UFC Hall-of-Famer Promises Baku Main Event 'Is Not Going to Go 25 Minutes'

On an episode of Good Guy/Bad Guy with co-host Daniel Cormier, Sonnen declared, “There is nothing ‘martial arts’ about this, there is nothing sportsman-like about this. This is going to be a brawl; this is not going to go 25 minutes.”

The outspoken Sonnen doubled down, warning fans, “You’re going to see a bludgeoning.”

The stakes couldn’t be higher for both fighters. Hill, who won the light heavyweight belt back in 2023 against Glover Texeira, has seen his stock drop after consecutive knockout losses. A third straight defeat could push him out of title contention entirely. Meanwhile, Rountree Jr., who has reinvented himself as a disciplined but still ferocious striker, sees this as a chance to prove he belongs among the elite.

While light heavyweight fighters may not have the highest ceiling in the UFC in terms of skill, the division is known for its memorable wars, and this clash between Hill and Rountree Jr. is shaping up to cement itself in that category.

“I don’t know what it means for the division and what it means going forward,” said Cormier. “They’re going to get to fight in front of a rabid fanbase that is going to be looking for them to put on a show, which I believe that they will.”