UFC’s historic debut in Baku, Azerbaijan, at the Baku Crystal Hall, aimed to bring top-tier mixed martial arts to a new market, headlined by a clash between former light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill and powerful contender Khalil Rountree Jr. Both athletes were eager to re-establish themselves in the division’s title picture after experiencing losses earlier in 2024 – Hill falling to Jiří Procházka and Alex Pereira, while Rountree Jr. also suffered a loss to Pereira in a competitive title challenge that earned him a Fight of the Night bonus.
However, despite the stakes for the headliners, the lasting image from UFC Baku wasn’t the main event itself, but rather the striking sight of a near-empty arena as the final fight was about to begin.
The Unexpected Departure
Footage captured inside the Baku Crystal Hall revealed a significant mass exodus of spectators pouring towards the exits before Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree Jr. even made their walkouts. The stands rapidly emptied out following the conclusion of the co-main event, leaving the arena feeling eerily quiet for a UFC main event.
The timing of this widespread departure points to a clear reason: the previous fight featured Azerbaijani lightweight contender Rafael Fiziev taking on Ignacio Bahamondes. Fiziev, a beloved local hero, secured a dominant unanimous decision victory (30-27 across the board) after showcasing effective body work, stellar defense, and timely takedowns against the highly-regarded Bahamondes. It became evident that for many in attendance, Fiziev’s performance was the true “people’s main event” and the primary draw of the night.
An ‘Apex’ Atmosphere
The visual of rows and sections sitting empty during the main event quickly drew comparisons on social media to the atmosphere often found at the low-capacity UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas, known for its quieter crowds. Fans online commented on the stark contrast between the energy during Fiziev’s fight and the silence that fell upon the arena for Hill vs. Rountree Jr., suggesting the fight “literally looked like an Apex fight.”
When the five-round main event finally got underway, Rountree Jr. ultimately emerged victorious, securing a unanimous decision win over Jamahal Hill with scorecards of 49-46, 50-45, and 50-45. Rountree Jr. landed leg kicks and scored brief knockdowns in the later rounds, showcasing his striking advantage. While it was a significant win for “The War Horse,” who improved his record to 15-6 with 1 NC, the fight itself was perceived by some fight fans as lacking the explosive action often expected from the hard-hitting light heavyweights, perhaps validating the early exit for a segment of the audience.
Beyond the Main Event: A Card of Decisions
The perceived lack of excitement wasn’t confined solely to the headliner. The UFC’s first event in Baku also faced criticism for a notable scarcity of finishes in the early portion of the card. In fact, fans had to wait until the eighth fight of the night – the second bout on the main card – to witness a stoppage. This contributed to a run of 13 consecutive fights going the distance across the UFC’s events in Atlanta the week prior and the early portion of the Baku card. Even the main card opener between Muhammad Naimov and Bogdan Grad, and the heavyweight clash between Curtis Blaydes and Octagon newcomer Rizvan Kuniev, were contested entirely on the judges’ scorecards, with the Blaydes fight described by some as a “dull affair.”
A Local Hero Saves the Night
Fortunately for the local faithful who stayed, the eighth fight delivered exactly what they craved. Lightweight prospect Nazim Sadykhov, who also hails from Azerbaijan, provided the first knockout of the night in a thrilling performance against Nikolas Motta. After surviving an initial onslaught from Motta in the first round, Sadykhov rallied, cutting Motta with an elbow in the second round before dropping him with a devastating right hand to secure the TKO victory at 4:17 of Round 2. The electrifying comeback and finish in front of his home crowd earned Sadykhov Fight of the Night honors, receiving a doubled bonus of $100,000 and cementing his performance as the true highlight of UFC Baku for many.
Ultimately, while Khalil Rountree Jr. claimed a major victory over Jamahal Hill in the headliner, the narrative of UFC Baku was significantly shaped by the crowd dynamics, the fervent support for local fighters like Rafael Fiziev and Nazim Sadykhov, and a card that, despite its main event billing, saw its biggest moments of excitement centered around the fighters representing the host nation. The mass exodus before the main event served as a clear reminder of who the fans in Baku truly came to see.
