Khalil Rountree shrugs off Jamahal Hill's disparaging remarks before UFC Baku
Khalil Rountree shrugs off Jamahal Hill's disparaging remarks before UFC Baku
Khalil Rountree isn't taking Jamahal Hill's disparaging remarks ahead of their UFC on ABC 8 fight too seriously.
Rountree (13-6 MMA, 9-6 UFC) takes on former light heavyweight champion Hill (12-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) in Saturday's UFC on ABC 8 (ABC, ESPN, ESPN+) headliner at Baku Crystal Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Hill told MMA Junkie that he plans on showing that Rountree isn't on his level, but the former title challenger doesn't take it as a personal attack. He explains why.
"I think that's a mixture of a lot of things, but it's also not the first time that I've heard this," Rountree told MMA Junkie. "I heard it against Alex (Pereira), we've heard it against Jiri (Prochazka). 'Alex is not on my level, Jiri is not on my level, Khalil Rountree is not on my level.' So, I'm just going to leave it at that (laughs). I'm prepared."
Rountree hasn't competed since falling short in a valiant effort against Alex Pereira in their title fight at UFC 307. Light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev and Pereira are expected to run things back, and Rountree hopes to find himself in the title picture again with a win over Hill.
"It's so hard to say with guys' decisions and choosing to fight who and this and that," Rountree said. "So, I really don't know what to expect, who's going to fight who, but all I know is that by the end of the year, I would love to be right there fighting for the belt again. Whether it would be Alex or whoever else. I don't care who's there, it's about the belt and my biggest dream is I would love for it to be in Vegas. I would love to fight for the belt in Vegas, at home, and get a chance to win it at home."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NBC Sports
38 minutes ago
- NBC Sports
How to watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs Indiana Pacers Game 7: TV/stream info, date, time for 2025 NBA Finals
A new NBA champion will be crowned this Sunday, June 22, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder go head-to-head with Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers at Paycom Center. It all comes down to Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. Tip-off is at 8:00 PM ET on ABC. RELATED: Resiliant Pacers will not go away, force Game 7 after 108-91 Game 6 win vs. Thunder The Indiana Pacers forced Game 7 with an aggressive 108-91 win on home court on Thursday night. Obi Toppin led the way for Indiana with 20 points, Andrew Nembhard added 17, and Pascal Siakam scored 16 points with a team-high 13 rebounds. Haliburton, playing through a strained calf injury, contributed 14 points. 'We did our job to take care of home court and we've got to be ready to compete in Game 7,' said Haliburton. The Pacers' defense forced 21 Thunder turnovers, including 8 from Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished with 21 points on 7-of-15 shooting. 'It was collective. It wasn't one guy. We were not where we needed to be on either end of the floor for much of the game. We have to be a lot better before Game 7,' said Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault. 'The way I see it is, we sucked [in Game 6]. We can learn our lessons. We have one game for everything — for everything we've worked for — and so do they,' Gilgeous-Alexander said. 'The better team Sunday will win.' RELATED: Pacers, Thunder players feel weight of Game 7: 'One game for everything you ever dreamed of' Kurt Helin, How to watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs Indiana Pacers Game 7: Date: Sunday, June 22 Time: 8:00 PM ET Where: Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma TV Channel: ABC When is Game 7 of the NBA Finals? Sunday, June 22, at 8:00 PM ET on ABC. What channel is the Thunder vs Pacers game on? The Thunder vs Pacers series will take place on ABC. Thunder vs Pacers Series Scores and Schedule: *All times listed are ET Game 1: Pacers 111, Thunder 110 Game 2: Thunder 123, Pacers 107 Game 3: Pacers 116, Thunder 107 Game 4: Thunder 111, Pacers 104 Game 5: Thunder 120, Pacers 109 Game 6: Pacers 108, Thunder 91 Game 7: Pacers at Thunder - Sun, June 22, 8 PM on ABC Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for each game of the Thunder vs Pacers series! Oklahoma City Thunder's Path to the NBA Finals: The Thunder are seeking their first NBA title since relocating to Oklahoma City in 2008. The last time the franchise reached the Finals was in 2012, dropping their series against LeBron James' Miami Heat in 5. Here is how they advanced to the NBA Finals: Oklahoma City swept the No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies in the First Round, eliminated the No. 4 Denver Nuggets in 7 in the Conference Semifinals, and defeated the No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves in 5 in the Western Conference Finals. RELATED: Times, they are a changin' - Thunder vs. Pacers Finals highlights generational change sweeping NBA Indiana Pacers' Path to the NBA Finals: The Indiana Pacers are seeking their first NBA title. The team's last Finals appearance was in 2000, when they lost to the Lakers in 6. Here is the team's path to the Finals: Indiana eliminated the No. 5 Milwaukee Bucks and the No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers in 5 games, before knocking out the No. 6 New York Knicks in 6 to advance to the Finals. Head to for the latest news, updates, and storylines!
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Jon Jones: Dana White gets things done, Francis Ngannou 'could very easily be back in UFC'
Jon Jones: Dana White gets things done, Francis Ngannou 'could very easily be back in UFC' Jon Jones isn't ruling out the possibility of a Francis Ngannou return to the UFC. Ngannou's departure from the UFC was far from amicable. He signed with PFL after failing to come to terms on a new deal with the UFC, departing as the reigning heavyweight champion. UFC CEO Dana White was recently asked about the possibility of Ngannou coming back, where he simply responded, "Probably not." With current UFC heavyweight champion Jones (28-1 MMA, 22-1 UFC) continuously stating a title-unification bout with interim champ Tom Aspinall doesn't interest him, a potential fight with Ngannou, however, does. But is there a world where White re-signs "The Predator?" "I think Dana gets things done," Jones said on the "Full Send Podcast." "I think business speaks before emotions. If Francis presents himself in a humble way, I think that he could very easily be back in the UFC." Despite White and Ngannou's public rift in the past, Jones insists White wouldn't pass up on the opportunity if it was presented correctly. "Absolutely," Jones said on the possibility of Ngannou returning to the UFC. "Dana White is one of the best sports minds in recent history for a reason, and money talks. Francis brings eyes, and I'm sure Dana will be interested. He can be stubborn. I think I'm an example. People, they grow and mature, and time changes things, and time heals all. There was moments in my career where I felt like Dana absolutely hated me. Now I feel he's a big advocator for me."
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Kamaru Usman fights back tears after beating Joaquin Buckley to earn first UFC win since 2021
Kamaru Usman fought back tears on Saturday after overcoming Joaquin Buckley in Atlanta, a result that marked his first UFC win since 2021. Usman, who retained the welterweight title five times during a three-year reign, used his wrestling prowess to dominate Buckley for four rounds, before surviving a fifth-round scare to earn a unanimous-decision win. Advertisement The scorecards read 49-46, 49-46, 48-47 in Usman's favour, as the Nigerian-American snapped a three-fight losing streak. In doing so, he also broke Buckley's six-fight winning run. Usman had last scored a victory in November 2021, outpointing old rival Colby Covington in his final successful title defence. Then, in August 2022, he was en route to a comfortable decision win over Leon Edwards before succumbing to a dramatic, late knockout. Usman, who previously outpointed Edwards in 2015, lost their trilogy bout on points in 2023, failing to regain the 170lb title. Then, in October 2023, he stepped in to face the unbeaten Khamzat Chimaev on short notice. In what was Usman's middleweight debut, he performed admirably but lost via decision. Usman, 38, returned to welterweight to face the in-form Buckley on Saturday (14 June), where he defied his doubters with an impressive performance, which gave way to an emotional post-fight interview. Advertisement 'It feels good,' he said in the cage. 'It's been a while, I needed to get that monkey off my back. I know I'm still able to do this at the highest level. Sometimes when you're going up against a young, hungry guy like that – very talented, very aggressive – you've got to pull out the skills and use the experience. Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman (Getty Images) 'That's what I did tonight. I expected him to be really, really tough, which he was. I know what it takes to work and get up in here. Thank you to him for bringing everything that he brought. 'I know it's a running joke, everybody wants to get on the internet and talk s***: 'Oh, his knees, his knees [are done]!' Well, shut the f*** up. I can still do what I do. The rest of the welterweight division, listen: I have been and always will be the f*****g boogeyman.' Advertisement 'I can do that to anybody, any one of them. Those knockouts will come, I just needed this monkey off my back. Next one, whoever it is for that title, I'll see about you.' An emotional Usman also referenced his daughter's absence from the Fight Night, saying: 'Before I go, I just wanted to say that I have a lot of emotions coming into this one [...] a lot of things that I had to battle back from. I'm holding back all the emotions. 'Unfortunately, my daughter can't be here with me tonight. That's another long story. But man, I just want to say thank you to everybody – thank you to my family, my coaches who kept me going, Buckley for bringing the challenge.' Jaoquin Buckley must go back to the drawing board (Getty) Jack Della Maddalena, the reigning welterweight champion, is due to defend the belt later this year against Islam Makhachev, who recently vacated the lightweight strap. 'JDM' won the belt in May by outpointing Belal Muhammad, who is now calling for a fight with Usman, but the 'Nigerian Nightmare' has insisted he only wants a title shot next.
