Khalil Rountree Jr. vows to make "title shot undeniable" with his performance against Jamahal Hill at UFC Baku

Khalil Rountree Jr. is set to headline UFC Baku against former light heavyweight champ Jamahal Hill this weekend. The loss to Alex Pereira may have halted his momentum, but it did not break him.

According to Rountree, it has sharpened his resolve, and he wants the UFC to have no choice but to give him another shot at gold after a dominant win. Before the Pereira fight, Rountree had rattled off five straight wins.

Speaking about the fight in an interview with Ariel Helwani, Rountree said:

“There hasn’t been too much talk [about a title shot next]. There have been talks of what we would like after this. I think the UFC has its own ideas and thoughts of what they would want. My plan is to put on a performance that makes a title shot undeniable, if that makes any sense. I’m ready to be a champion and the champion. Everything I’m working on and doing is to be prepared for that again. That is absolutely what I want and what I am gunning for. My plan is to put on an undeniable performance so that I can get that chance again.” [H/t: bjpenn.com]

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He added:

"I gave my absolute all in the [Alex Pereira] fight, I got to experience what that feels like. I think that it just helped me grow and not necessarily be afraid of the fire… I’ve been through the fire, and although I didn’t make it out victorious, I’ve been there and I felt that. I think that toughened me up a bit.”

Check out Khalil Rountree Jr.'s comments below (20:40):

Jamahal Hill previews upcoming clash against Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC Baku

Jamahal Hill returns to action against Khalil Rountree Jr. in the main event of UFC Baku. After back-to-back losses and a grueling recovery from a torn Achilles, Hill believes this bout marks a turning point.

Despite setbacks against Alex Pereira and Jiri Prochazka, Hill insists he’s regained the sharpness that once made him champion. He respects Rountree’s power and grit but sees a clear skill gap.

Previwing the clash in an interview with MMA Junkie, Hill said:

"He can hit you with some big shots, and he's never going to stop, and never going to quit and give up. There ain't no back down from him. ... I haven't seen anything from anything that makes me think, 'This dude is on your level.' Is he dangerous to anybody? It's a fight. In a fight, anybody can land a shot, and that makes them dangerous and can change the fight. He has my respect in that regard, but to think skill-for-skill he can match with me? I don't see it that." [H/t: MMA Junkie]

About the author

Abhishek Ramadasan Nambiar is a journalist who covers MMA at Sportskeeda. As a long-time practitioner of various martial arts, seeing the fusion of different forms into a quest for the ultimate fighter felt both primal and profoundly technical. At Sportskeeda, Abhishek's primary goal is to offer a fresh and distinctive angle through his writing, aiming to provide readers with more than just the basics of MMA. Along with keeping them informed about the latest developments in the sport, he strives to offer valuable insights that enhance their understanding of MMA.

When not writing about MMA, Abhishek often spends time reviewing music or devouring Brian Evanson's and Blake Crouch's work. Sign up to receive news, regular updates, and exclusive coverage.

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Edited by Abhishek Nambiar