UFC Baku preview: Five burning questions ahead of Hill vs. Rountree

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) travels to Azerbaijan for the first time in its promotional history this weekend for UFC Baku, bringing along a pretty fun card. In the main event, former UFC Light Heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill takes on No. 7 ranked Khalil Rountree.

That’s not all.

Here are five questions ahead of UFC Baku …

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lost two straight for the first time in his career, and a loss to Rountree could be severely detrimental.

From a career perspective, Hill doesn’t have to win to stay in the UFC or remain relevant. His resume—12-3 with a no-contest, seven knockouts, and a title reign—gives him some obvious leeway. However, if he ever wants to find himself back in the title conversation, a win at UFC Baku could be critical, especially as he is still clearly behind Jiri Prochazka (whom he just lost to) and Carlos Ulberg.

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despite getting dominated by Alex Pereira—and I’m standing by it.

He’s more popular than ever. I mean, he scored custom shorts before former champ Hill. But beyond the shorts, if Rountree goes out and dismantles Hill at UFC Baku, does he earn a No. 1 contender fight? Or will he need a couple more wins to seal the deal?

The Light Heavyweight division’s top tier is wide open right now, with Magomed Ankalaev set to rematch Pereira later this year (hopefully), creating a window of opportunity for Rountree to capitalize.

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former Top 15 Lightweight Jalin Turner (watch highlights).

A victory over Rafael Fiziev this weekend would vault him to No. 11 in the rankings, but does that make him a true contender?

His 2023 loss to Ludovít Klein still stings, especially since Klein recently fell to Mateusz Gamrot, stalling his own ranking hopes. Still, two years in MMA can be an eternity, and fighters evolve fast. Fiziev, who’s only lost to Justin Gaethje in six years (outside an injury setback against Gamrot), is a perfect litmus test for Bahamondes’ ceiling.

is fresh off a title fight.

It’s clear the UFC wants to fast-track Rizvan Kuniev, using Blaydes as a measuring stick. But this gamble could blow up if “Razor” dominates, exposing Kuniev and highlighting Blaydes’ elite skill set.

Funnily enough, Blaydes is unbothered, shrugging it off because his paycheck clears regardless of the opponent.

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flopped in their UFC debuts, leaving Musayev and Aaron Pico to carry the torch.

Musayev faces a brutal test in Myktybek Orolbai, a UFC standout who even shined in his lone loss—a 2024 Fight of the Year contender. At 35, Musayev’s clock is ticking, but he’s finally in the big leagues.

LIVE! Stream UFC Baku On ESPN+

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CROSSROADS! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) crashes Baku Crystal Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Sat., June 21, 2025, with UFC Baku. Former 205-pound champion, Jamahal Hill, collides with veteran “War Horse,” Khalil Rountree Jr., in a blistering main event mashup scheduled for five, five-minute rounds. In UFC Baku’s co-main event, No. 11-ranked lightweight contender, Rafael Fiziev, locks horns with 155-pound striking sensation, Ignacio Bahamondes, with a spot in the lightweight Top 10 up for grabs.

Don’t miss a single second of face-punching action!

Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Baku fight card right here, starting with the ESPN2/ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. ET, before the ABC main card start time at 3 p.m. ET (also on ESPN+).

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