UFC Baku headliner Khalil Rountree Jr. left a fighter wondering if they’d ever compete again after the ending of their 2021 fight.
Rountree Jr. is tasked with headlining the UFC’s first-ever card in Azerbaijan this Saturday night, as the Octagon touches down in new territory. In the June 21 main event, Rountree Jr. will battle Jamahal Hill, a former champion who, like ‘The War Horse’, was defeated by Alex Pereira in 2024.
Rountree Jr. marked Pereira’s last successful defense before being unseated by Magomed Ankalaev. The American put in a valiant effort at UFC 307 and at one point looked on track to complete an upset.
That would have been a shocking turn of events given the status Rountree Jr. had after a defeat in early 2021 left him with just two wins in five fights.
The 35-year-old’s road to a previously unlikely UFC title shot started in September 2021, and in gruesome fashion…
Khalil Rountree Jr. tore Modestas Bukauskas’ knee up with controversial oblique kick
Rountree Jr.’s five-fight winning run that culminated in a date opposite Pereira began at UFC Vegas 36, where he faced Modestas Bukauskas. Having both lost two fights in a row, their clash was an important one.
‘The War Horse’ ultimately had his hand raised, sending ‘The Baltic Gladiator’ out of the UFC. But being released wasn’t the worst of Bukauskas’ troubles.
The manner of defeat was a brutal oblique kick midway through round two that immediately crumpled the Lithuanian-British fighter, who let out an audible yell.
Unsurprisingly, the gruesome moment left Bukauskas with a number of serious injuries: a torn meniscus, MCL, and a tear that doctors said left his ACL hanging on “like tooth floss.”‘
The 31-year-old was sidelined for 14 months before returning under the Cage Warriors banner, where he became champion to pave his way back to the UFC.
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Khalil Rountree Jr.’s win was met with calls to ban the oblique kick
MMA fans often love nothing more than brutality inside the Octagon, but even keen enthusiasts of the sport were left debating the place of Rountree Jr.’s oblique kick.
The move, which has also been used by fighters like Robert Whittaker and Jon Jones in the past, has long divided opinion. And those who believe it should be banned were out in force in the aftermath of Rountree Jr.’s win over Bukauskas.
“Nothing but respect for (Rountree) but that kick should be illegal.”
“Respect!? That kick was dirty as f—.”
“That kick belongs in the trash can.”
“I love MMA but some moves just need to be banned. Oblique kick has ruined so many fighters’ careers.”
“They should get rid of that move.”
Interestingly, the man who had his career thrown up in the air by the move disagreed.
Bukauskas rejected calls for an oblique kick ban, instead defending Rountree Jr. and calling for him to be given some slack for utilizing the technique to devastating effect.