Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree Hit the Mark for Historic UFC Baku Main Event

UFC history will be made this Saturday as Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree step into the Octagon to headline the promotion’s first-ever event in Azerbaijan. Both light heavyweight contenders made weight at 206 pounds during Friday’s official weigh-ins, setting the stage for a pivotal clash at UFC Baku, held at the Baku Crystal Hall.

The headlining bout carries high stakes for both fighters. Hill, a former UFC light heavyweight champion, is seeking redemption after a tough run. Following back-to-back knockout losses to Jiri Prochazka and Alex Pereira, Hill is determined to reclaim his spot near the top of the division. Currently ranked No. 4 in the UFC Light Heavyweight Rankings, a strong showing in Baku could place him squarely back in title contention.

Across the cage stands Khalil Rountree, ranked No. 7, who is also rebounding from a defeat — his coming in a hard-fought bout against reigning champ Alex Pereira at UFC 307. Rountree had previously earned a five-fight win streak and gave Pereira all he could handle before falling in the fourth round. Now, he looks to bounce back in emphatic fashion and prove he remains a legitimate title threat.

The co-main event features a compelling lightweight battle between Rafael Fiziev and Ignacio Bahamondes, with both fighters successfully weighing in at 155.5 pounds. Fiziev is aiming to halt a three-fight skid, the longest rough patch of his career, while Bahamondes eyes a signature win that could break him into the division’s top 15.

All 24 fighters on the UFC Baku card successfully made weight, signaling a smooth start to what is expected to be a groundbreaking event for the UFC in Central Asia.

Other notable fights on the main card include:

• Curtis Blaydes (258) vs. Rizvan Kuniev (264.5) in a heavyweight slugfest.

• Tofiq Musayev (163) vs. Myktybek Orolbai (165) at a catchweight of 165 pounds.

• Lightweight bout between Nazim Sadykhov (155) and Nikolas Motta (155.5).

• Featherweights Muhammad Naimov (146) and Bogdan Grad (146) also made weight successfully.

The preliminary card features a diverse lineup with international representation, including:

• Seokhyun Ko (169.5) vs. Oban Elliott (170.5)

• Ismail Naurdiev (186) vs. Jun Yong Park (186)

• Daria Zhelezniakova (136) vs. Melissa Mullins (136)

• Irina Alekseeva (135.5) vs. Klaudia Sygula (135)

• Tagir Ulanbekov (126) vs. Azat Maksum (126)

• Hamdy Abdelwahab (264.5) vs. Mohammed Usman (244.5)