Khalil Rountree vs. Jamahal Hill: Heavyweight Showdown at UFC Baku

The upcoming weekend promises to deliver thrilling moments in UFC Baku, where prominent light heavyweight contender Khalil Rountree is planning a comeback. He’s slated against the ex-champion, Jamahal Hill, who’s eyeing to break free from a duo of consecutive losses. This marks Rountree’s first undertaking of the year, following a faltered bid for the title against the common Brazilian adversary, Alex Pereira, in the previous year.

The adversary in question, Hill, is equally under pressure to showcase a grand resurgence this weekend. Previously, Hill had a run-in with Pereira in January, which ended unfavourably for him. His return to the ring proved no easier, as former titleholder Jiri Prochazka led him to another defeat.

However, their recent contest outcomes do not undermine the prowess of both Hill and Rountree. They’re celebrated for their skills in striking and are predicted to offer a nail-biting spectacle for the audience. This encounter between the two heavyweights is indeed a much-anticipated part of UFC Baku.

It’s worth noting that Rountree’s notable income from his headline fight at UFC 307 left many stupendous. Despite suffering a knockout loss in the fourth round to Brazilian prodigy Pereira, Rountree is believed to have earned a colossal sum of $1,380,000 for his endeavour, despite losing his sight on the light heavyweight title.

This paycheck followed a rather lesser amount in his previous match, where he secured an estimated $90,000. This was in line with his impressive knockout victory over the now-retired Anthony Smith in the title qualifier towards the close of 2023.

As for Hill, our Illinois-born ex-champion, his previous headlining stunt at UFC 300 converted into a staggering $500,000 income, despite a first-round knockout loss against Pereira. However, his fortunes are speculated to have scaled-down post his return in UFC 311 at the year’s onset.

This decline in earnings stems from his loss to the Czech powerhouse, Prochazka. Hill’s earlier half-a-million-dollar payday seems to have dwindled considerably, making the upcoming duel at UFC Baku all the more intriguing and imperative for him.

On the other hand, in the co-main event of the night, Rafael Fiziev, a perennial lightweight contender, marks his comeback in a fight against Ignacio Bahamondes, a rising Chilean grappler. Fiziev had recently switched places with Dan Hooker in UFC 313 in March and decided to rematch Justin Gaethje on short notice.

Unfortunately, Fiziev couldn’t come out victorious against the ex-interim champion Gaethje but managed to secure an estimated payday ranging between $350,000 and $450,000 for his rematch with the athlete hailing from Arizona.

In an equally engaging match, Ignacio Bahamondes successfully knocked out Jalin Turner, thereby marking the latter’s retirement. Bahamondes, the impressive newcomer from Santiago, bagged an exciting $150,000 total as payout for his third consecutive victory.

Another potential brawl to keep an eye on this weekend will showcase Curtis Blaydes, a perpetual contender, against Rizvan Kuniev, a former combatant from PFL. This much-anticipated duel had to be rescheduled earlier and has now garnered significant attention.

Blaydes last entered the UFC octagon in summer, during UFC 304, a significant gap that surely builds intrigue around his upcoming fight. His last encounter ended unfavorably as he suffered a knockout loss in the first round against Tom Aspinall.

This fallout during their interim title rematch has only added to his resolve to bounce back stronger. Regarding earnings, Blaydes managed to snag $150,000 for his proactive engagement in the London event.

Despite his sizeable tenure with the UFC, his income on that night might seem meagre to many. However, his lengthy experience and an unyielding spirit could potentially tilt the scales in his favor in the upcoming faceoff against Kuniev.

As the leadup to UFC Baku intensifies, the atmosphere is charged with anticipation. The return of heavyweight contenders Rountree and Hill, and their potential comeback stories, promises an exciting spectacle for fans worldwide.

Sports enthusiasts and UFC aficionados are geared up to dedicate their weekend to this thrilling showcase of talent and power, promising heart-pounding moments of intense competition. Could this be the turning point for Hill and Rountree? Only time will unfold the tale.