UFC Baku: Fight Card, Time, and Hill vs. Rountree Jr. Main Event

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is in Baku, Azerbaijan, for the first time ever TODAY (Sat., June 21, 2025), hosting UFC Baku from inside Baku Crystal Hall, featuring a Light Heavyweight showdown between Jamahal Hill vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. In the co-main event, Rafael Fiziev will face Ignacio Bahamondes in a Lightweight bout, streaming live on ESPN+ and ABC in the United States.

What’s Hot:

Both Rountree and Hill have knockout losses at the hands of Alex Pereira, and both would love nothing more than to earn a chance at revenge. That said, “Poatan” is no longer the Light Heavyweight kingpin after losing to Magomed Ankalaev, though Pereira may (or may not) have a chance to reclaim the throne soon enough. For now, Hill and Rountree are just looking to return to the win column and inch closer to the crown, regardless of who reigns supreme.

Hill was perhaps the most unlikely UFC champion in 2023, which he earned by defeating Glover Teixeira. But, his reign was short-lived — he vacated because of an injury and then Pereira made easy work of him at UFC 300 upon his return (video here). “Sweet Dreams” was knocked out by Jiri Prochazka at UFC 311 (see that here) in his return fight. Now, he will attempt to avoid the first three-fight skid of his career, which would undoubtedly take him out of the championship picture indefinitely.

Meanwhile, Rountree Jr.’s fan-base grew immensely after his loss to Pereira since “War Horse” hung in with the former champion for a total of four rounds before he eventually fell victim to the world-class (and powerful) striking attack of “Poatan.” The loss snapped Rountree’s five-fight win streak, which took him two years to build. Now, the Octagon veteran wants to get back on track and hopefully not to fall further down the 205-pound pecking order. And a win over Hill would be great for his confidence and career aspirations. Both men do prefer to stand and bang, so this could be an all-out striking attack. I give the edge to Hill in that department (though not by much), but Rountree will not back down one bit, which could make for a great showing from both men.