UFC Baku: Hill vs Rountree Full Card Analysis

UFC Baku: Hill vs Rountree – 6.21.2025 – Fight Predictions and Analysis

   Welcome to our collaborative coverage of UFC Fight Night Baku: Hill vs Rountree. This card airs live from Baku Crystal Hall Arena in Azerbaijan. The event begins at noon eastern time. Be sure to check out our full reasoning for every pick as our records will not reflect confidence in each selection. We will be picking every fight, but likely only recommend betting on a select few.

Current Record

• Anthony: 150-89-1 (Last Year 321-191-0, 63%)
• Nick: 155-84-1 (Last Year 316-196-0, 62%)

*Fight odds were last updated from Bet99 on 6-20-2025 at 6pm EST

Preliminary Card- Starts 12:00pm EST

Hamdy Abdelwahab -175 vs Mohammed Usman +135

• Anthony: The card opens at heavyweight with Mohammed Usman facing Hamdy Abdelwahab. Abdelwahab tipped the scales at weigh-ins and likely will have a significant size advantage here versus Usman. Abdelwahab is most effective when it comes to his grappling with an extensive background training Greco-Roman wrestling. He is a big dude with previous doping suspensions and a real ‘blanket’ quality in top position. The use of testosterone could certainly help Abdelwahab when it comes to his strength and conditioning. He should have the advantage here grappling against Usman. Abdelwahab has great technique and much better wrestling fundamentals. We have seen Usam previously win as the offensive grappler but he tends to struggle when put onto his back. Abdelwahab will be quick to snatch takedowns from the southpaw stance. Usman’s best chance of winning here will be landing a knockout quickly. Hamdy will be very active early and could put himself in danger when shooting in. It is a tough fight to predict at heavyweight but I will favor the better grappler to win this one. Abdelwahab is also a legitimate threat when he is boxing. Hamdy Abdelwahab by Round Three KO
• Nick: This is a low level heavyweight match-up, but both of these guys are more athletic than they look. Hamdy Abdelwahab was an olympic-level wrestler for Egypt, but Egypt is anything but a wrestling powerhouse. He throws powerful hooks on the feet, but they are entirely telegraphed. He mostly strikes as a means to create openings for takedowns. He’s coming off a narrow decision win over Jamal Pogues which came back in February. He’s decent everywhere, but he has a small frame for the division and almost all of his fights at or near the UFC level have played out extremely close. Mohammed Usman is the brother of former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. He’s nowhere near as talented as his brother, but he is athletically gifted with true KO power on the feet.He’s a competent wrestler, but he certainly prefers to stand and trade as three of his six most recent wins have come via KO. While he can be dangerous offensively, it is notable that he’s coming off back-to-back losses for the first time in his career. If he doesn’t secure a win here, there’s a good chance he’s cut from the UFC roster. This is a low level and volatile matchup at heavyweight in which nothing would really surprise me in terms of the result. I slightly prefer the Abdelwahab side as he should be able to mix in grappling and he’ll be fighting in front of his home crowd. Hamdy Abdelwahab by Decision

Tagir Ulanbekov -400 vs Azat Maksum +300

• Anthony: Next is a flyweight matchup between Azat Maksum and Tagir Ulanbekov. It is difficult to justify odds this wide on a fight in the lowest weight division prone to scrambles and epic brawls. Ulanbekov is a very solid athlete with well-rounded skills and very good grappling. He has earned submission wins in two of his three previous appearances. While he does not hit with much power, he has good size for a flyweight and a nasty jab. Maksum will want to make this a competitive striking match but Ulanbekov will interrupt with takedowns at his leisure. Maksum was easily grounded by Charles Johnson in his last fight. He is often focused on landing one big shot instead of more sustained damage throughout each bout. Ulanbekov can neutralize a lot of what he normally does best. Especially fighting here in Azerbaijan I think Ulanbekov should be favored. I do not agree that he should be favored by quite as much as he is. Ulanbekov has had issues with his cardio before and I could see Maksum getting the better of him here as this bout goes late. There is value here betting on the underdog as these odds have gotten out of hand. It is very likely going the full three round distance. Tagir Ulanbekov by Decision
• Nick: Tagir Ulanbekov trains under Khabib Nurmagomedov, and at one point he was one of the more hyped prospects on the roster at flyweight. He hasn’t fought frequently enough to climb the rankings, but he’s a tough out for almost anyone in the division. As a former Combat Sambo World Champion he’s an excellent grappler, but he also does a good job using his length to succeed on the feet. He sometimes struggles to keep his opponents grounded once he does take them down, but he’s relentless in his pursuit of takedowns and usually does an excellent job of chain-wrestling to control the pace of his fights. Azat Maksum makes his return to action here, off a narrow decision loss to Charles Johnson. He is 15-1 professionally, with most of those wins coming for respectable regional promotions via Octagon and Brave CF. He’s 30-years old, entering his athletic prime, and his skills are already developed both on the mat and on the feet. He has five wins via KO and six via submission. This fight should play out closer than the line suggests, but I see Ulanbekov as the rightful favorite. He’s the bigger fighter here which should keep him safe at striking range. He’s a much better grappler, and I expect he’ll be live for a finish here if this fight hits the mat. Tagir Ulanbekov by Round Two Submission

Irina Alekseeva -280 vs Klaudia Sygula +220

• Anthony: This is a women’s bantamweight matchup with Irina Alekseeva facing Klaudia Sygula. It is a low-level fight and I will not be betting on either side of it. Sygula was exposed a bit in her last matchup against Melissa Mullins. While she had some brief success striking in that matchup she quickly folded against an opponent with decent grappling skills. That was the first professional loss for Sygula after fighting nothing but ‘cans’ on her rise to the UFC. She is a solid offensive striker but apart from that I do not see much that I like from her. Alekseeva is at least a former sambo champion and a very skilled offensive grappler. She is big for this weight class and has a great jab when opposing her competition at range. In this fight I’d expect Alekseeva to hunt for exchanges where she can wrap up Sygula. I think she will see trips and other easy entries available to take her down. I think it is going to be very difficult for Sygula to separate herself here as the underdog. Irina Alekseeva by Decision
• Nick: Irina Alekseeva is just 5-2 professionally, but prior to the start of her MMA career she had a successful run as a credentialed judoka. Her striking abilities seem far from refined, but she is big for the division and it seems she’s more aggressive than a lot of other women on the roster. While it seems she’s made considerable improvements since she made her UFC debut, it is notable that she’s been out of action since October of 2024. Klaudia Sygula is 6-1 professionally, 26-years old, and coming off a loss in her UFC debut to Melissa Mullins.She is relatively well rounded, with two wins coming by KO and one by submission. Sygula is decent everywhere, but she’s somewhat awkward in her approach. Additionally, there’s a chance she’ll be outmuscled by a good portion of her division. This is a low level match-up and a difficult fight to call, so I’ll reluctantly back the underdog. I don’t have much faith in either of these women as prospects, but we have seen Alekseeva secure a UFC level win and I do expect she’ll be the aggressor early here. She’s going to be more dangerous no matter where this one goes, especially if she can take this fight to the mat. Irina Alekseeva by Decision

Melissa Mullins -280 vs Daria Zhelezniakova +220

• Anthony: This is a fight at women’s bantamweight between Daria Zhelezniakova and Melissa Mullins. The bout is a rematch of a 2022 meeting in Paris for Ares FC. Mullins was able to win that bout by stoppage at the end of round one. Zhelezniakova got the better of Mullins in most striking exchanges but as soon as Mullins decided to take that fight to the ground she realized immediate success. I would expect we see a similar situation play out as these two run it back here. Zhelezniakova could beat Mullins with her boxing or even produce a knockout but the most likely outcome would be another situation where she is grounded and neutralized. Mullins has improved in terms of her cardio and it seems her weight is finally under control. She should know not to engage at all on the feet, even letting Klaudia Sygula get the better of her in that last performance. Zhelezniakova has fast hands for this division and a clear edge against Mullins standing. I would not necessarily trust the betting favorite to score these takedowns that she needs to. Melissa Mullins by Round Three Submission
• Nick: Melissa Mullins is 7-1 professionally, with four of those seven wins coming via KO. As impressive as her record is, Dixon hasn’t been tested extensively against top level competition. Additionally, at 33-years old it does seem she’s getting a late start to her professional career. She is primarily a grappler, who is also a decent striker at range. She has a solid understanding of footwork and underrated offensive BJJ. Her takedown entries aren’t great, but she is capable of dominating if she can find herself on top of her opponent. She is 2-1 in the UFC, coming off a dominant ground-and-pound win over Klaudia Syguła. Daria Zhelezniakova is 29-years old and 9-2 professionally, coming off a submission loss to Ailín Pérez back in September of 2024. Five of Zheleznyakova’s nine wins have come via KO. She’s a powerful striker with a decent understanding of footwork. She does her best work striking at distance and she’s capable of working her way back to her feet if she’s grounded against lower level grapplers. This is a binary match-up in which Mullins is the better grappler and Zhelezniakova is the better striker. Simply, I think the gap in grappling here is much wider than the gap in striking. Melissa Mullins by Round Two Submission

Jun Yong Park -185 vs Ismail Naurdiev +150

• Anthony: Next is a bout at middleweight with Jun Yong Park facing Ismail Naurdiev. Park has proven to be the more durable and seasoned fighter throughout a career similar in length to Naurdiev. He is a very consistent performer, lately showing up and grinding out a lot of tough wins thanks to his grappling. Opponents really do tend to get caught engaging with Park a lot in the clinch where he is very comfortable slowing things down and hunting for position. He is very good at controlling opponents from the back and hunting submissions. Park is rightfully favored in this matchup against Naurdiev thanks to his ground game. Naurdiev has shown some deficiencies in fights prior when it comes to his grappling defense. On the feet Naurdiev will find some success here by kicking and trying to utilize his length. I think it will be very hard for him to hurt Park or find sustained success opposing him down on the ground. Park should be able to fight his style matchup here and break down Naurdiev. Despite fighting an opponent who is six years younger I expect Park to have more left in the tank here heading into rounds two and three. Jun Yong Park by Round Three Submission
• Nick: Jun Yong Park is somewhat slow and plodding on the feet, but he does a good job keeping pressure on his opponents and forcing them to fight off their back foot. He is primarily a striker, but he’s well-rounded as he averages more than two successful takedowns per fifteen minutes. He’s mostly known for his durability, but he does sometimes leave himself open to be countered in exchanges. He has won five of his last six fights, most recently securing a narrow decision win over Brad Tavares back in October of 2024. Ismail Naurdiev is 24-7 professionally, coming off a win over Bruno Silva in his UFC debut. While he gave a good showing of himself to secure a win in that matchup, it was somewhat surprising that he got a shot to fight in the UFC as he lost two of his last three fights before that fight with Silva. At 28-years old it’s expected he’ll continue to improve, but he has been finished eight times professionally. He’s dangerous offensively, but he takes unnecessary risks and his durability has failed him on more than one occasion. Park can be hittable at times, which could prove trouble for him in this spot. That being said, he’s more likely to push the pace here, he’s the more durable fighter in this matchup, and he’s been tested against a higher level of opponent. Jun Yong Park by Decision

Oban Elliott -500 vs Seok Hyun Ko +350

• Anthony: This is a fight at welterweight between Oban Elliott and Seok Hyun Ko. The matchup was made less than one month ago with both men experiencing visa issues prior to their booked appearances. It seems like a lopsided matchup with Ko a bit outmatched in terms of skill. The southpaw earned his shot on Dana White’s Contender Series thanks to a highlight reel against weak opponents. He has power but I do not expect him to display that tonight. Elliott enters on an eight fight winning streak here having already beaten robust competition. The Welsh Gangster relies on a grappling heavy gameplan to wear on opponents. He does well when he is testing his gas tank against their own. Elliott is always limiting his opponent’s space, forcing exchanges in the clinch and along the fence side. He is generally a boring fighter to watch but with some improvements I think his win streak could get extended even further. Elliott has made it a point to work on his boxing skills and his hand speed has improved. He won a performance bonus in his last fight, knocking out Bassil Hafez at UFC 309. I have not yet seen Seok Hyun Ko fight against this caliber grappler. I expect to see a one-sided victory for Elliott here. Oban Elliott by Decision
• Nick: Seok Hyun Ko will be making his UFC debut here, coming off a Contender Series win over a respectable opponent in Igor Cavalcanti. Ko is 11-2 professionally and 32-years old, with five of those eleven wins coming via knockout. He is relatively well-rounded, but it seems he certainly prefers to stand and trade on the feet. He has a decent understanding of footwork and he strikes well at range, but it’s tough to gauge his level as most of his professional career has come against a questionable level of opponent. Oban Elliott is 12-2 professionally, having primarily fought for Cage Warriors while fighting out of Wales. Elliott is decent everywhere, but he doesn’t really have any standout skill. He has three wins via submission and three via KO, but he’s somewhat awkward in his approach. He can be hittable in exchanges, and his Fight IQ and general instincts seem inconsistent at best, but there’s no denying he is improving as he is now 3-0 in the UFC. Ko is dangerous on the feet and Elliott can be hittable at times. Still, I see Elliott as the rightful favorite. He’s been making major improvements from fight-to-fight and he carries a lot of momentum into this matchup. Oban Elliott by Round One KO

Main Card- Starts 3:00pm EST

Muhammad Naimov -250 vs Bogdan Grad +200

• Anthony: The main card starts at featherweight between Muhammad Naimov and Bogdan Grad. It kicks off a main card that really should deliver top to bottom in terms of entertaining scraps. I think we will see a good matchup here between two very durable athletes. Naimov is known for his toughness and great cardio overall. He trains in Denver, Colorado but represents Tajikistan. While he may be the rightful favorite in this matchup I do not like the odds. Grad is the prospect on a much better career trajectory. He has been a winner in four straight fights and really mixes his techniques well. On the feet here Grad should confidently strike with Naimov, mixing in kicks and picking up his output as this fight goes on. Grad has won twelve of his fights by finish and has some pretty sick knockouts on his highlight reel. He impressed with another KO win in his last fight beating Lucas Alexander. Naimov will also feel the pressure from Grad if we see these two get tangled on the mat. Naimov has the better wrestling credentials but he cedes quite a bit in terms of size. I do not think he can convert too many successful takedowns here. This fight will likely go to the judge’s scorecards and Grad will land the bigger shots and win more moments. I love the value on Grad at +200 and so he will be one of my bigger bets. Bogdan Grad by Decision
• Nick: Muhammad Naimov is well rounded with five of his twelve professional wins coming via KO and three coming via submission. He fights out of an excellent camp via Elevation Fight Team. He is an explosive striker offensively, but he sometimes chases big shots. This can leave him open to be countered or taken down by superior grapplers. Bogdan Grad is small for the division, but he’s an explosive athlete with dangerous finishing ability both on the feet and on the mat. Grad is 15-2 professionally, with nine of those wins coming via KO and three coming via submission. He pushes a serious pace, and generally does a good job forcing his opponents into chaos. Grad is coming off an impressive win via KO in his UFC debut over Lucas Alexander. This is a volatile matchup between two flawed but aggressive fighters. I slightly prefer the underdog given questions around Naimov’s cardio and the value on Grad given where this fight is priced. Bogdan Grad by Decision

Nazim Sadykhov -450 vs Nikolas Motta +325

• Anthony: Next is a fight at lightweight between Nikolas Motta and Nazim Sadykhov. This should be an exciting matchup between two hard hitting strikers. Nazim Sadykhov was born in Baku and fights today with the crowd fully behind him. Sadykhov really looked good in his last appearance facing Ismael Bonfim. He is an accurate kickboxer with great footwork and quick reaction time. Sadykhov is 10-1 with the only loss coming in his professional debut. He is tough but generally stays out of trouble in his fights, instead engaging opponents at range. He will likely attack Motta here with kicks and jabs rather than engaging him in the pocket where he is best. Both men have spent recent camps training in Las Vegas heading into this clash. Sadykhov seems to have the brighter future and he is the A-side of this bout representing Azerbaijan. Bettors love to disrespect Motta but he has cashed as the underdog in two straight fights. I think he will struggle to win this matchup unless he can land a lucky knockout. He is always a threat to find that big overhand, but Sadykhov is the more complete fighter with better technical striking skills. Nazim Sadykhov by Round Two KO
• Nick: Nazim Sadykhov is a dynamic striker on the feet. He has a solid wrestling base and a good understanding of BJJ when his fights hit the mat. Training at an early age, Sadykhov is one of these next generation fighters that has solid ability no matter where his fights go. He trains out of an excellent gym via Longo MMA and he’s the first fighter on the UFC roster to represent Azerbaijan. He’s coming off a career best win over a tough out in Ismael Bonfim, and he hasn’t lost a fight since his professional debut in 2018. Nikolas Motta is a fairly technical striker who uses all of his limbs well. He has surprising power for his frame, and he does a good job extending his combinations as a means to hurt his opponents on the feet. He’s dangerous offensively, but his striking defense has hardly been a strength against upper-level competition. He is 3-2-1 in the UFC, with both losses coming via KO. These are two powerful strikers, but Sadykhov has proven to be the much more durable of the two. The line feels wide, but I do expect he can score a late finish after this fight plays out competitively early. Nazim Sadykhov by Round Three KO

Myktybek Orolbai -175 vs Tofiq Musayev +135

• Anthony: We could be in for Fight of the Night here between Tofiq Musayev and Myktybek Orolbai. The bout takes place at a catchweight of 165 pounds after a late change at yesterday’s weigh-ins. Orolbai has experience fighting above the lightweight limit before and my suspicion is that he struggled making the contracted limit. He is taller than Musayev and benefits from a two-inch reach advantage here against him. Although Orolbai lost in his most recent appearance, it was a split decision against Mateusz Rebecki that earned Fight of the Night. He is incredibly tough, taking every shot thrown at him and brawling back with relentless pressure. Orolbai likes to crowd his opponents to test their defenses and cardio. I think he is a very tough opponent to draw into when making a debut. Musayev is a very intriguing prospect but this seems like an opponent that can give him real trouble. Musayev has relied on boxing skills and power to attain the nice resume that he has. He also fought a lot of softer competition that somewhat pads his 22-5 pro record. The odds seem appropriate for this matchup but Musayev is a bit too reliant on the knockout for my liking. Orolbai will likely take his best shots early and continue moving forward throughout rounds two and three. Myktybek Orolbai by Round Two KO
• Nick: Myktybek Oralbai is 13-2-1 professionally, most recently falling via decision to a tough out in Mateusz Rębecki. Orolbai is relatively well-rounded with six wins coming via KO and four coming via submission. He’s made considerable improvements over his last few fights, primarily in his striking ability. While well-rounded, he is primarily a grappler. He pursues takedowns with relentless pressure and once he grounds his opponents he is very heavy on top for a fighter with his frame. Tofiq Musayev will be making his UFC debut here, with a 22-5 record at 35 years old. Musayev is extremely experienced compared to most promotional debutants, as he’s spent most of his career fighting for respectable promotions in Bellator and Rizin. Musayev is well-rounded, but most of his success comes at striking range. Eighteen of his twenty-two professional wins have come via KO. The line has gotten completely out of hand, but I see Orolbai as the rightful favorite. He should be able to score plenty of takedowns across fifteen minutes and he should be able to score damage as he finds himself in favorable positions as Musayev fades as this fight wears on. Myktybek Orolbai by Decision

Curtis Blaydes -280 vs Rizvan Kuniev +220

• Anthony: Next on the card is a heavyweight fight between Curtis Blaydes and Rizvan Kuniev. This is the promotional debut for Kuniev who earned his contract on Dana White’s Contender Series. He is on a streak of twelve consecutive wins although the competition he faced has not been great. Kuniev also had a victory against Renan Ferreira overturned after testing positive for anabolic steroids. Normally the Russian likes to use his weight to pressure opponents and drag fights onto the mat. However, Blaydes’ wrestling is some of the division’s best and he will give Kuniev a much tougher fight than the strikers that he has been comfortable facing. This is the third occasion that this matchup has been booked. I trust Blaydes to defend well against the double leg takedowns that Kuniev normally relies upon. Kuniev is a decent striker but I do rate Blaydes more dangerous when it comes to his kickboxing. Blaydes is much more measured in his attacks and reliant on his fundamentals. I do not expect to see Blaydes put into any compromising positions here. I expect the savvy veteran to win out even if this fight is competitive early on. Blaydes is a legitimate top contender with much more elite experience. He is the rightful favorite and I expect him to get this win. Curtis Blaydes by Round Two KO
• Nick: Curtis Blaydes is primarily a wrestler and one of the best heavyweights in the world in terms of grappling ability. He has excellent takedown entries and averages more takedowns per minute than any other heavyweight in UFC history. He continues to show considerable improvements on the feet, but he’s coming off a loss in a title fight against Tom Aspinall in which he was knocked out just one minute into the first round. Rizvan Kuniev will be making his UFC debut here, coming off a KO win on Contender Series over Hugo Cunha. Prior to that fight, he secured a KO win over Renan Ferreira in the PFL, but that fight was turned over to a No Contest as Kuniev tested positive for anabolic steroids drostanolone, metenelone, boldenone, and 19-norandrosterone. Kuniev is relatively well-rounded, but most of his success has come on the feet. He’s a potent finisher no matter where his fights go, but it’s tough to gauge his level as it seems he had been heavily reliant on PEDs. Heavyweight fights can be volatile, but Blaydes certainly feels like the side here. His chin is a concern when backing him as a heavy favorite, but Kuniev doesn’t seem to have the technical striking ability to set up a powershot. Blaydes has found success against a much higher level of opponent, and it’s tough to expect much from Kuniev given his recent failed PED tests. I’m siding with Blaydes here to mostly keep this fight standing and eventually find Kuniev’s chin. I also expect he’s the better grappler in this matchup as well. Curtis Blaydes by Round Two KO

Ignacio Bahamondes -130 vs Rafael Fiziev +110

• Anthony: The co-main event is a fight at lightweight between Rafael Fiziev and Ignacio Bahamondes. Fiziev has been a fixture of the division’s top ten and now it looks like Bahamondes has claimed his place there with him. This is his fourth fight in just over a year with three impressive finishes in the rearview. He is a dynamic striker with elite kickboxing skills. Bahamondes is a real problem in this class due to his length and height. He has a four-inch reach edge against Fiziev while also standing seven-inches taller. These two may not appear to be equals in the cage but I am sure Fiziev can handle being at the disadvantage there. He is incredibly skilled when striking too, perfecting his attacks in close range and when employing his muay thai. Bahamondes will need to be careful to engage confidently against someone with Fiziev’s speed. He has not been tested as much in grueling fights where he is forced to eat shots in combinations. I expect Fiziev to weather an early storm in this fight and take over with his skillset late. He is the better conditioned fighter and fights with the home crowd on his side in Azerbaijan. Bahamondes is more likely to win via finish here but Fiziev has only been stopped on two occasions before. I think when this bout goes to the judge’s scorecards they will favor Fiziev’s more consistent and effective striking offense. It is a great matchup and I would probably take a shot on Bahamondes if these odds were flipped. Rafael Fiziev by Decision
• Nick: Ignacio Bahamondes has what many would describe as a loose and free striking style. He’s very light on his feet and does an excellent job mixing kicks into his combinations. He’s shown an ability to KO his opponents both at range and in the clinch. He has surprising power for his frame, but he often leaves his head on the center-line and as a result he tends to take a lot of damage in exchanges. He’s currently on a three-fight winning streak, most recently securing a win via submission over a tough out in Jalin Turner. Rafael Fiziev is a former striking coach at Tiger Muay Thai. He has ridiculous head movement and throws extremely powerful punches and kicks. He is a problem for anyone in this division when it comes to fighting on the feet. He has knockout power in all of his limbs and his grappling seems to improve every time we see him fight. He’s on a three-fight losing streak coming into this fight, but those losses all came against an elite level of opponent. Bahamondes’ length here could be a difficult puzzle for Fiziev to solve, but I expect he will. He’s the better technical striker here, and with this fight being only three rounds I’m not really concerned about his cardio. This should be extremely competitive, but I see some value on the underdog. He should be able to dictate the pace here and land the bigger shots. Rafael Fiziev by Decision

Khalil Rountree -130 vs Jamahal Hill +110

• Anthony: The main event is a great matchup at light heavyweight between Khalil Rountree and former champion Jamahal Hill. This fight has been a while coming with both men forced to pull out of previous bookings. Hill is appearing here just five months after his fight with Jiri Prochazka at UFC 311. I think his hand speed and overall striking output could be the difference for him winning this fight. Hill has proven very tough and he has cardio suited for a five round war. The more likely outcome for this fight is a knockout one way or the other. Hill is the faster fighter with better finishing skills and a decisive reach advantage. He may not be as physically cut as Rountree but he is taller with longer arms. Both men fight out of the southpaw stance where Rountree will likely land better kicks and frequent attacks to the body. Each man averages about the same number of strikes absorbed, but Hill doubles Rountree’s average volume of significant strikes landed per minute. Former champion Alex Pereira defended his title against both of these men last year. Poatan finished Hill by round one knockout while Rountree battled up until being stopped in round four. It is easy to predict that this will be a match on the feet between elite strikers. I think Hill is slightly superior in terms of his boxing skills. He is the preferred side as a plus money underdog desperate to get back into the win column. Jamahal Hill by Round Two KO
• Nick: Khalil Rountree is a talented Muay-Thai striker with extremely powerful kicks. He works excellent in the clinch, but he’s sometimes overly conservative as he waits for fights to come to him. Rountree is a frustrating fighter to back as he’s usually very volatile. He can look like a complete world beater on any given night, but on occasion he seems like he has zero interest in fighting. He has been out of action since he was knocked out by Alex Pereira in a title fight back in October of 2024. While he’s coming off back-to-back losses for the first time in his career, five of Jamahal Hill’s last six wins have come via KO. He is averaging more than 7 significant strikes landed per minute. He has outstanding speed and footwork for a light heavyweight. He works well behind his jab and does an excellent job mixing power into his lengthy combinations. He has underrated offensive grappling ability, and his takedown defense sits at a respectable 73%. This is a volatile matchup between two dangerous southpaws. They both have KO power, and they both have experience against the best light heavyweights in the world. I slightly prefer the Hill side here as he’s the better technical boxer and the higher volume striker. His defense and durability is somewhat concerning, but more often than not I expect he can extend this fight until he manages to pull away late. Jamahal Hill by Round Three KO

-Nick Marro

Twitter: @NickMarroDFS

-Anthony Marro

Twitter: @AnthonyMarro_

Photo: UFC.com