All of the excitement of UFC Baku comes to a head Saturday night. Fighters and fans alike are highly anticipating the 12-fight card.
Headlined by a violent fight in the Light Heavyweight division in Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree. Both fighters coming in off long lay offs and losses, it proves to be an interesting matchup.
The live crowd should also take a specific liking to the Co-Main Event as well. Hometown fighter Rafael Fiziev will be taking on the talented prospect in Ignacio Bahamondes.
With two high level striking bouts scheduled for the Main & Co-Mains, fans are sure to be in for a violent fight card in Baku!
It will be interesting to see which fighter will get back in the win column Saturday night. Weigh-ins and media day are complete, it’s time to get right into some analysis for these fights!
I have created this UFC Baku Best Bets guide to provide deeper analysis on some of the big fights & provide our readers here at Betting News with the best gambling experience possible for UFC Baku. Lines are moving, money is coming in, and there is less than 24 hours to get our bets in so lets dive into it!
Check out the odds for the entire card at the best online sportsbooks available in the U.S.
UFC Baku Main Event Jamahal Hill vs. Khalil Rountree Analysis & Best Bet
Top LHW Contenders Jamahal Hill & Khalil Rountree Face Off At UFC Baku
The stage has been set for top LHW contenders Jamahal Hill & Khalil Rountree to throw down at UFC Baku. With both fighters coming off knockout losses, durability should prove to be important in such a violent match up.
Khalil Rountree brings a different level of power, strength , & athleticism to the LHW division. Chiseled to a T, Rountree is truly a physical specimen of a human.
Muay Thai is the base of his game, training at a high level gym at Syndicate MMA primarily he gets some of the best looks in fight camp. Rountree has traveled the world to improve his striking even spending long stints with the greats at Tiger Muay Thai in Thailand.
In the early parts of his career he was truly hit or miss, going 4-6 in his first 10 bouts in the promotion. Rountree made great changes in his preparation and skills in 2021 such as the aforementioned trip to Tiger Muay Thai and moving to Syndicate MMA in the US.
Since he has looked almost like an entirely different fighter, ripping off 5 wins in a row before a car crash match up with the former champ Alex Pereira. Knocking out 4 of 5 opponents on the run, he proved his power & striking are top tier in the division.
A southpaw fighter, Rountree provides tough looks for his opponents in the pocket. Often firing back with great timing, he has shown phenomenal counter striking skills in exchanges.
The train came to a screeching halt when he faced off with fellow striker Alex Pereira. Rountree found some success but ultimately was out struck and picked apart in striking exchanges.
Rountree took an immense amount of damage in the fight before eventually crumbling to a body shot in the 4th round. Even being almost 8 months ago, some fans are wondering if he is getting back into the cage to soon after such a war.
Will Hill Be Able To Get Back In The Win Column?
Former LHW Champion Jamahal Hill
Jamahal Hill has had a tough stint in the UFC since claiming the title in 2023. In a freak turn of events he tore his Achilles tendon in a pick up basketball game just a few weeks after becoming champion.
The UFC not wanting to hold up the division & Hill being a company first fighter, he vacated the title while he took a year to recover.
Since his return he has lost 2 straight fights, even being finished in both. MMA fans are left to question weather he is the same caliber of fighter as he was pre injury.
The knock out loss to Alex Pereira came with a little bit of drama. After a short timeout in the fight, fighters quickly reset & he was knocked out seconds later prompting concerns weather we was ready to fight again after the timeout.
Some concerns were laid to rest in his last fight against Jiri Prochazka. Hill’s striking looked off at first, but as the fight went on he settled in & started landing great counters with power.
Before the injury, Hill was an aggressive boxer that plotted forward throwing big punches to pressure his opponent. Also a south paw, he has a stiff jab with an incredibly powerful overhand left that has put UFC level opponents away.
In his match up with Glover Texeira he showed his takedown defense is elite as well. He was able to stuff 15 takedowns from the champion on his way to a dominant win to claim the title.
Hill is desperate for a win here, with his back against the wall. I tend to favor youth here especially If the durability of hill is not entirely gone, I believe he will return to the level of fighter he once was and can shine in this match up with Rountree.
UFC Baku Main Event – Jamahal Hill vs Khalil Rountree Prediction: Jamahal Hill Wins (-110) at Betonline
UFC Baku Main Event – Jamahal Hill vs Khalil Rountree Best Bet: Over 2.5 Total Rounds (+100) at Betonline
UFC Baku Co-Main Event Rafael Fiziev vs. Ignacio Bahamondes Analysis & Best Bet
Violent Match Up In The Lightweight Division
Ignacio Bahamondes has been on an absolute tear as of late. Winner of 6 of his last 7 including 3 straight wins by finish, there is a lot of hype behind the Mexican Prospect.
Being one of the bigger fighters in the lightweight division , Bahamondes proves to be a tough fight for anyone. Standing at 6’3 with a 75” reach, he has a size advantage in almost every match up specifically this one with Rafael Fiziev.
A very versatile striker, he is able to use his reach to control distance while mixing up his strikes. He has great power in his hands and is just as dangerous with his legs providing heavy leg kicks and having 3 head kick knockouts in the UFC.
Bahamondes only striking downfall is his defense. It has been proven he has a tough time getting his head off the center line and absorbs a lot of damage in fights he cant finish quickly.
With his defense being a question, his durability is not. Never being knocked out in his career, he has shown the ability to absorb many significant strikes with out his chin giving out.
The grappling game of Bahamondes has also proved very dangerous in the UFC. Picking up a submission win in his last fight, he was able to use his large frame to lock in a triangle choke.
He does not bring a grappling first game plan to his fights though. With very few offensive takedown attempts, he prefers to strike with most opponents.
I believe Bahamondes is a very dangerous fighter in the division but he will struggle in match ups with precision strikers without defensive improvements.
Will Fiziev Overcome The Size Disadvantage At Home?
Rafael Fiziev Looks To End Losing Streak In Familiar Territory
Rafael Fiziev has been on a tough run as of late in the UFC. Loser of 3 in a row, with one due to an ACL tear in the first round.
After returning from injury , he took a rematch on short notice to the always electric Justin Gaethje. The fight relatively remained the same as the first meeting, a high level back and forth striking battle where Fiziev ultimately lost a close decision.
Returning from injury in the fight, the ring rust seemed apparent but Fiziev was able to showcase flashes of the striking that MMA fans all know him for. One thing came to a surprise to many MMA fans, was that Gaethje was able to knock down fiziev not only once but twice.
This being one of the only times in his career hes been dropped or shown durability concerns, it left some fans puzzled. Some could attribute it to the short notice of the fight, as some hard weight cuts can affect the chin.
Fiziev is a high level, precision accurate kick boxer that has made a career out of his flashing striking. He is the striking coach at the world renowned Tiger Muay Thai in Thailand, which proves the level of his striking.
The takedown defense in his game has always been top notch with a historical 90% takedown defense percentage. In recent fights Fiziev has also added a takedown threat of his own , showing he has good offensive wrestling when he needs it.
Growing up in Kazakhstan this will be as close to a home town fight as Fiziev will ever get in his career and the crowd is certain to be behind him. I believe he will be able to stand the test of the prospect and be the technical striker he is to secure the victory on the scorecards.
UFC Baku Co – Main Event – Rafael Fiziev vs Ignacio Bahamondes Prediction: Over 2.5 Rounds (-200) at Betonline
UFC Baku Co – Main Event – Rafael Fiziev vs Ignacio Bahamondes Best Bet: Rafael Fiziev Wins (+110) at Betonline
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UFC Baku Schedule & FAQ
When is UFC Baku?
- UFC Baku will take place Saturday, June 21, 2025.
Where is UFC Baku?
- UFC Baku will go down live at the Baku Crystal Ball in Baku, Azerbaijan.
What time does UFC Baku start?
- UFC Baku Preliminary Card start time: 12 p.m. ET
- UFC Baku Main Card start time: 3 p.m. ET
How to Watch UFC Baku?
- UFC Baku Preliminary Card Coverage: ESPN+
- UFC Baku Main Card Coverage: ESPN+
How to Bet on UFC Baku?
Most international and domestic sportsbooks will carry odds for a fight card of this caliber. But check out our best online sportsbooks here to see what Betting News recommends for a great UFC betting experience.
If one thing is for sure, Saturday’s card is sure to bring the action. I hope this betting guide helps bring more context to your UFC entertainment experience.
If you want my full card of bets, tune into the Violence Report on our network on Twitch every Saturday. Or for more gambling content like this, make sure to follow me on X or Betting News on all platforms!