Expert prediction
UFC Baku: Jamahal Hill vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. Preview, Odds, Prediction (Jun 21)
Pick rationale
Analysis & key factors
- Jamahal Hill vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. is the main event of UFC Baku (a.k.a. UFC on ABC 8).
- Both fighters challenged for the UFC Light Heavyweight title in 2024.
- UFC Baku odds favor Rountree to win, albeit only slightly.
The UFC Baku main event is a must-win for both Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree Jr., two former UFC Ligh Heavyweight title challengers. They both lost to Alex Pereira in the fight for the title but are still flying high in the divisional rankings.
The loser of the June 21 fight, however, could plummet in the rankings significantly. That said, the stakes are super high in the UFC Baku headliner.
How to Watch
- Where: Baku Crystal Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan
- When: Saturday, June 21, 3 pm ET
- How to Watch: ABC
Jamahal Hill vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. Odds
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Jamahal Hill | +135 |
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | -155 |
Jamahal Hill vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. Preview
Hill (12-3-1) peaked in 2023 when he beat a 43-year-old Glover Teixeira for the belt. Critics weren’t convinced that he’s the championship material back then and his recent form suggests that they might have been right.
He’s without a win since then, losing two fights in a row. After vacating the title due to injury, he got slept by Pereira and stopped by Prochazka. Nevertheless, the former champ still holds the No. 4 spot in the divisional rankings, but another finish loss might push him into gatekeeper territory.
The bad news for “Sweet Dreams” is that UFC Baku odds suggest exactly that is going to happen on July 21. It’s because his next opponent is a force to be reckoned with.
Rountree (13-6-1) gave Pereira a real war last year, despite entering the title fight as a huge underdog. He didn’t win, but he made Poatan work.
That loss snapped a five-fight win streak with four brutal KOs. The Muay Thai specialist has grown into a lethal striker who’s fast, aggressive, and hard to hurt. He took 127 shots from Pereira and kept walking forward.
Hill vs. Rountree Prediction
Hill’s run at the top might’ve just been a flash. Rountree, on the other hand, looks like a real threat in the division. Momentum, durability, and striking edge are all on Khalil’s side. That said, we think he’s got all the tools to get the job done quickly, possibly even in the first round.
Free Pick:
Khalil Rountree Jr. by KO/TKO
MMA
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