UFC Baku Headliner Khalil Rountree Jr. A hunter left behind and wondered if they would ever compete again after the end of their fight in 2021.
Rountree Jr. Has the task of this Saturday evening the main map of the UFC's very first card in Azerbaijan in Azerbaijan, while the Octagon gets in a new territory. In the main event of June 21, Rountree Jr. Fighting against Jamahal Hill, a former champion who, just like 'The War Horse', was defeated by Alex Pereira in 2024.
Rountree Jr. Marked the last successful defense of Pereira before he was not taken care of by Magomed Ankalaev. The American has made a brave effort on UFC 307 and looked at a certain point to complete an upset.
That would have been a shocking turn of events, given the status rowree Jr. After a defeat in early 2021, had left him with only two victories in five fights.
The road from the 35-year-old to a formerly unlikely UFC title shot started in September 2021, and on horrible fashion …
Khalil Rountree Jr. Tore Modestas Bukauskas' Knee Up with controversial sloping kick
Rountree Jr.'s five-Fight-winning run that culminated in a date opposite Pereira started at UFC Vegas 36, where he was opposite Modestas Bukauskas. They had both lost two fights in a row, their collision was an important one.
'The War Horse' finally lifted his hand and sent 'the Baltic Gladiator' from the UFC. But released was not the worst problems of Bukauskas.
The way of defeat was a brutal sloping kick halfway through the round two that immediately crumbled the Lithuanian-British hunter, who released an audible scream.
It is not surprising that the horrible moment left Bukauskas with a number of serious injuries: a torn meniscus, MCL and a tear that doctors said he hung his ACL of “as a tooth floss.”
The 31-year-old was sidelined for 14 months before he returned to the Cage Warriors banner, where he became champion to let his way back to the UFC.
The victory of Khalil Rountree Jr. was achieved with calls to ban the sloping kick
MMA fans often love nothing more than brutality in the Octagon, but even enthusiastic enthusiasts of the sport remained about the place of the sloping kick of Rountree Jr.
The move, which was also used in the past by hunters such as Robert Whittaker and Jon Jones, has divided a long opinion. And those who believe it should be banned were in force in the aftermath of the victory of Rountree Jr. On Bukauskas.
“Nothing but respect for (rowree), but that kick should be illegal.”
“Respect !? That kick was dirty than f—.”
“That staircase is part of the trash.”
“I love MMA, but some movements just have to be banned. Sluine kick has ruined so many careers from fighters.”
“They have to get rid of that movement.”
Nothing but respect for RoundTree, but that staircase should be illegal imo …
– David Dalí 🇻🇮🇺🇸🇬🇧 (@pemdave) 4 September 2021
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Interestingly, the man who had thrown his career through the movement in the air did not agree.
Bukauskas rejected calling for an oblique kick ban, instead, Rountree Jr. defended And called him to get some play to use the technique for a devastating effect.