UFC Fight Night: Hill vs. Rountree Jr. Preview
Khalil Rountree Jr. cracks Anthony Smith with a vicious left hook. Credit: MMA Fighting.
This weekend, the UFC makes its first-ever trip to Baku, Azerbaijan, with an outstanding Fight Night card. The entire card has been stacked with exciting matchups and top-notch fighters all looking for a highlight-reel victory. In the co-main event, two of the Lightweight division’s most devastating strikers go toe-to-toe when Rafael Fiziev takes on Ignacio Bahamondes. In the main event, we’ll witness former champion Jamahal Hill square off with the dangerous title contender Khalil Rountree Jr.
Muhammad Naimov vs. Bogdan Grad
Muhammad Naimov fires an impressive spinning kick at Nathaniel Wood. Credit: MMA Junkie.
Featherweight Bout
Muhammad Naimov: 12-3-0, 6 KO/KO, 2 Sub.
Bogdan Grad: 15-2-0, 9 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.
Naimov has won four of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Jamie Mullarkey (17-8-0), Nathaniel Wood (21-6-0), and Erik Silva (9-3-0). He’s a well-rounded scrapper with excellent, technical kickboxing and efficient wrestling. He remains technical throughout, always keeping his guard high and his punches tight while maintaining solid distance management. Training with the Elevation Fight Team, he prefers power to volume, not putting out a ton of strikes but picking them wisely and throwing without telegraphing. He’s very strong in the clinch and has excellent takedowns, able to land them anywhere at any time. He’s always working in top position, looking either to advance or posture up and land vicious ground and pound. Naimov has secured five of his eight finishes in the first round and is at his most dangerous early on.
Bogdan Grad unloads ground and pound shots onto Lucas Alexander. Credit: Ag. Fight.
Grad has won four of his last five bouts and has a UFC victory over Lucas Alexander (8-5-0). He’s an aggressive striker who’s always coming forward and throwing bombs. He comes out guns blazing from the opening bell, typically rushing into the pocket to unload power punches. Grad has solid head movement and footwork, regularly looking to slip punches and counterstrike. Training at ETTL Bros MMA, he’s highly unpredictable and will regularly look to land flashy attacks like spinning kicks or superman punches. He does an excellent job mixing wrestling into his striking, never telegraphing his shots and usually securing takedowns quickly. Grad has secured eight of his twelve finishes in the first round, but has solid cardio and can push a consistent pace throughout.
Nazim Sadykhov vs. Nikolas Motta
Nazim Sadykhov throws a powerful head kick at Ismael Bonfim. Credit: MMA Fighting.
Lightweight Bout
Nazim Sadykhov: 10-1-1, 7 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.
Nikolas Motta: 15-5-0, 10 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.
Sadykhov has won four of his last five outings with one draw and has UFC victories over Terrance McKinney (16-7-0), Ismael Bonfim (20-5-0), and Evan Elder (10-2-0). He is a well-rounded, heavy-handed scrapper who is dangerous anywhere the fight goes. He has excellent footwork, controlling the center of the Octagon while remaining in perpetual motion. Sadykhov remains technical throughout and always pushes a heavy pace, keeping his guard high and punches straight while still throwing with power. Training with the Serra-Longo Fight Team, he’s averaging over one takedown landed per fifteen minutes and has excellent scrambles and reversals, typically finding himself in top position following grappling exchanges. He transitions very quickly in top position and can find submissions with impressive speed, particularly chokes. Sadykhov is always dangerous and can produce a finish at any time, with an even split of first and third-round finishes.
Nikolas Motta finishes Tom Nolan with ground and pound after dropping him with a right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.
Motta has won three of his last five fights with one no contest and has UFC victories over Tom Nolan (9-1-0), Maheshate (10-4-0), and Cameron VanCamp (15-7-1). He’s a heavy-handed striker in constant pursuit of a knockout. Training at Xtreme Couture, he has power in both hands and can create flash knockouts at any time, especially with his left hook. Motta has heavy kicks and varies them well, attacking the head, legs, and body without loading up or telegraphing. He’s always willing to exchange inside the pocket and regularly looks to close the distance and throw power shots. He has not attempted a takedown in the UFC but has successfully defended 82% of takedowns attempted on him in his promotional tenure. Motta secured eight of his ten knockouts in the first round and has scored four finishes in under two minutes.
Tofiq Musayev vs. Myktybek Orolbai
Tofiq Musayev cracks Damien Brown with a right hook. Credit: Rizin FF.
Lightweight Bout
Tofiq Musayev: 22-5-0, 18 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.
Myktybek Orolbai: 13-2-1, 6 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.
Musayev has won three of his last five bouts and is making his UFC debut. He’s a former Rizin Lightweight Grand Prix champion and a powerful striker. He remains patient on his feet, looking for openings to enter the pocket and unload looping hooks and overhands. Musayev has excellent distance management, forcing his opponent to the outside of the cage while constantly stalking and cutting them off with strikes. Training at Kill Cliff FC, he tends to fight with his hands down and is highly explosive, rarely telegraphing before unloading punches or kicks. He favors power to volume but heats up as the fight continues, increasing his pace and output. Musayev has produced fourteen first-round finishes and hasn’t been to a decision since 2019.
Myktybek Orolbai blasts Elves Brener with a powerful left hand. Credit: MMA Junkie.
Orolbai has won four of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Elves Brener (16-5-0) and Uroš Medić (10-3-0). A well-rounded scrapper, he’s always coming forward and looking to do damage. He’s landing, on average, over five takedowns per fifteen minutes in the UFC and is a tenacious grappler, willing to work to get the fight to the mat. Orolbai always comes forward, usually unloading long, lunging punches while mixing takedowns into his striking. Training with Team Alpha Male, he’s exceptionally durable, always willing to eat a shot to land one, and pushes a heavy pace at all times. He has smothering top control and is always active in top position, constantly looking to posture or improve position. Orolbai has secured his last four finishes after round one, typically wearing down his opponent throughout the fight until securing a finish.
#5 Curtis Blaydes vs. Rizvan Kuniev
Curtis Blaydes secures a takedown on Jairzinho Rozenstruik. Credit: MMA Fighting.
Heavyweight Bout
Curtis Blaydes: 18-5-0, 13 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.
Rizvan Kuniev: 12-2-1, 6 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.
Blaydes has won three of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #3 ranked Heavyweight Alexander Volkov (38-11-0), #6 ranked Heavyweight Jailton Almeida (22-3-0), and Jairzinho Rozenstruik (15-6-0). A dominant wrestler, he’s constantly looking to take the fight to the mat and control the pace. He’s averaging nearly six takedowns landed per fifteen minutes in the UFC and secures them quickly, capable of landing shots in the open and along the fence. Blaydes favors power to volume on the feet, throwing straight, tight shots and constantly moving, feinting, and switching stances. He fights behind his jab, remaining technical and composed while throwing every shot with fight-ending power. Training at Elevation Fight Team, he looks to smother his opponent and drag them into deep waters, not necessarily forcing a finish. Blaydes has the UFC Heavyweight records for most takedowns landed (62) and most control time (1:20:06), making grappling inevitable when he’s inside the cage.
Rizvan Kuniev fires a jab at Hugo Cunha. Credit: Zuffa LLC.
Kuniev has won four of his last five bouts and is making his UFC debut following Contender Series victories over Hugo Cunha (8-3-0) and Edivan Santos (17-7-0). He’s a powerful scrapper constantly looking to land power shots and wear down his opponent. He has decent head movement, staying off the centerline and regularly dipping his head before blitzing into the pocket and throwing heavy shots. Training at Gorets, he does a great job controlling the center of the cage, forcing his opponent to the outside while controlling the pace and distance. He will regularly look to clinch up and control his opponent before pursuing takedowns, often chaining takedown attempts together to bring the fight to the mat. He has heavy top pressure and will constantly look to posture up and land ground and pound. Kuniev has secured most of his knockouts after round one, remaining dangerous at all times.
#11 Rafael Fiziev vs. Ignacio Bahamondes
Rafael Fiziev throws a body kick at Mateusz Gamrot. Credit: Yahoo Sports.
Lightweight Bout
Rafael Fiziev: 12-4-0, 8 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.
Ignacio Bahamondes: 17-5-0, 11 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.
Fiziev has won two of his last five fights and has UFC wins over #10 ranked Lightweight Renato Moicano (20-6-1), Rafael Dos Anjos (32-17-0), and Marc Diakiese (18-8-0). He is a dangerous striker who constantly pressures forward and always pursues a knockout. He throws everything with power and in combination, landing, on average, about 63 significant strikes in his last five outings. Training at Tiger Muay Thai, Fiziev is highly technical, fights behind his jab, and moves in and out of the pocket quickly without taking much damage. He has very efficient striking but is also defensively sound, possessing excellent head movement and elusive footwork. With a background in Muay Thai and a pro kickboxing record of 39-8, he won’t typically initiate grappling exchanges but has defended 90% of the takedowns attempted on him in the UFC. Fiziev has a massive arsenal of attacks and regularly attempts spectacular moves like flying knees and spinning kicks.
Ignacio Bahamondes blasts Christos Giagos with a brutal head kick. Credit: MMA Fighting.
Bahamondes has won four of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over Manuel Torres (16-3-0), Rongzhu (26-6-0), and Jalin Turner (14-9-0). He’s a flashy striker capable of producing highlight-reel knockouts at any moment. He never telegraphs his attacks, constantly switching stances and throwing quick combinations followed by devastating kicks. Bahamondes is comfortable anywhere on the feet, capable of fighting at a distance or exchanging in the pocket. He hasn’t landed a takedown in the UFC but is a solid grappler with a slick submission game and excellent takedown defense. Training at Valle Flow Striking, he has a solid chin, great cardio, and can push a heavy pace throughout. Bahamondes has secured three consecutive first-round finishes and is constantly pursuing a knockout.
#4 Jamahal Hill vs. #7 Khalil Rountree Jr.
Jamahal Hill stuns Johnny Walker with a powerful right hook. Credit: Sportskeeda.
Light Heavyweight Bout
Jamahal Hill: 12-3-0, 7 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.
Khalil Rountree Jr.: 14-6-0, 10 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.
Hill has won three of his last five outings and has UFC victories over #12 ranked Light Heavyweight Johnny Walker (21-9-0), Glover Teixeira (33-9-0), and Thiago Santos (22-13-0). He’s a bruising striker with one-shot knockout power who’s constantly pressuring forward. He’ll often look to counterattack, drawing in his opponent before unloading brutal, looping hooks. Hill throws with both power and volume, averaging about 84 significant strikes landed in his last five fights. He’s never shot a takedown in the UFC but has defended 73% of the takedowns attempted on him and has excellent striking in the clinch, especially his knees. Training at Black Lion Jiu-Jitsu, he does a great job of mixing in kicks at the end of combinations, possessing perilous leg and head kicks. He’s earned four post-fight bonuses in ten UFC appearances and always leaves everything inside the cage.
Khalil Rountree Jr. fires a jab at Dustin Jacoby. Credit: Zuffa LLC.
Rountree has won four of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Anthony Smith (38-22-0), Dustin Jacoby (21-9-1), and Modestas Bukauskas (18-6-0). A vicious Muay Thai striker, he has serious power in his hands and is always pursuing a knockout. He regularly blitzes forward before exploding into the pocket, swinging massive, looping hooks and throwing every shot with fight-ending intentions. Training at Syndicate MMA, Rountree is comfortable in a brawl but has excellent technical skills, capable of picking his opponents apart from a distance. He possesses a devastating arsenal of kicks and has the only oblique kick finish in UFC history. He has not landed a takedown in the UFC and won’t typically initiate grappling exchanges, preferring to keep the fight standing. Rountree has secured seven of his ten knockouts in the first round and is most dangerous early in the fight.
Best Bets
Musayev vs. Orolbai to Go the Distance: An outstanding matchup of two exciting fighters, I’m looking forward to this one. Musayev will be making his anticipated UFC debut in his home country, while Orolbai returns to the Octagon following a Fight of the Year candidate with Mateusz Rębecki. Although I expect this fight to be competitive, I wouldn’t expect it to be as bloody or wild as Orolbai’s last appearance. Musayev is a much more movement-based, technical fighter, therefore much less likely to hang in the pocket and brawl with Orolbai. I also expect Orolbai to pursue much more grappling in this fight, given Musayev’s apparent preference for striking. I anticipate plenty of close exchanges on the feet, but ultimately, I foresee a more methodical, technical scrap between these two that will go the distance.
Curtis Blaydes Moneyline: In this matchup, we’ll see established title contender Curtis Blaydes square off with the debuting Rizvan Kuniev. One of the more shocking matchups we’ve seen in a while, it’s rare to see a debuting fighter taking on a top-five opponent. And, quite frankly, it is even more surprising because I don’t find anything about Kuniev particularly impressive. He has solid knockout power (like most 265-pounders) and decent wrestling, but he doesn’t necessarily stick out amongst the crowd at Heavyweight. While Blaydes isn’t necessarily the most fascinating fighter to watch, he has proven to be a top-level talent and earned multiple wins within the top 15. Blaydes is also an outstanding wrestler, and Kuniev typically relies on his wrestling to find his way to victory. Puncher’s chance is always significant at Heavyweight, but unless Kuniev comes out guns blazing, I anticipate Blaydes overwhelming and outgrappling Kuniev en route to victory.
Khalil Rountree Moneyline: A matchup of two powerful, dangerous strikers, there’s sure to be fireworks in this one. Both men are coming off knockout losses and looking for a highlight victory to get back into the win column. Although both are strikers, they have differing styles: Hill is more of a brawler, utilizing his power and size to do damage. While Rountree has found himself in plenty of brawls, he’s much more of a technical fighter, with an arsenal of kicks and efficient Muay Thai skills. Although I don’t expect a technical, point-fighting scrap, Rountree’s advantage in technical skill is significant in this matchup, especially considering he’s the smaller fighter. Rountree has more routes to victory: Hill has to come forward and lead the dance to win, whereas Rountree is comfortable and dangerous practically anywhere, even on the back foot. I anticipate Hill pushing a wild, heavy pace to start, and for Rountree to weather that storm while piecing up and wearing down Hill. I expect Rountree to outland him, force Hill onto the back foot, and earn an impressive victory on Saturday.
