Khalil Rountree is 1-for-1 since fighting Alex Pereira.
In the UFC on ABC 8 main event Saturday, Rountree (14-6 MMA, 10-6 UFC) picked apart former light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill for 25 minutes to earn a unanimous decision (49-46, 50-45, 50-45) victory. The bout headlined the promotion’s debut event at Baku Crystal Hall in Baku Azerbaijan.
Over the course of five rounds, Rountree appeared to be a step ahead of Hill. He used his signature technical kickboxing approach to outpoint and seemingly frustrate Hill.
Rountree knocked Hill down multiple times, including twice in Round 3. But Hill was never close to being finished.
The frustration was evident post-fight, as Hill confronted Rountree in the cage, seemingly questioning the lack of aggression and action from his opponent. Rountree responded that Hill was difficult to read.
Hill seemed shocked on the reading of the official decision, as he lost every round in the judes’ eyes, except for one round from one judge.
With the victory, Rountree moves to 6-1 in his most recent seven. He bounces back from his title shot loss to Pereira in October. Despite being a heavy underdog, Rountree took the fight to Peireira and found success before he ultimately was finished in Round 4.
Hill, 34, moves to 0-3 since he vacated the title in July 2023 due an Achilles tendon injury suffered in a celebrity basketball game.
Full UFC Baku results include:
- Khalil Rountree def. Jamahal Hill via unanimous decision (49-46, 50-45, 50-45)
- Rafael Fiziev def. Ignacio Bahamondes via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Curtis Blaydes def. Rizvan Kuniev via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Myktybek Orolbai def. Tofiq Musayev via submission (kimura) – Round 1, 4:35
- Nazim Sadykhov def. Nikolas Motta via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 4:17
- Muhammad Naimov def. Bogdan Grad via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Seok Hyun Ko def. Oban Elliott via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- JunYong Park def. Ismail Naurdiev via unanimous decision (29-26, 29-26, 29-25)
- Daria Zhelezniakova def. Melissa Mullins via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
- Klaudia Sygula def. Irina Alekseeva via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Tagir Ulanbekov def. Azat Maksum via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
- Mohammed Usman def. Hamdy Abdelwahab via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
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