Khalil Rountree’s Kicks and Knockdowns Carried Him Past
Khalil Rountree Jr. defeated Jamahal Hill by unanimous decision on June 21, 2025. The five-round light heavyweight main event at Baku Crystal Hall ended with scores of 49–46, 50–45 and 50–45 during the UFC’s first visit to Azerbaijan.
Leg attacks began changing the contest
Both fighters spent the opening exchanges reading distance before increasing their attacks. Rountree’s low kicks became more influential during the second round, repeatedly affecting Hill’s lead leg.
Rountree then dropped the former champion twice in the third. A counter left produced the first knockdown, and a powerful right hand sent Hill down again as Rountree increased his volume.
The later rounds preserved a clear advantage
Hill continued competing through the fourth and fifth rounds, but Rountree maintained the more damaging offense. The unanimous cards reflected a sustained advantage rather than a narrow final-round swing.
The result returned Rountree to winning form after his October 2024 title challenge against Alex Pereira ended through a fourth-round stoppage. Against Hill, he successfully completed a different five-round assignment.
Fiziev won the actual co-main event
Rafael Fiziev defeated Ignacio Bahamondes by unanimous decision in the lightweight co-main event. Curtis Blaydes also won on the main card, edging Rizvan Kuniev by split decision.
Rountree’s performance supplied the evening’s final result and an important victory over a former titleholder. His combination of leg kicks, knockdowns and continuing late offense kept the contest under control through the full scheduled distance.
Sources
- UFC: leg kicks, knockdowns, full scores and main-card results
- UFC: June 21 date, venue and five-round outcome
- UFC: preceding Pereira title challenge
