The UFC is set to debut in Azerbaijan this weekend and the main event in Baku features two of the hardest hitters in the 205-pound division.

Jamahal Hill is a one-time titleholder and Khalil Rountree Jr. is coming off a Fight of the Night effort in a championship bout, as both fighters aim to remain relevant near the top of the light-heavyweight division.

Hill hasn’t gotten his hand raised since becoming champion 2.5 years ago. Hill won a vacant title in January of 2023 when he defeated Glover Teixeira at UFC 283, only to later vacate the belt before his first title defence after rupturing his Achilles.

He was knocked out by Alex Pereira in 2024 at UFC 300 in his return bout and followed that up with a technical knockout loss to fellow former titleholder Jiri Prochazka at UFC 311 in January.

Rountree, who will be sporting custom fight shorts this weekend, hasn’t fought since a fourth-round TKO loss to Pereira in their title matchup at UFC 307 in October. Prior to facing Pereira, Rountree had won five consecutive bouts, with four of those wins coming via KO/TKO.

Pereira lost the title to Magomed Ankalaev in March, and while presumably a proposed championship rematch is the next likely title fight in the weight class, a new champion means new opportunities for contenders like Hill and Rountree.

Hill is currently the No. 4-ranked contender and Rountree sits at No. 7, but before either can begin to think about another title shot, they’ll need to take care of business in Baku.

“I mean, I’ve lost my last two fights, I don’t think they’re looking to hand me title shot right now so I’m just focused on this fight,” Hill told reporters in Azerbaijan Wednesday at the official Fight Night media day. “It’s just about this fight, getting a win and then seeing what happens after that.”

Oddsmakers are predicting a knockout finish in this five-round main event matchup – BetMGM has a KO/TKO finish listed as a -400 favourite compared to +300 odds for the fight to go a decision and long +900 odds for a submission finish – and for good reason.

Hill, 34, has eight knockout finishes (though one was later overturned to a no-contest after he tested positive for marijuana back in May of 2020) and he is 5-0 in fights that go the distance. 

Nine of Rountree’s 13 pro wins have been by KO/TKO and he is 4-2 in bouts that require the judges’ scorecards.

Hill’s average fight time in the UFC is 9:02 and Rountree’s is 8:34. An under 3.5 rounds prop bet is the chalky side, which indicates oddsmakers would not be surprised if this matchup ends before a fourth or fifth round is required.

Neither fighter has ever won with a submission. Rountree, 35, has lost once by sub, but that was in 2016 in his sixth pro bout. All three of Hill’s UFC losses have been via KO/TKO, although one did occur when he was trapped in a Paul Craig triangle choke and had his elbow dislocated at UFC 263 in 2021.

Hill vs. Rountree is a southpaw vs. southpaw matchup expected to be a standup affair with neither athlete ever landing a takedown during their respective UFC careers.

Hill lands 7.05 significant strikes per minute compared to absorbing 4.02 significant strikes per minute and boasts a height and reach advantage. He said this week he gives Rountree a puncher’s chance, but also pointed out his opponent gets hit more than he lands.

Rountree only lands 3.73 significant strikes per minute compared to the 4.51 he absorbs. Hill lands 53 per cent of his strike attempts, while Rountree connects on just 38 per cent of his.

“The difference that I bring to the table is I think I’m a bit more calculated in this fight against Jamahal,” Rountree told Sportsnet’s Aaron Bronsteter this week. “I think, yes we’re both known for our striking and our power, but I’d like to say that I’m a bit more calculated and that I have some advantages in the athleticism, so I’m excited to put that into play.”

Lightweight co-main fireworks: Ignacio Bahamondes will look to break into the rankings at 155 pounds when he takes on No. 11-ranked Rafael Fiziev in Saturday’s penultimate bout. Bahamondes, 27, is on a three-fight finishing streak, each of which earned him a Performance of the Night bonus.

On the flipside, Fiziev will be looking to snap a three-fight skid. Two of those Fiziev losses were competitive Fight of the Night performances against Justin Gaethje and the other was a loss to Mateusz Gamrot due to a knee injury. Fiziev represents Azerbaijan and will have the support of the crowd at the Baku Crystal Hall venue.

Third time the charm for Blaydes vs. Kuniev? Curtis Blaydes and Rizvan Kuniev were scheduled to fight in February and then again in March, but neither bout came to fruition. The most recent time was due to Blaydes coming down with an illness on the day of the fight and not being medically cleared.

Blaydes (18-5, one no-contest) hasn’t been in the cage since losing a title fight to interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall at UFC 304 in the summer of last year. The 34-year-old American faces questions about his chin durability with all five of his pro losses coming by KO/TKO, however, keep in mind all were to top-tier talent that have either been UFC champions or fought for a title (Aspinall, Sergei Pavlovich, Derrick Lewis and Francis Ngannou twice).

Kuniev (13-2-1, one no-contest) is a proven drug cheat who’s making his UFC debut. The 32-year-old from Dagestan tested positive for multiple anabolic steroids following a PFL win in 2023 and his only fight since then was a TKO win on the Contender Series in August of 2024.

Below is a look at the complete fight card and projected bout order for UFC Baku, which is a rare afternoon card for North American audiences…

— Jamahal Hill vs. Khalil Rountree Jr.

— Rafael Fiziev vs. Ignacio Bahamondes

— Curtis Blaydes vs. Rizvan Kuniev

— Tofiq Musayev vs. Myktybek Orolbai

— Nazim Sadykhov vs. Nikolas Motta

— Muhammad Naimov vs. Bogdan Grad

— Seok-hyun Ko vs. Oban Elliott

— Ismail Naurdiev vs. Jun-yong Park

— Melissa Mullins vs. Daria Zheleznyakova

— Irina Alekseeva vs. Klaudia Sygula

— Tagir Ulanbekov vs. Azat Maksum

— Hamdy Abdelwahab vs. Mohammed Usman