Khalil Rountree Jr has just given Jamahal Hill an absolute masterclass in Azerbaijan, and I’m sitting here wondering: when did everyone forget that this bloke was proper quality? Because while the rest of the MMA world was busy writing off Rountree after his loss to Alex Pereira, the man himself was clearly taking notes and planning his comeback like a vindictive headmaster.

Let’s be brutally honest here – Hill looked useless against Rountree’s relentless leg kicks. The former champion, who once knocked out Glover Teixeira to claim gold, was reduced to hobbling about like he’d just done a charity marathon in concrete boots. Rountree systematically destroyed Hill’s lead leg with the precision of a German engineer, and frankly, it was beautiful to watch.

The Strategic Genius of Rountree’s Performance

What impressed me most wasn’t just the violence – though there was plenty of that – but the tactical intelligence Rountree displayed. This wasn’t the wild swinging merchant we’ve seen before; this was a calculated dismantling. He fought like a man who’d learned from his mistakes against Pereira, using his reach advantage and footwork to stay out of trouble whilst systematically breaking down Hill’s mobility.

The third round was where Rountree really turned the screws. After spending two rounds chopping away at Hill’s calf like a lumberjack with a grudge, he dropped the former champion with a perfectly timed counter left hand. It was the sort of punch that makes you appreciate the sweet science behind all the brutality – timing, distance, and patience all coming together in one devastating moment.

Hill’s Troubling Decline Continues

As for Jamahal Hill, first Pereira knocked him spark out, then Prochazka did the same, and now Rountree has given him a systematic beating that was almost worse because it lasted the full five rounds. Hill’s movement looked compromised from the opening bell, and once Rountree started targeting that lead leg, it was like watching a building demolition in slow motion. You knew exactly how it was going to end, but you couldn’t look away. The man who once danced around the octagon was reduced to standing and trading with a man who hits harder than a  tax bill.

The Light Heavyweight Division Shuffle

This victory puts Rountree right back in the title conversation, and frankly, he deserves it more than most. His post-fight interview showed the sort of maturity you want to see from a championship contender – no wild claims or ridiculous callouts, just a professional acknowledgment that he wants another crack at gold and he’s willing to earn it.

The light heavyweight division has always been one of the most volatile in the sport, where careers can be made or destroyed in the space of fifteen minutes. Rountree’s performance tonight proved he belongs in that top tier, whilst Hill’s showing suggests he might need to seriously reconsider his approach if he wants to remain relevant at this level.

What This Means Moving Forward

With Ankalaev still holding the belt and looking absolutely terrifying, the division needs contenders who can bring something different to the table. Rountree has proven he can hang with the champion, and this performance against Hill shows he’s learned from that experience rather than being broken by it.

The rest of the card was solid enough, with Rafael Fiziev ending his losing streak and Curtis Blaydes grinding out another decision win, but let’s be honest – everyone was there to see if Hill could bounce back or if Rountree could prove his title shot wasn’t a fluke. Well, we got our answer, didn’t we? What do you think – does Rountree deserve another crack at the title, or should he have to beat another contender first to prove this wasn’t just a good night against a declining Hill?