Jamahal Hill was defeated by Khalil Rountree JR in a unanimous decision in the main event of UFC Baku in a rare Saturday afternoon show.
With ABC broadcast of the event in America and a monstrous time difference of at least nine hours between local time and the United States, UFC Baku was broadcast during the day. It still meant for a main event that only started the local time after 1.30 am.
The third time was a charm for Hill and Rountree, who had been booked twice before to fight before the ex-champion was forced with injuries. But they were unable to deliver when they went in Baku for the entire five round distance on a difficult night.
Jamahal Hill vs Khalil rountree JR UFC Baku result
A great version was needed by Jamahal Hill or Khalil Rountree JR on the way to Saturday's collision, with the rest of the night that proves almost a whole sleep-inducing disaster. All of the Undercard attacks went to decision and stacked pressure on the two headliners while the clock tapped to 2 a.m.
However, they both used to be early when they stood and searched for opening in a bit of a technical chess match. It took until the second before Hill started landing regularly, while he put pressure on a rowree that seemed lethargic out of the leap.
The former champion loaded on his bone kicks as the fight continued, and it seemed to be bearing fruit while delaying the movement of Rountree. But halfway through the third a large kick of Rountree Floor Hill in a shock moment that threatened to change the tide of the fight.
Indeed, from there Rountree was able to find the bumps he was looking for and Hill managed to put it down again. It eventually became a fight of two halves, because Rountree completely took over control and made the distance, the crowd felt that he had done enough.
The pair did not touch gloves at the start of the fight, but they embraced and shared an intense verbal exchange after the last bell. Eventually the jury members gave two 50-45 score cards to Rountree when he won a comfortable decision.
Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree JR had been booked several times
The main event for UFC Baku was one that was known to fight fans, who have been booked twice in recent years. First of all, Hill and Rountree were due to the battle in the Co-Main event of UFC 303, when that card was set at Conor McGregor vs Michael Chandler.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty images
Unfortunately, Rountree was forced from the fight after he had unconsciously set a forbidden substance and informed the UFC. Carlos Ulberg was set up, but Hill proceeded to two tears in his meniscus, a sprained ACL and the cyst of a baker.
They were then linked to UFC Kansas City in April, but Hill was again injured and the entire main event was demolished. Instead, Ian Machado Garry Carlos Prates in the newly planned confrontation.