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411’s UFC on ABC 8 Report: Rountree bests Hill
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MAIN CARD (ABC, 3 p.m. ET)
#4 Jamahal Hill (206 lbs.) vs. #7 Khalil Rountree Jr. (206 lbs.)
Ignacio Bahamondes (155.5 lbs.) vs. #11 Rafael Fiziev (155.5 lbs.)
#5 Curtis Blaydes (256 lbs.) vs. Rizvan Kuniev (264.5 lbs.)
Tofiq Musayev (163 lbs.) vs. Myktybek Orolbai (165 lbs.) – Catchweight bout
Nikolas Motta (155.5 lbs.) vs. Nazim Sadykhov (155 lbs.)
Muhammad Naimov (146 lbs.) vs. Bogdan Grad (146 lbs.)
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN/ESPN+, noon ET)
Oban Elliott (170.5 lbs.) vs. SeokHyeon Ko (169.5 lbs. lbs.)
Ismail Naurdiev (186 lbs.) vs. JunYong Park (186 lbs.)
Melissa Mullins (136 lbs.) vs. Daria Zhelezniakova (136 lbs.)
Irina Alekseeva (135.5 lbs.) vs. Klaudia Sygula (135.5 lbs.)
Azat Maksum (126 lbs.) vs. #12 Tagir Ulanbekov (126 lbs.)
Hamdy Abdelwahab (264.5 lbs.) vs. Mohammed Usman (244.5 lbs.)
Hello everyone and welcome to 411mania’s LIVE coverage of UFC on ABC 8, I’m Robert Winfree and I’ll be your host. The UFC is marking off another country from their list as they make their debut in Azerbaijan. I promise not to harp on this but I do feel compelled to at least point out that this is a government has had the same president since 2003, has been engaged in the ethnic cleansing of Armenians from within its borders, is generally considered to not have a free press, and the venue for this event was built after the forced eviction of hundreds of citizens. As a minor note, the UFC has now gone to a lot of places like this but still hasn’t done a UFC event in Hawaii. OK, I’ve stated that for the record now we can press on. This is a pretty good card on paper, better than last weeks to my mind, and features a relevant main event between former light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill and former title challenger Khalil Rountree. We’re still waiting on a bit of clarity about the top of the division but the winner of this fight could well be in line for a title shot. The co-main event is actually what I’m most looking forward to when Rafael Fiziev tries to defend his ranking and halt a losing streak against the surging talent of Ignacio Bahamondes. We’ve also got the UFC debut of Tofiq Musayev against Myktybek Orolbai, Nazim Sadykhov is back in action as well. I’ve got a soft spot for JunYong Park, and Tagir Ulanbekov vs. Azat Maksum has some decent potential. It’s a shame that we lost Kyoji Horiguchi from that fight, but Maksum is a decent replacement opponent. On the downside we’ve got a few heavyweight fights, but all in all it’s a pretty strong card. Now let’s hope it lives up to the potential.
UFC on ABC 8 comes to the world from the Baku Crystal Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan. Brendan Fitzgerald, Paul Felder, and Michael Bisping will be providing commentary while John Gooden handles roving reporter duties. We’ll be in the normal 30 foot cage, and I believe the UFC is basically self regulating here so we should have the newer set of rules in place which allow for 12-6 elbows and the new definition of a downed fighter will be in place.
Worth noting, the place looks fairly empty for the first fight.
Mohammed Usman has gone 3-2 in the UFC but he’s on a two fight losing streak and really needs to get back on the winning side of things here if he wants to retain prospect status in the division. Hamdy Abdelwahab had his UFC debut turned into a No Contest after he failed the drug test for it but he did rebound back in February with a split decision win over Jamal Pogues in one of the worse fights from this year, he could really use a stand out performance here to try and bring some stability to his time in the UFC. Abdelwahab is the favorite at -170 to +140 for Usman.
Heavyweight Bout: Hamdy Abdelwahab (4-0 1 NC, 264.5 lbs.) vs. Mohammed Usman (10-4, 244.5 lbs.)
ROUND ONE: These two have the same height but Usman has a serious seven inches of reach advantage, Abdelwahab is also 20 or so pounds heavier as he cuts to make 265. They touch gloves to get us going. Abdelwahab with an early calf kick. Usman is trying to get his jab going but he’s not landing much. Another calf kick from Abdelwahab then they trade jabs. Usman misses a sloppy right hand. Another calf kick from Abdelwahab. Usman stumbles throwing a kick, his left leg might be a little compromised already. Usman keeps showing the jab but still not landing. If Abdelwahab was about two inches closer Usman’s jab would be doing work. Bit of a left from Abdelwahab. A fair amount of forward motion from Abdelwahab but neither man is landing anything. Bit of a right from Abdelwahab. More flicking missed jabs from Usman. Glancing calf kick from Abdelwahab. Bit of a right from Usman but Abdelwahab returns it. Front kick from Abdelwahab, but he’s really gotten away from leg kicks. A right from Abdelwahab gets Usman stumbling backwards but he stays upright. Usman avoids a few punches to close the round.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Abdelwahab
ROUND TWO: Abdelwahab gets back to forward motion while Usman keeps flicking the jab. Bit of a calf kick from Abdelwahab after they mostly avoided clinching up. Usman pokes Abdelwahab in the eye so we’ve got a time out. Replay confirms the poke but Abdelwahab doesn’t need much time then we’re back to fighting. They both show the jab again, Abdelwahab is starting to land a few of his. Calf kick from Abdelwahab. A right hand from Usman gets Abdelwahab backing up, he looks to push forward but backs off rather than get clinched. They trade rights. Both men miss rights now. Lunging left hook from Abdelwahab lands. Bit of a right from Abdelwahab. Usman is circling to his own right now, he mostly went the other way the last round. Usman jabs the body. Abdelwahab avoids a level change from Usman and keeps coming forward, he’s not really cage cutting though and it’s becoming a problem for him. A few jabs from Abdelwahab land then he misses an uppercut. Right from Usman lands again. They just feint away the final 8 seconds or so.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Usman, 19-19 overall
ROUND THREE: Abdelwahab gets back to moving forward and lands a couple of punches. Usman shows the jab again while circling. A few body jabs from Usman. They get close and Abdelwahab lands a glancing uppercut. Both men with rights in close. Stiff jab from Abdelwahab. They both keep swinging in close but not really landing. Bit of a right from Usman. Abdelwahab has completely given up on the leg kicks, which is a shame as they were helping his game. Right hand from Abdelwahab partially lands. Usman avoids a few punches but his efficacy this round has dropped down. Bit of a left hook from Usman, Abdelwahab responds with a right hand. Abdelwahab lands a calf kick, Usman didn’t like that. Right to the body from Usman. Abdelwahab bulls forward and Usman has to scurry away. Calf kick from Abdelwahab. Usman eats a jab but circles away from the cage. Abdelwahab misses a right hand. Usman with a right to the body then they both miss hooks in close. Usman lands a solid right hand, Abdelwahab is wobbled against the fence. Usman with some body punches the misses a superman punch. Abdelwahab with a rush but wont land anything and the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Usman, 29-28 Usman overall
OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Mohammed Usman via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Not a good fight, but the crowd has definitely filled out at least. No interview for the winner.
Tagir Ulanbekov has gone 5-1 in the UFC and is on a three fight winning streak all of which have propelled him into the top rankings, now he’s trying to defend his spot and then set his sights on those ranked above him. Azat Maksum has gone 1-1 in the UFC but he is coming off of a loss to Charles Johnson and now he’s trying to take out a ranked fighter while also avoiding his first losing streak. The odds like Ulanbekov at -395 to a +310 comeback on Maksum.
Flyweight Bout: Azat Maksum (15-1, 126 lbs.) vs. #12 Tagir Ulanbekov (16-2, 126 lbs.)
ROUND ONE: These two have identical heights and reaches. Lots of early circling, both men are range finding with the jab and some kicks. Maksum misses a few rights. They briefly tie up but nothing comes of it. One two from Ulanbekov then a double leg against the fence, Maksum is defending though and it takes a serious effort from Ulanbekov to keep the clinch. Ulanbekov lands a few short punches in the clinch then he tries a single leg but can’t finish it and Maksum spins free. Maksum with some stance switching now as they circle. Right to the body from Maksum, bit of a counter right from Ulanbekov. Calf kick from Maksum then Ulanbekov counters with a right hand. Body kick from Ulanbekov. Maksum with another calf kick but Ulanbekov lands a counter left hand. Jab from Ulanbekov. Maksum with a body kick out of southpaw then a couple of left hands and a front kick. Front kick from Ulanbekov. Bit of a combination from Ulanbekov. Maksum with a body kick. Glancing high kick from Ulanbekov, Maksum returns it then Ulanbekov lands a left hook. Bit of a right from Ulanbekov, then they tie up as the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Ulanbekov but a close one
ROUND TWO: They touch gloves for the second round. Leg kick from Ulanbekov. Both men continue showing the jab. They both miss rights, then they both land rights. They split a few jabs. Solid right hand from Ulanbekov, that stuns Maksum for a second. Southpaw for Maksum and he lands a left hand briefly. Bit of a right from Ulanbekov, he’s pressuring now and he’s avoiding a lot of Maksum’s punches. They clinch in open space and Ulanbekov fires some knees to the body and head before Maksum gets free. Maksum lands a right hand, then Ulanbekov returns it. Ulanbekov pushes close and looks for a takedown against the fence, Maksum is defending though and Ulanbekov settles for a clinch. A few punches from Ulanbekov land, nothing serious though. Maksum is able to spin free and throws a few punches. Ulanbekov avoids a right hand and lands a couple of counters. Again Ulanbekov counters the right hand, he’s got a read on that weapon from Maksum now. They tie up again and hit the fence. Some more short punches from Ulanbekov but then Maksum hits a version of an inside trip and winds up getting the back standing. Ulanbekov grabs the fence to avoid a mat return but gets taken down anyway. Maksum looks for a double leg, Ulanbekov jumps for a guillotine though. Short time in the round and Maksum will see out the round.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Ulanbekov but another one that could go either way, 20-18 Ulanbekov overall
ROUND THREE: Both men land punches to start the round. They tie up in space and Ulanbekov lands a couple of knees before they break. Both men land rights, Ulanbekov is back to slipping and countering pretty nicely then he tries a double leg but that stalls on the fence again. A few short punches from Ulanbekov but again nothing too serious. Ulanbekov tries a high crotch but Maksum defends then spins free. Both men with jabs now, then Maksum tries a double leg but Ulanbekov blocks that then they trade punches in the pocket before separating. Ulanbekov ducks under a punch and gets a clinch in space, then Maksum shows an elbow as they break. Maksum tries a double leg, Ulanbekov stuffs that and lands knees to the body in the clinch. Elbow from Ulanbekov, Maksum returns it and they break. Both men land punches in close, they tie up again then Maksum lands a knee in open space. Uppercuts go back and forth then elbows. Some nice dirty boxing from both men in here, then they break with a right hand from Ulanbekov. Knee from Maksum. Ulanbekov with a couple of solid rights then they tie up in space again. Uppercuts from Ulanbekov then a few knees. Maksum knees him back then pushes free. A couple more rights from Ulanbekov land then they tie up and Maksum with a whizzer kick and a bit of a deadlift German style throw to close the round.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Ulanbekov but all three were pretty close, 30-27 Ulanbekov overall
OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Tagir Ulanbekov via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27 x2)
Maksum definitely had some strong closing moments and the crowd was kind of on his side by the end of it. No interview again.
Irina Alekseeva has gone 1-1 in the UFC but she is coming off of a loss and is trying to avoid her first losing streak, she’s also been out of action since October of 2023. Klaudia Sygula dropped her UFC debut late last year but she’s back in action here and looking for that all important first UFC win. Alekseeva is the favorite at -270 while a +220 comeback on Sygula might tempt some bettors out there.
Women’s Bantamweight Bout: Irina Alekseeva (5-2, 135.5 lbs.) vs. Klaudia Sygula (6-2, 135.5 lbs.)
ROUND ONE: These two are the same height while Sygula has two inches of reach advantage and is 8 years younger. Sygula lands some punches, Alekseeva keeps walking into them with her pressure. They both land a few punches in close. Right hand from Alekseeva in close. Alekseeva with a left hook. Sygula misses a few punches. Body jab from Sygula. One two from Sygula. Alekseeva lands a right to the body. Again Sygula lands a one two. Alekseeva lands a looping right hand in close. They both land in close again. Alekseeva avoids an elbow then lands a left hand. Sygula lands another right hand. They trade in close again, Sygula’s volume is working when they trade like that. Alekseeva lands a right hand but she can’t maintain momentum as she’s just coming forward and Sygula is able to angle on her. Low blow to Alekseeva and we’ve got a time out. Alekseeva only takes 37 seconds then we’re back to fighting. They both trade in close. Right hand from Alekseeva gets Sygula backing up briefly. Alekseeva fires a couple of body kicks. They both land front kicks then Alekseeva lands a bit of a left hook. Jab from Alekseeva then they trade kicks again to close the round.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Sygula but Alekseeva might have figured some things out at the end there
ROUND TWO: Alekseeva gets back to moving forward, they get close and trade punches again. They both show some leg kicks at distance. Right to the body from Alekseeva seems to hurt Sygula but she seems to recover pretty quickly. Alekseeva with a body jab. Another kick goes low on Alekseeva so we’ve got another time out. The ref should just take a point for that as replay confirms the kick went into the groin. No point, of course, but the ref says he will next time. We’re back to fighting after 1:31. Both women show low kicks again then Alekseeva with a bit of a right hand. Both women land punches, they’re just kind of jousting at this point when they clash. Sygula avoids a few punches. Alekseeva looks to push forward and they trade left hands again. Sygula with a right hand. A couple of body shots from Sygula. Alekseeva jabs the body. A couple of swinging punches from Alekseeva partially land then they trade left hooks again. A couple of looping punches land for Alekseeva. Sygula lands a front kick. Alekseeva’s nose is visibly bleeding as the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Alekseeva but a close one, 19-19 overall
ROUND THREE: Alekseeva gets back on forward pressure. Front kick from Alekseeva then she pushes into a clinch on the fence. Alekseeva with a few knees. Short elbow from Sygula. Eventually Sygula pulls free. Bit of a blitz from Sygula then she fires a back fist that wobbles Alekseeva. Sygula looks to follow up and lands in close but they wind up clinched. They trade a few knees then Sygula hits a takedown into half guard. Some punches and short elbows from Sygula land. Sygula passes to full mount with a minute left. Alekseeva is trying to just hold on and control posture. Sygula lands a few punches then keeps dropping some elbows as the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Sygula, 29-28 Sygula overall
OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Klaudia Sygula via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Again no interview, feels like that’s becoming a theme.
Darya Zhelezniakova has gone 1-1 in the UFC but most recently lost to Ailin Perez and now looks to avoid her first losing streak while avenging an earlier career loss. Melissa Mullins has gone 2-1 in the UFC but also missed weight for her last two fights, she did hit the mark this time though and now she’s trying to build her first UFC winning streak. The odds like Mullins at -280 to a +225 for Zhelezniakova.
Women’s Bantamweight Bout: Melissa Mullins (7-1, 136 lbs.) vs. Daria Zhelezniakova (9-2, 136 lbs.)
ROUND ONE: Zhelezniakova is two inches taller but the reach is identical. They both tie up and land uppercuts quickly then break. Zhelezniakova lands a right hand. Left hook then a right hand from Zhelezniakova, Mullins is a little wobbled and Zhelezniakova is looking to keep up the pressure. Mullins tries a takedown but Zhelezniakova defends. Left hook from Zhelezniakova. Bit of a right from Zhelezniakova. Body jab from Zhelezniakova then a glancing right hand. Again Zhelezniakova lands a couple of glancing rights. The body jab from Zhelezniakova is working, and it’s a nice set up to the overhand right. Left hook then a right hand from Zhelezniakova. They trade rights in close. Counter right from Mullins lands and she’s starting to move forward now. Zhelezniakova lands a left hook. Another left hook from Zhelezniakova but Mullins recovers and keeps coming forward. Zhelezniakova lands another combination of punches, Mullins is just eating these but I don’t know how sustainable that is. Zhelezniakova jabs the body again. Stiff jab from Zhelezniakova then they trade lefts. Both women have slightly messed up faces at this point, defense is clearly not a big priority for either of them. They trade to tie up then Mullins hits an outside trip into 50/50 guard. Mullins moves to full mount, then grabs at an armbar. Zhelezniakova is defending and stacks up Mullins to avoid being extended before the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Mullins but could go either way
ROUND TWO: Zhelezniakova circles to start the round then jabs the body. Bit of a left hook from Zhelezniakova. Mullins lands a right hand. Right to the body from Zhelezniakova. Zhelezniakova lands an overhand right. Body jab from Zhelezniakova. Mullins lands a calf kick. Bit of a left hook from Zhelezniakova. Zhelezniakova with a pretty solid right hand. Another right from Zhelezniakova. They both show jabs again. Zhelezniakova keeps working the jab up and down. Bit of a combination from Zhelezniakova in close. Right hand then a left hook from Zhelezniakova. A body shot from Zhelezniakova bothers Mullins, she fires a combination but Mullins is able to duck under and get a takedown into guard. Mullins is able to get to half guard but she’s just kind of stuck here. Eventually Mullins gets her posture but doesn’t get much offense off before the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Zhelezniakova, 19-19 overall
ROUND THREE: Zhelezniakova gets back on the jab pretty quickly. Body to head jabs from Zhelezniakova now. Bit of a right from Zhelezniakova. More body jabs from Zhelezniakova. Zhelezniakova with a right to the body, she’s blocking the potential level changes with those plus Mullins might still be a little sore to the body. Another right to the body from Zhelezniakova. They split a few jabs up top then Zhelezniakova jabs the body. Mullins with a body kick. Bit of a left hook from Zhelezniakova. Mullins tries a takedown, this hits the fence and they clinch up. Zhelezniakova grabs the fence to fight off a takedown and keep things upright. They jockey for position and trade a few knees. Mullins is able to level change for a double leg but Zhelezniakova defends and they separate. Zhelezniakova gets back to jabbing up and down. One two from Zhelezniakova. Mullins misses a few kicks. A few more lefts from Zhelezniakova land then she lands a right hand to close the round.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Zhelezniakova, 29-28 Zhelezniakova overall
OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Daria Zhelezniakova via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27 x2)
Would have been a majority decision to Zhelezniakova if the ref took a point and her getting all three rounds isn’t wrong. Honestly I might have overvalued the armbar attempt to close the first. No interview again.
Ismail Narudiev scored a win in his return to the UFC late last year and now he’s looking for his first UFC winning streak. Jun Yong Park has gone 8-3 and has gone 5-1 in his last six fights, only dropping a split decision to Andre Muniz and most recently besting Brad Tavares. Park is looking for another winning streak as well as looking to get a crack at some ranked opposition sooner rather than later. Park is the favorite at -180 while that +150 on Narudiev could be a tempting little value bet.
Middleweight Bout: Ismail Naurdiev (24-7, 186 lbs.) vs. JunYong Park (18-6, 186 lbs.)
ROUND ONE: These two are the same height while Naurdiev has an inch of reach advantage. Park starts moving forward early. Naurdiev with some body jabs and inside leg kicks, just range finding/managing. Park pokes out a few jabs, then lands an elbow off of a brief tie up. Left hook from Naurdiev. Naurdiev is staying pretty busy and light on his feet. The combination work from Naurdiev is keeping Park from finding much rhythm. They both land rights in close. Right uppercut from Naurdiev. Park lands a couple of jabs then a one two. Solid right from Naurdiev. Park takes another right hand in close. Both men land punches, Park is starting to counter Naurdiev now just a bit. Naurdiev keeps his jab working up and down then lands a bit of a right hand. Park is still pressuring forward and lands a right hand then a left hook. Naurdiev pokes Park in the eye so we’ve got a time out. Park only takes 27 seconds then we’re back to fighting. Naurdiev falls short with a few punches. They both land lefts. Naurdiev with a right hand out of a clinch. Pretty good right from Park. Naurdiev with a left hook, that might have bothered Park but Park then wobbles him with a right hand. They trade in a clinch and Park misses a knee when they break. Left to the body from Park off balances Naurdiev, he pushes into a clinch and lands an elbow then a left hand before the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Naurdiev but Park might have stolen it at the end
ROUND TWO: Naurdiev winds up poking Park in the eye pretty quickly, he just reached out with open fingers after taking a jab. Park takes 36 seconds this time, but of course no point. Park lands a right hand as they restart. Leg kick from Naurdiev then he tries a jumping knee. They tie up and Park looks for a takedown, Naurdiev then knees him while Park had a knee down and we’ve got a time out. The left eye of Park is messed up, replay shows the right knee was clearly down. Illegal as it can get, you need both knees up. I’d just DQ Naurdiev at this point. The doctor checks on Park but his left eye is in bad shape. Park is able to regain his feet, the language issues here are causing issues as well. Apparently Park can continue, I feel like there’s some serious issues here with the language barriers. The ref takes 2 points for an intentional foul and we’re back to fighting after just under the 5 minutes. I’d still just DQ him personally. Naurdiev fires kicks on the restart then Park tries a takedown against the fence. That stalls out then Park switches to a single leg but Naurdiev defends and gets free. Body kick from Naurdiev then a jab. Park pushes forward into a clinch and they trade a few elbows. They break and Park keeps coming forward and looking to brawl. They clinch and Park hits the body before they break. Another clinch, Park can’t strike at distance now because of the eye I think, and they hit the fence. Naurdiev looks for a double leg and hits it. Park gives up the back, both hooks in for Naurdiev. They wrestle a bit more and Park comes up with Naurdiev holding a front headlock. They wind up clinched on the fence and Park slips to the ride then mat returns Naurdiev. Park into mount on the hips then lands some punches as he moves back to the ride. Park is fishing for a choke attack but the angle isn’t right, he does land a few more punches then grabs a neck crank attempt as the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-7 Park after the 2 point deduction but could go the other way, 19-17 Park overall
ROUND THREE: Park pushes forward and lands a left hook into a clinch. Knee from Park then an elbow. Body shot from Park, he’s got Naurdiev on the fence and moves to the back then rides him down to his knees. Park with some punches to try and set up the choke attack despite only being in the ride. Now Park moves into full mount and starts dropping elbows. Naurdiev sort of shrimps to give up the ride and Park resumes looking for a choke. Kimura attack from Park, that’s just for control and he lands a punch as Naurdiev gets half guard. Naurdiev looks to wrestle up on a single leg but Park moves to the ride again and fires some elbows. Punches and elbows from Park then Naurdiev shrimps to half guard. Another kimura attack from Park and he uses that to pas to full mount. Naurdiev gives up the back, both hooks in now for Park and he starts looking for a choke. Park keeps fishing for a choke but he’s not having much luck finishing it off. 30 seconds left, Park fires some punches then makes one more attempt at a choke but the clock expires and likely saves Naurdiev as that was a good choke he had locked up.
SCORECARD: 10-8 Park as Naurdiev didn’t do much that whole round, 29-25 Park overall
OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – JunYong Park via unanimous decision (29-25, 29-26 x2)
No interview for Park, man his left eye is still a mess.
Quick move to the next fight, all the foul time on the last bout pressed us against the broadcast clock.
Oban Elliott is on an eight fight winning streak including being 3-0 in the UFC, he’s looking for another win here to begin making the transition from prospect towards legitimate contender. Seok Hyeon Ko brings a four fight winning streak into his UFC debut, Elliott is a tough draw for your debut but a win would be a serious statement about his intent and standing in the division. Not surprising to see Elliott as a pretty big favorite at -485 to +370 for Ko, which has to tempt some bettors.
Welterweight Bout: Oban Elliott (12-2, 170.5 lbs.) vs. SeokHyeon Ko (11-2, 169.5 lbs.)
ROUND ONE: Elliott is two inches taller with an inch of reach advantage. Southpaw for Ko and he presses forward early. Bit of a high kick from Elliott. Ko has Elliott back on the fence, he’s got a lot of pressure but misses a left hand and Elliott clinches him. They break without incident. Ko gets back on pressure and lands a left hand. Elliott ducks under a left hand. Ko misses a high kick then Elliott tries a takedown but that stalls on the fence. Takedown from Ko then he moves to grab a front headlock and lands a knee as Elliott stands. Another little judo toss from Ko and he gets the back briefly then transitions to side control. Elliott is able to shrimp around and get full guard but Ko lands a few punches. Ko lands punches as Elliott stands and Elliott might be a little wobbled. They clinch again and trade some knees. Ko is able to spin free and they reset. Inside leg kicks form Elliott then he misses a right hand. Bit of a left from Ko and they clinch again. They jockey for position and that’s where the round will end.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Ko
ROUND TWO: Ko gets back on some pressure and misses a spinning back elbow. Bit of a left form Ko. Elliott lands a right hand. Body kick from Ko, Elliott returns it. Elliott tries a single leg, Ko defends then spins to the ride and lands punches. Elliott wall walks with Ko on his back. Mat return from Ko then he looks for the back but Elliott avoids that though he can’t get free. Ko lands some punches from the ride position then Elliott stands with Ko still on his back. Another mat return from Ko then he looks for a choke as he’s got a hook in. Elliott is able to defend the choke but he is getting handled a bit down here. Eventually Elliott turns to get half guard. Ko with an elbow. A few more short elbows from Ko land. Arm triangle attack from Ko, he bails on it but it’s a threat if nothing else. Elliott is able to get full guard and then rolls to his knees, Ko is on his back again into the ride position. Some punches and elbows from Ko, he’s after a choke but Elliott is able to turn his head and get out of that one and catch half guard. Ko keeps up his pressure and offense from top position. Ko moves to side control as the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Ko, 20-18 Ko overall
ROUND THREE: Both men throw a few punches to start the round. Bit of a right from Elliott. They both swing in close again. Ko with a bit of a head kick. Left hand from Ko and they clinch again. Harai goshi from Ko into side control, he’s got strong hips. Ko starts dropping a few elbows and moves to north-south position. Elliott is cut now as he hip escapes to half guard. Some short punches and elbows from Ko. Ko moves to side control then gets the back as Elliott stands. Mat return from Ko, nearly into a crab ride then he moves to side control again as Elliott starts to move around on the mat. Elliott tries to scramble up but Ko uses a nice arm hook to force him over and get into full mount. Ko with a few punches but Elliott is able to hip escape to half guard. A few more elbows land for Ko. Ko tries for a straight armbar but Elliott blocks that and gets to north-south position. Elliott tries to throw up an inverted triangle, that isn’t going to cut it and Ko lands a couple more punches and rides out the final seconds.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Ko, 30-27 Ko overall
OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – SeokHyun Ko via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
No interview again as we’re seriously over time, but that was a heck of a debut for Ko.
Muhammad Naimov has gone 4-1 in the UFC and most recently got a win over Kaan Ofli, now he’s looking to build another winning streak and start moving from prospect to contender. Bogdan Grad is on a four fight winning streak including his UFC debut back in February, he’s looking to extend that here against a very respectable opponent. It’s not surprising to see the more proven Naimov as the -250 favorite against a +205 comeback on Grad.
Featherweight Bout: Muhammad Naimov (12-3, 146 lbs.) vs. Bogdan Grad (15-2, 146 lbs.)
ROUND ONE: Naimov is an inch taller but the reach is identical. They touch gloves to get things going. Grad shows some early kicks as they circle. Naimov does some stance switching then lands a calf kick. Grad does some stance switching as well. Calf kick from Grad then Naimov returns it. Bit of a right hand from Naimov. Grad misses a wheel kick. Naimov lands another calf kick. Bit of a wheel kick from Naimov wobbles Grad, Grad ties up and hits a takedown into the ride position. Naimov is able to wall walk into a clinch. They break without incident. Naimov with a right hand then a left hook to counter a calf kick. Bit of a combination from Naimov. Grad misses a wheel kick then Naimov misses a spinning attack and they clinch up then hit the fence. A few knees from Grad then Naimov spins him into the fence and starts firing knees of his own. Grad avoids an inside trip then lands a few knees. Some wall and stall from Grad then Naimov spins him into the fence and lands a knee, they then break and trade punches to close the round.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Naimov
ROUND TWO: Grad pressures forward and misses a wheel kick. Bit of a right hand from Grad, he’s backing Naimov up pretty regularly here. Grad with a body kick. Left hook from Grad. One two from Naimov. Naimov avoids a spinning back kick. Grad tries a takedown against the fence, Naimov is able to defend though Grad does slip to the back standing. Naimov gets chest to chest and blocks another level change. Elbow from Grad as they break. Glancing right hand from Naimov then he tries a takedown but Grad defends. Grad tries a takedown against the fence but Naimov defends and grabs a standing guillotine. The choke doesn’t really finish but the threat forced Grad to change his attack and Naimov defends the single leg. The round ends with Grad finally hitting a double leg but doing nothing with it.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Grad, 19-19 overall
ROUND THREE: Grad opens with a head kick then Naimov lands a left hand. Grad tries a takedown, he’s able to hit it then gets the back with both hooks in as Naimov looks to stand. Naimov stands with Grad in the backpack position, then Naimov yanks the legs around and gets on top as they drop. Full guard for Grad as he’s looking to hold on. A few short elbows from Naimov land. Grad tries a triangle choke, that doesn’t work and Naimov just postures through it to land a few more punches. Naimov is able to fire a few body punches but he really needs to get some offense going. Body to head punches from Naimov. Grad is looking to start a wall walk but Naimov keeps stifling his momentum. The ref decides to stand them up, OK then. Grad with a left to the body then a clinch on the fence. They fight for position and Grad sneaks in a few knees. They break and Grad misses an elbow. Wheel kick from Naimov mostly lands but Grad just eats it. Grad misses a head kick. Left hand from Naimov. They feint away the final 10 seconds or so.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Naimov, 29-28 Naimov overall
OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Muhammad Naimov via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
No interview again.
Nazim Sadykhov hasn’t lost since his professional debut back in 2018, he’s also 3-0-1 in the UFC and is looking to firmly establish himself as a rising force in the division with another win. Nikolas Motta has gone 3-2 with 1 No Contest in the UFC but he’s on a two fight winning streak and is looking to prove that he’s the one really finding his footing in the UFC. Sadykhov is a fairly heavy favorite at -470 while a Motta win would pay out at +360.
Lightweight Bout: Nikolas Motta (15-5 1 NC, 155.5 lbs.) vs. Nazim Sadykhov (10-1-1, 155 lbs.)
ROUND ONE: Sadykhov is an inch taller while Motta has and in and a half of reach advantage. Southpaw for Sadykhov. Both men probe a bit with long range weapons. They trade inside leg kicks. Body kick from Sadykhov. Glancing left hand from Sadykhov. Solid little left hand from Sadykhov. Motta misses a few punches. Left to the body from Sadykhov then a left hand up top. Sadykhov with a body kick. Motta lands a left to the body then they trade in close. Motta with another body shot and he looks to attack Sadykhov on the fence. Sadykhov is blocking but the body work is adding up, Sadykhov sags down but fights back up. More offense from Motta but Sadykhov is hanging tough and fires back with a left hand then a head kick which rattles Motta. Sadykhov punches in close and digs the body now before they tie up. Hard elbow from Sadykhov on the break. Sadykhov lands a left hand. They both swing punches in close. Bit of a high kick from Sadykhov then a left to the body. Knee and right hook from Sadykhov but Motta fires back with a left hand. Motta fires a head kick that’s mostly blocked. Motta defends a double leg but gets pushed into the fence. The round will end in the clinch with Sadykhov landing a couple of elbows.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Sadykhov but there’s an argument for Motta
ROUND TWO: Sadykhov with some jab action to start the second round. Glancing wheel kick from Sadykhov. Left hand from Sadykhov. Both men land punches, Sadykhov landed an elbow as well and Motta is cut. They both land in close again, Sadykhov is starting to show more elbows when they get in close quarters. Motta has a head kick blocked then lands a left to the body. Right to the body from Sadykhov. Both men land in close again. Bit of a left hook from Motta. They both land in close again. Sadykhov with a combination that’s punctuated with a high kick. Solid one two from Sadykhov, Motta then fires a head kick but he’s starting to get broken down. They trade body blows in close then Motta lands a left hook. Sadykhov fires elbows in close again before they hit the fence. They break without incident. Both men land punches in close but Sadykhov is getting the better of things and his elbows are an important element to this. Body kick from Sadykhov. Motta lands to the body as well then an uppercut in close. They hit the fence again and Sadykhov hits the body then punches and drops Motta with a left hand and that’ll prompt the stoppage.
OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Nazim Sadykhov via KO, punches, at 4:17 of Round 2
Sadykhov does get an interview with the translator, he speaks some Russian I think then the translator is here for I believe Azeri though I might have that backwards. He puts over Motta and admits to having the wind knocked out of him in the first but you’d have to kill him to beat him here. To close he thanks the crowd and plays with them as he did a lot of growing up in this city.
Fun fact, that’s the first real finish in the UFC in 15 fights. We did have a technical decision and a No Contest during that streak and the run of straight decisions got to 13. The last real finish we had was Wellmaker’s KO over Moutinho last week which was 16 fights ago.
NAZIM SADYKOV GETS THE KO AFTER AN EPIC FIGHT AT #UFCBAKU 💥 🇦🇿 pic.twitter.com/mLPIsvWSIW
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) June 21, 2025
Tofiq Musayev is making his UFC debut here, he’s been a bit of a fixture between Bellator and Rizin though and now he’s trying to maximize his UFC debut in his native country. Myktybek Orolbai has gone 2-1 in the UFC but he’s coming off of a split decision loss to Mateusz Rebecki in one of the better fights from last year which snapped an eight fight winning streak, now he’s trying to avoid his first losing streak. Fairly close one here, -165 on Orolbai to +140 for Musayev.
Catchweight Bout: Tofiq Musayev (22-5, 163 lbs.) vs. Myktybek Orolbai (13-2-1, 165 lbs.)
ROUND ONE: Orolbai is an inch taller with five inches of reach advantage, plus he’s 8 years younger. Oh, and both guys decided actually getting to 155 wasn’t going to happen, hence the catchweight. Orolbai quickly tries a takedown, that hits the fence and Musayev is able to avoid a lift then separate. Some stance switching from Musayev but that opens him up for a single leg then Orolbai gets a takedown into half guard. Arm triangle attack from Orolbai, Musayev looks to transition it to a guillotine attack. Orolbai could attack a Von Flue choke but decides against it and lands body punches as Musayev gets full guard. A few punches from Orolbai land as he postures up, Musayev moves to his knees and Orolbai gets to the ride position. Punches from Orolbai as Musayev wall walks but Orolbai immediately gets him back down with a double leg. Musayev again thinks about a guillotine but that’s a poor decision given the angle and guard engagement. Orolbai lands a few punches while passing to side control. Musayev tries to kick off the fence, he’s able to use that to come around the back as they stand. Bit of an uppercut from Musayev as they break. Orolbai with a left hand then a takedown into half guard. Kimura attack from Orolbai, that’s in and Orolbai cranks it to get the tap.
OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Myktybek Orolbai via Submission, kimura, at 4:35 of Round 1
The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Orolbai for his work. Mic time for Orolbai after our first set of consecutive finishes since early on the card last week. There’s a couple of translators going, one for the crowd and one for Orolbai, he thanks the crowd and gives glory to God then puts over Musayev.
Myktybek Orolbai gets the submission win in the first round 👏 #UFCBaku pic.twitter.com/Z6N5kJtLaa
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) June 21, 2025
Curtis Blaydes is still a ranked contender and has been in that position for quite a few years now, he’s coming off of a loss to Tom Aspinall though and if he wants to force a third meeting between them he can ill afford to take his first set of back to back losses. Rizvan Kuniev has been trying to make his UFC debut since August of last year, now he’s finally doing so against a ranked contender meaning a win would be the biggest of his career. It’s not surprising to see Blaydes as a notable favorite at -270 against +220 for Kuniev.
Heavyweight Bout: #5 Curtis Blaydes (18-5 1 NC, 256 lbs.) vs. Rizvan Kuniev (13-2-1 1 NC, 264.5 lbs.)
ROUND ONE: These two are the same height while Blaydes has four inches of reach advantage. Circling to start, Blaydes then hits a double leg. Kuniev works to wall walk, he’s up but still clinched and Blaydes gets to the back standing. Blaydes with some knees to the leg then he starts working for mat returns. The ref warns Kuniev for fence grabbing, he’s gotten away with a couple. Blaydes comes around and hits a takedown into the ride. A few punches land for Blaydes while Kuniev moves to the fence then wall walks. Kuniev tries to turn into Blaydes but Blaydes keeps the back standing. Eventually they break without incident. Kuniev swings a few uppercuts to try and dissuade Blaydes from level changing. Blaydes looks to feint his way in closer then lands a left hand. Jab from Blaydes. Both men with some punches in close. Bit of a right from Kuniev. Blaydes tries a takedown, that stalls on the fence as the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Blaydes
ROUND TWO: Kuniev with an inside leg kick, Blaydes tries a takedown but can’t finish it. Right to the body from Blaydes. Blaydes starts showing the jab a bit. Kuniev with a one two then misses an uppercut. Again Kuniev jabs the follows with a looping right hand, the left eye of Blaydes might be a little messed up now. They trade rights. The more they’re just punching the more success Kuniev is finding. Right hand from Kuniev. Blaydes misses a left hook, he’s starting to look a little lost. Kuniev fights off a double leg and they clinch up in space. Blaydes tries a knee tap to a single leg, that still just hits the fence. They break without incident. They split a few jabs then Kuniev lands an uppercut and a left hook. Blaydes tries to bull forward but Kuniev avoids him and then lands a counter punch. Knee then uppercuts from Kuniev. Bit of a right from Blaydes. They stare away the final 15 seconds or so.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Kuniev, 19-19 overall
ROUND THREE: Blaydes shows a few kicks to start the round, his inside leg kick is landing so far. Kuniev knees his way in close then fires punches. Blaydes with a right hand of his own. Leg kick from Blaydes. Blaydes has Kuniev backed to the fence but he doesn’t do anything then Kuniev lands a couple of punches. Right hand from Blaydes. Another right from Blaydes then he pushes close for a takedown. This time Blaydes gets his hands together but Kuniev still blocks him, that’s a strong man there. Eventually Blaydes slips to the back standing and fires knees to the leg. A few punches from Blaydes land. Kuniev works for a double wrist lock to attack the grip of Blaydes, he’s able to get chest to chest then they break. One two from Blaydes, Kuniev responds with a punch of his own. They tie up and Kuniev pushes Blaydes into the fence. They break without incident with 50 seconds left. Inside leg kick from Blaydes then a right to the body. Kuniev tries a standing guillotine but Blaydes gets him to the fence and looks for a takedown. They start trading elbows in the clinch and that’s where the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Blaydes but a close one, 29-28 Blaydes overall
OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Curtis Blaydes via split decision (28-29, 29-28 x2)
Fine with that overall, though the fight sucked. Blaydes gets an interview, he’s not happy with the performance but his left MCL popped in the first round and really impacted things. If true that sucks, credit to him getting through two more rounds with it. Asked about the future he wants Ciryl Gane.
Rafael Fiziev is on an unfortunate three fight skid, two of those losses coming in fun competitive fights with Justin Gaethje and the other being a freak leg injury he suffered. Still a three fight losing streak is quite bad and if he wants to retain a ranking in the competitive lightweight division he really needs to get his first win since 2022. Ignacio Bahamondes has gone 6-2 in the UFC but he’s on a three fight winning streak and now looks for the biggest win of his career. The odds are close but lean towards Bahamondes at -125 to a +105 comeback on Fiziev.
Lightweight Bout: Ignacio Bahamondes (17-5, 155.5 lbs.) vs. #11 Rafael Fiziev (12-4, 155.5 lbs.)
ROUND ONE: Bahamondes stands 6’3 at lightweight which is nuts, he’s a serious seven inches taller with four inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get things going. Both men do a bit of stance switching as they move around. Fiziev shows some inside leg kicks early. Bahamondes shows some high kicks and knees. A couple of body shots from Fiziev. Leg kick from Fiziev then Bahamondes returns it. Both men keep feinting and stance switching. Side kick from Bahamondes then Fiziev lands a body kick. Right hand from Fiziev then a couple of body punches in close. Bit of a body kick from Bahamondes then an inside leg kick. Fiziev with a body kick. Bahamondes misses a high kick. Left hook from Fiziev, nicely timed. Bahamondes misses a wheel kick then lands a spinning back kick. Calf kick from Fiziev then a right hand behind it. Bahamondes misses an ax kick. Fiziev with a body kick to close the round.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Fiziev
ROUND TWO: Both men back to feinting, Bahamondes then tries a takedown but that hits the fence and stalls out. Fiziev with some short punches while Bahamondes looks for obscure back elbows. They break and trade punches. Fiziev avoids a one two then they tie up again. Some knees from Fiziev as they hit the fence. Elbow from Fiziev on the break then Bahamondes lands a right hand. They both land in close. Bahamondes with an inside leg kick then Fiziev hits the body a couple of times. Fiziev avoids a wheel kick. Bahamondes with a right hand but he takes a couple of counter body shots. Fiziev avoids a few head kicks. Bahamondes misses a spinning back kick. Some calf kicks from Bahamondes then Fiziev lands a right hand in close. Body kick from Fiziev. Body shot from Fiziev then Bahamondes lands a head kick. Bit of a left hook from Fiziev then he hits a takedown into half guard. Fiziev stands and lands leg kicks before Bahamondes stands. Another double leg from Fiziev, Bahamondes tries a guillotine but can’t get the hands together. Fiziev postures up in full guard and lands some punches. Hammer fist from Fiziev as he’s standing over Bahamondes. A few leg kicks from Fiziev then Bahamondes regains his feet. Bahamondes misses a couple of punches then Fiziev catches him with a right hand that sits him down just before the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Fiziev, 20-18 Fiziev overall
ROUND THREE: Fiziev hits the body a couple of times to start the round. Bahamondes with some leg kicks but his punches aren’t quite landing. Fiziev avoids a head kick. Left hook from Fiziev. Both men tie up and land punches then Fiziev lands an elbow as they break. They trade again and Bahamondes eats a left hook trying to disengage. Left hand from Bahamondes. They trade rights and now Bahamondes is cut around the right eyebrow. Body shot from Fiziev then he avoids a spinning back kick. Double jab then a left hand from Bahamondes. Fiziev avoids a wheel kick then defends a single leg and Bahamondes tries to pull guard but Fiziev hammer fists him then stands free. Left hook from Fiziev, he’s still slipping and countering nicely. Bit of a left hook then a couple of uppercuts from Fiziev. Bahamondes misses a wheel kick but lands a couple of punches in close. They tie up and hit the fence. Bahamondes looks for a takedown, Fiziev defends and they start trading knees in the clinch. Fiziev spins free and hits the body again. Left hook from Bahamondes. They trade in close then Fiziev digs a right to the body. Double leg from Fiziev into full guard. Fiziev starts landing ground and pound with 40 seconds left in the round. Bahamondes fires some elbows form his back but Fiziev throws his own elbows then stands free and they reset. Bahamondes fails a spin and Fiziev with a takedown into full mount, more elbows from Fiziev to close the round.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Fiziev, 30-27 Fiziev overall
OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Rafael Fiziev via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Mic time for Fiziev, the announcement got a big pop, he plays with the crowd a bit in the local language then switches to English to say it was a good fight and he then puts over the crowd. He talks about being happy to fight here in his homeland and puts the crowd over again. Asked about the future he offers to help Elon Musk with his rockets since he’s a rocket man. Moderately funny but I think a name would have been better.
Jamahal Hill is a former light heavyweight champion but he had to hand that title over due to injury then failed to reclaim it against Alex Pereira and most recently got stopped by former champion Jiri Prochazka, if Hill wants to remain in the title picture he really needs to get back on the winning side of things. Khalil Rountree had a five fight winning streak broken in his last fight when he failed to take the light heavyweight title from Alex Pereira, now he’s back in action and looking to get back into the title picture quickly with a win over a former champion. Very close one here, -130 on Rountree to +110 for Hill.
Light Heavyweight Bout: #4 Jamahal Hill (12-3 1 NC, 206 lbs.) vs. #7 Khalil Rountree Jr. (13-6 1 NC, 206 lbs.)
ROUND ONE: Hill is three inches taller with two and a half inches of reach advantage. Both men fight southpaw. Both men with some feinting, fairly lethargic movement from both men right now. Leg kick from Hill. Rountree tries a hammer fist that misses. Body jab from Rountree. Rountree with a calf kick. Hill lands a calf kick of his own. Solid calf kick from Rountree, his kicks are pretty obviously stronger but Hill is throwing more of them. Left to the body from Hill then Rountree lands an inside leg kick. They trade calf kicks again. Bit of a right hook from Rountree. They trade in boxing range then Rountree lands a hard calf kick. Hill with a calf kick, then Rountree returns it. They both miss punches then fall into a clinch but neither man wants to be there so they break. Calf kicks go back and forth again. Hill avoids an overhand left. Now Hill shows a few stance switches and Rountree lands a body kick when Hill is orthodox. They just feint away the final seconds.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Rountree but a close one
ROUND TWO: Both men feint again as the round starts. Hill avoids a few punches, he’s still doing some stance switching. Rountree lands a couple of rights then a calf kick which Hill didn’t like. Body kick from Rountree. Hill with a calf kick. Rountree blocks a left hand then lands a hard calf kick. Hill is having to be orthodox a lot more now and Rountree lands a body kick then avoids punches. Rountree starts circling and avoids a few punches. Hill with a front kick. Another calf kick from Rountree. Hill is trying to get into boxing range but his movement in orthodox isn’t nearly as good. Rountree with a calf kick to the left leg now, he’s OK kicking whichever leg is forward. Both men probe with the jab but nothing really lands. Calf kick from Rountree, that right leg of Hill is compromised. Both men miss punches. Rountree slips throwing a head kick but he gets up before Hill can get on top. Left hand from Rountree but Hill does fire back with a right. Bit of an uppercut from Hill then Rountree lands a calf kick. Rountree just circles away the final 15 seconds.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Rountree but again fairly close, 20-18 Rountree overall
ROUND THREE: Back to movement from Rountree, Hill is mostly orthodox now but when he throws for a longer time he gets southpaw just out of habit. Rountree misses an overhand left. Counter right from Hill mostly lands. Rountree with a left hand then a left to the body. Inside leg kick from Rountree, that looked painful. Left hand then a right from Hill. Overhand left from Rountree drops Hill for a moment, he gets up but eats a calf kick. Rountree is showing some thrust kicks to the lead knee. Hill avoids a side kick then misses a right hand. Rountree misses a left hand. Hill has a couple of punches blocked. Rountree with a couple of leg kicks then a body kick. Inside leg kick from Rountree. Right hook from Rountree drops Hill but Hill regains his feet and fires back so Rountree resets. Rountree then circles away the last 10 seconds.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Rountree, clearest round thus far, 30-27 Rountree overall
ROUND FOUR: Rountree still bounces when moving and lands a bit of a jab. Hill tries southpaw for a bit, he’s just not as effective out of orthodox. Left hammer fist from Rountree mostly lands. Calf kick from Rountree and Hill goes back orthodox. Right to the body then a left hook from Rountree off balances Hill for a second. Hill avoids an overhand left. There’s a cut around the right eye of Hill, nothing major but he does appear to be leaking a little bit. Bit of a left from Hill, he’s just swinging that thing when he goes. Front kick to the knee from Rountree. Both men miss rights. They just stare for a bit, the crowd gets a little restless as well. Rountree misses an overhand left. Both men throw punches then Rountree lands a calf kick. They trade punches again in boxing range. Bit of a right hook from Rountree, Hill now has a small cut around the left eyebrow as well and the round ends.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Rountree, 40-36 Rountree overall
ROUND FIVE: Rountree looks to get back to doing what he’s been doing and shows the jab. Jab from Hill. Rountree with a left to the body. Hill lands a couple of jabs. Rountree with a body jab. They split jabs then Rountree hits the body a couple of times. Hill goes southpaw now and takes a calf kick. Body jab from Rountree then an overhand left. Counter right hook from Rountree. Hill with a calf kick then they split jabs. Side kick to the knee from Rountree. Hill with a body kick. Right to the body from Rountree then a calf kick. Hill lands a leg kick. Rountree with a left hand. Body jab from Rountree. Both men with lead hand hooks. Calf kick from Rountree then a couple of body shots. Hill with a counter right of his own but he needed a finish and will not find it.
SCORECARD: 10-9 Rountree, 50-45 Rountree overall
OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Khalil Rountree Jr. via unanimous decision (49-46, 50-45 x2)
Mic time for Rountree, he plays with the crowd and puts over the city then hopes he’ll be able to come back. He talks about being smart this fight and not be reckless especially down towards the end of a round. Asked what he wants next he wants to be a champion and he’d be willing to take a title shot but will ultimately take any fight that gets him closer to the title.
On that note UFC on ABC 8 comes to a close. Thank you for reading, I really to appreciate it whether it’s live or after the fact. Next week will be UFC 317 with two title fights so that should be fun. We’ll be breaking down the fallout from this event and previewing UFC 317 on the 411 Ground and Pound MMA Podcast so keep your eyes and ears open for that one. I’ll be back next week and I hope you will as well but until then thank you again for reading, stay safe out there and keep checking 411mania for all of your pop culture needs.
