Rountree cruises past Hill in UFC Baku main event
Khalil Rountree Jr. dominated former light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill, earning a unanimous decision win in Saturday's UFC Fight Night main event in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The judges scored the fight 49-46, 50-45, and 50-45 in Rountree's favor.
Rountree secured the biggest win of his career in calculated fashion. He stayed composed as he picked Hill apart on the feet from start to finish. Rountree outstruck Hill in four of five rounds and bested him 102-70 in total strikes.
"The plan was to be smart," Rountree said in his postfight interview. "I made some mistakes in the Alex (Pereira) fight. In this one, it's like, 'Hey man, I get to kind of make different decisions. I don't have to go, go, go. I gotta do what I gotta do. And then if I'm winning the round, I can secure that and be a smart, professional, championship-level fighter.' And that's how champions think, in my opinion."
Rountree was officially credited with one knockdown, a right hook late in the third round. He tied Chuck Liddell and Mauricio "Shogun" Rua for the most knockdowns in UFC light heavyweight history (14). Rountree also sat Hill down with a left hand earlier in that frame.
Rountree battered Hill with a varied attack in the stand-up department, though he heavily relied on nasty leg kicks to hurt his opponent.
The 35-year-old is back in the win column after falling short to former champion Pereira in a title bout at UFC 307 last October. He's 6-1 in his previous seven Octagon appearances.
Rountree said he's willing to fight whoever will get him closer to another title shot.
"I want to be a champion," Rountree said. "Whatever's next - I know that there's things that need to be done. For me, if I had to fight (light heavyweight champion) Magomed Ankalaev next, I would do it. If I have to fight somebody in between that, I'll do it. But whatever gets me closer to fighting for the belt again."
Hill, 34, is riding a three-fight losing streak for the first time in his career. "Sweet Dreams" hasn't won since claiming the 205-pound title against Glover Teixeira in January 2023.