jamahal Hill by unanimous decision at UFC Baku, showcasing his skills and earning a potential title shot, while Rafael Fiziev ended his losing streak with a win over Ignacio Bahamondes.
UFC Baku featured a main event between Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree Jr., with Hill aiming to rebound from two consecutive losses, and Rountree coming off a knockout defeat. The event also included Rafael Fiziev vs. Ignacio Bahamondes and other preliminary fights, held at Baku Crystal Hall in Azerbaijan.
Paul Craig, a UFC fighter who has fought both Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree Jr., predicts Rountree will knock out Hill at UFC Baku, citing Rountree's power and evolution as a fighter. Craig also mentions his own recent struggles and potential retirement if not re-signed by the UFC.
UFC's debut event in Baku features a main event between Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree Jr., with weigh-in results confirming both fighters at 206 pounds, and the event scheduled for June 21 at Baku Crystal Hall, airing on ESPN and ABC.
Retired MMA fighter Din Thomas criticizes Khalil Rountree Jr., suggesting his impressive performance against Alex Pereira was a one-time moment and not indicative of being a top-tier fighter, predicting Jamahal Hill will likely knock him out in their upcoming UFC Baku fight. Thomas also mentions that Rountree's recent performance does not establish him as a world championship-level fighter, and Hill's own recent struggles and injuries may impact his performance.
Carlos Ulberg will replace Khalil Rountree to face Jamahal Hill in the co-main event of UFC 303 on June 29 in Las Vegas. Ulberg steps in after Rountree's suspension for a banned substance, bringing a six-fight winning streak. Hill aims to recover from a knockout loss to Alex Pereira at UFC 300.
Khalil Rountree Jr. is out of the UFC 303 co-main event due to a failed drug test, and Carlos Ulberg will replace him to fight Jamahal Hill on June 29, 2024, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Khalil Rountree has withdrawn from his UFC 303 co-main event against Jamahal Hill due to a failed drug test for DHEA. Carlos Ulberg will step in to face Hill at the event. Ulberg is on a six-fight winning streak, while Hill is looking to bounce back from a recent title loss. The UFC has yet to officially announce the change.
Brazilian commentators went wild when Alex Pereira knocked out Jamahal Hill at UFC 300, improving his record to 10-2 and potentially setting up a rematch later this year.
Alex Pereira defended his light heavyweight title by knocking out Jamahal Hill in the first round of the UFC 300 main event, taunting him in response to Hill's pre-fight trash talk. Pereira, who suffered a broken toe leading up to the fight, expressed his willingness to fight at UFC 301 in Brazil despite the injury. He emphasized the significance of the victory and intends to savor the moment before considering his next move.
Alex Pereira retained his light heavyweight title with a first-round knockout of Jamahal Hill at UFC 300, despite being hit with an illegal strike. Pereira explained that he didn't want to break his flow and capitalized on the moment to secure the win. The victory extended his win streak and added another chapter to his unique MMA career. Pereira's close friendship with coach Glover Teixeira and the tension between him and Hill added intrigue to the matchup, culminating in a viral celebratory pose after the knockout.
UFC 300 delivered an exciting night of fights, with Alex Pereira retaining his Light Heavyweight title, Zhang Weili defending her women’s Strawweight strap, and Max Holloway delivering a stunning knockout win over Justin Gaethje. Kayla Harrison also impressed with a dominant victory over Holly Holm. However, Jamahal Hill suffered a quick defeat, while Holly Holm and Calvin Kattar also faced disappointing losses.