Khalil Rountree secured a unanimous decision victory over Jamahal Hill in a methodical striking performance at UFC Baku, but the bout received mixed reactions, with some finding it lackluster despite Rountree’s effective strategy.
Khalil Rountree did what he had to do to stay in the light heavyweight title contention. In Saturday’s UFC Baku main event, he delivered a methodical striking performance, securing a unanimous decision over Jamahal Hill.
The five-round bout lacked drama, but Rountree impressed by consistently outpacing Hill. He chopped him down with leg kicks and rarely allowed Hill to find any rhythm.
Not everyone was thrilled with the performance. UFC light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev wasn’t impressed, tweeting, “I am falling asleep.” It seems Ankalaev won’t be rushing to defend his title against Rountree anytime soon.
Adding to the lackluster vibe, Rountree and Hill’s fight capped off an event that, while competitive, had few highlight moments. Ten out of twelve UFC Baku bouts went the distance.
Social media reactions varied. Muhammad Ankalaev tweeted, “This is not karate,” while Derek Brunson joked, “My bad, I fell asleep. Who won the main event?”
On the flip side, Manel Kape praised Rountree’s strategy, calling it champion-level. Terrance McKinney noted Rountree’s speed and effective circling.
Roxanne Modafferi thought Khalil looked great, though Hill seemed off his game. Henry Cejudo expressed interest in seeing Rountree face Jiri Procházka next.
The fight might not have been a thriller, but it certainly sparked conversation.