4 Fights We Need to See After UFC on ABC 8
The UFC debuted in Baku, Azerbaijan on Saturday night, and the promotion's matchmakers are going to be busy in the aftermath.
The card was headlined by a major light heavyweight clash, as former champ Jamahal Hill looked to rebound from back-to-back losses opposite Khalil Rountree.
Rountree ended up scoring a decisive decision win after out-striking the former champ over five rounds, setting himself up for another huge fight at 205 pounds.
In the co-main event, Azerbaijan's Rafael Fiziev defeated rising contender Ignacio Bahamondes by decision at lightweight, rebounding from three straight losses in the process. Like Rountree, he can expect to be matched up with a big name next time out.
Outside the main events, the other biggest winner of the night was longtime heavyweight contender Curtis Blaydes, who was matched up with the debuting Rizvan Kuniev on the card. It was a bizarre bit of matchmaking, but the veteran ended up winning by split decision, and he should be rewarded with a matchup with a top-15 contender in his next fight.
Here are the fights we'd like to see next for Rountree, Fiziev and Blaydes, as well as our pick for the skidding Hill's next opponent.
Khalil Rountree vs. Carlos Ulberg
1 of 4
Late last year, Rountree was granted a light heavyweight title shot opposite former champion Alex Pereira. Despite a gutsy effort, he lost by TKO in the fourth round.
Heading into that title bout, some fans felt Rountree was undeserving of the opportunity. After his win over Hill, though, it's clearer than ever that he's one of the best light heavyweights on the planet.
Under different circumstances, it's possible the 35-year-old would be looking at another title shot right now. However, Pereira lost the belt to Magomed Ankalaev earlier this year, and all signs point to the pair running it back next.
That means Rountree will most likely be matched up with another top contender in the meantime. Our pick for his next opponent is Carlos Ulberg.
The New Zealander, 34, is riding a win over former champion Jan Blachowicz, and like Rountree, could be looking at a title shot if Pereira and Ankalaev didn't have a score to settle.
It makes perfect sense to match the pair up in a No. 1 contender's fight. It's not only a sensible fight to make for the division but also an excellent one on paper, as they are two of the best strikers in the sport.
Jamahal Hill vs. Aleksandar Rakic
2 of 4
After suffering a third consecutive loss in Baku, former light heavyweight champion Hill has some serious work to do if he intends to put himself back in title contention. However, it's not impossible for him to pull it off.
We'd like to see the former champ look to get back on track against Aleksandar Rakic.
The hulking Austrian has never been a champion in the UFC—or even contended for the title—but has long been one of the best light heavyweights in the promotion. Like Hill, though, he's riding three-straight losses, after setbacks against Magomed Ankalaev, Jiri Prochazka and Jan Blachowicz.
Matching Hill and Rakic up would tell us a lot about where the two fighters belong in the division—specifically, if either has any hope of fighting for the belt in the future. Meanwhile, the loser is likely to slide out of title contention for good and may even lose their spot on the roster.
Four-fight losing streaks are very uncommon in the UFC.
Rafael Fiziev vs. Mateusz Gamrot II
3 of 4
After three straight losses, Fiziev desperately needed a win in Azerbaijan, and he got it by defeating Ignacio Bahamondes by decision.
Fiziev has options after the win. A fight with the winner of an upcoming contest between Beneil Dariush and Renato Moicano would make sense for him, and a clash with longtime lightweight contender Dan Hooker is also appealing.
However, our choice for his next contest is a rematch with Mateusz Gamrot.
The Polish fighter recently rebounded from an upset loss to Hooker with a decision defeat against the rising Ludovit Klein. That win kept him near the top of the lightweight division, but he has more work to do if he hopes to lock up a title shot.
He beat Fiziev in 2023, but it was hardly a decisive victory, as the Azerbaijani striker suffered a foot injury in the second round.
With both men looking to take another big step toward title contention, it makes sense to have them run it back in pursuit of a more conclusive outcome.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Curtis Blaydes vs. Marcin Tybura
4 of 4
Blaydes' win over Kuniev separated him from a disastrous knockout loss to Tom Aspinall in his first bid at UFC heavyweight gold last year.
After the win, the 34-year-old set his sights on a fight with Ciryl Gane. That's a great matchup, but it seems likely the Frenchman will get the next crack at Aspinall, who was promoted to undisputed champion after Jon Jones finally retired over the weekend.
If that's the way things go down, we'd like to see Blaydes matched up with Marcin Tybura.
The Pole has been floating around the UFC top 15 for years, but he has always been a bit too inconsistent to put himself in title contention. However, in 2025, he's riding back-to-back wins over prospects Jhonata Diniz and Mick Parkin. After those victories, he deserves another step up, and a fight with Blaydes would be exactly that.
The fight makes sense for both men—particularly given they have somehow not fought yet, despite spending years in the heavyweight top 15 together.
Book it for a Fight Night main event, preferably in the Apex.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
