Live Now! UFC Baku ‘Hill vs. Rountree’ Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring

Jamahal Hill (206) vs. Khalil Rountree (206)
Ignacio Bahamondes (155.5) vs. Rafael Fiziev (155.5)
Curtis Blaydes (256) vs. Rizvan Kuniev (264.5)
Tofiq Musayev (163) vs. Myktybek Orolbai (165)
Nikolas Motta (155.5) vs. Nazim Sadykhov (155)
Muhammadjon Naimov (146) vs. Bogdan Grad (146)
Oban Elliott (170.5) vs. Seok Hyeon Ko (169.5)
Ismail Naurdiev (186) vs. Jun Yong Park (186)
Live NOW! Melissa Mullins (136) vs. Darya Zheleznyakova (136)
Irina Alekseeva (135.5) vs. Klaudia Sygula (135.5)
Azat Maksum (126) vs. Tagir Ulanbekov (126)
Hamdy Abdelwahab (264.5) vs. Mohammed Usman (244.5)

Sherdog's live UFC Baku coverage will begin Saturday at 12 p.m. ET. The event is also known as UFC on ABC 8.

Hamdy Abdelwahab (264.5) vs. Mohammed Usman (244.5)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Abdelwahab (-175), Usman (+145)

Round 1

Baku, the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, is the site for the UFC tonight. Its size dwarfs any other city in the nation, one that sits well below sea level. The nickname of the “City of Winds” has been given to Baku, although not necessarily for positive reasons, as the winds blow mercilessly across the Caspian Sea. Before we go too far, while everyone may be smiling and the sun may be shining during the show today, there is quite a dark underbelly for the country, especially when it comes to MMA. That’s enough with the gloom and doom, it’s time for some fights. Unranked heavyweights on the opener, a Joe Silva special, is what fight fans at the Baku Crystal Hall and watching around the world will be getting. Abdelwahab (6-0, 1 NC; 1-0, 1 NC UFC) is back off his drug test suspension and ready to put some momentum together, aiming for his second win this year. He will have to contend with Usman (10-4, 3-2 UFC), whose big brother in a smaller weight division prevailed last weekend to give him a boost. The big men draw together under the auspices of referee Marc Goddard, and they bump their large hands together to start off the day. Abdelwahab takes to the center of the cage and boots Usman with a hefty leg kick that nearly knocks his man over on the very first blow. Usman recovers and probes out with his jabs, but another kick from Abdelwahab shakes him up once more. Usman is less compromised from the strike than before, and he loops a right hand over the top and misses the mark. Abdelwahab chambers and fires a hard low kick, and when Usman responds, he whiffs on a kick and almost falls over. Usman gets on his bike and pokes out ineffectual jabs, as Abdelwahab sneaks in a right hand to split the guard. The Egyptian connects with a front kick and then a calf kick, no-selling the jabs that bop into his face as there is nothing behind them. When the crowd starts to signal its disapproval two minutes in—this could be quite the audience today—Abdelwahab gets back to hammering the from leg of “The Motor.” Abdelwahab steps in with a clean left hand to stumble Usman, and Usman does not react well when getting caught. Abdelwahab ducks under a left hand and continues to press forward, eventually clipping Usman with a right hand. Usman’s jab is practically meaningless in that it does not keep Abdelwahab away nor does it inflict any damage, but he does set up a left hand behind it. Abdelwahab chops down the front leg, and his feints draw out reactions from the Nigerian. Usman sits down on a right hand and gets caught on the way out, and Abdelwahab is quick to give him two low kicks. “The Hammer” swings a hammer of a right hand that wobbles Usman, who backs off to the fence to get his bearings. The round ends before Abdelwahab can do anything with it.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Abdelwahab
Christian Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Abdelwahab
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Abdelwahab

Round 2

The heavyweights tap gloves together, and Usman gets right back to his jab-centric approach that allows him to get clubbed with an early uppercut. Abdelwahab crashes the pocket in pursuit of a body lock takedown, and Usman bounces off the cage wall and separates before having to deal with it. Abdelwahab smacks his foe in the front leg, and Usman’s retaliation is less-than solid. Usman pushes off, and his finger slides into the Egyptian’s right eyeball. Goddard calls it immediately and gives him time to recover, and 25 seconds elapse before Abdelwahab is ready. Abdelwahab flashes out a jab that makes Usman take a funny step, and his leg is getting chewed up as well. Out of nowhere, Usman connects with a ferocious right hand, and Abdelwahab is in the danger zone suddenly. Abdelwahab backs up to the fence, taking a few punches on the way, and he gathers his thoughts and keeps himself on his feet. Usman zings another right hand down the pipe, and then pulls back to measures his strikes. Abdelwahab gets wild and misses on his counters, while Usman pins a one-two on the chin. “The Hammer” hammers Usman with a left, and the latter’s chin hangs in tough. Usman circles all the way around to the center of the cage, jabbing the belly and looking for his right hand. Abdelwahab punts him with a front kick, and Usman does not like it and circles frantically around his opponent again. Usman beats Abdelwahab to the punch with a looping left hand, and he ducks a haymaker to shoot in for a single-leg takedown. The brick wall that is Abdelwahab completely shuts the effort down, pushing Usman back. Usman targets the body and gets jabbed twice, and his balance is nowhere near settled as he reacts poorly any time he is touched. A jab staggers him back several steps, but he still winds up with a right hand and then a left hook behind it. The horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Usman
Christian Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Usman
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Usman

Round 3

Abdelwahab comes out of his corner with both arms outstretched, and Usman smacks them out of the way to get straight to fighting. Abdelwahab obliges, punching him cleanly twice and avoiding the responses. Abdelwahab dips down for an uppercut, and Usman prods his jab and drops down for a single. Abdelwahab pushes him all the way back to the wall, where Usman trips on the outer edge of the fencing and rebounds. Usman reaches with a right and barely dodges the response over the top, his hands low. Abdelwahab targets his ducking opponent with straight punches, forcing Usman to retreat. Abdelwahab plods forward behind a one-two, and he clips Usman when Usman ducks to jab him in the belly. Abdelwahab scoops a left hand and zings a right behind it, and he gets caught with a right hand but does not flinch. Abdelwahab connects with a low kick that Usman is not a fan of, and he hops away from the right hands that Usman chambers and fires. Usman digs a right to the breadbasket after jabbing it a few times, and he tries to go up top with a right hand but hits air. Abdelwahab considers a level change, and Usman scurries away as fast as he can to reset. Abdelwahab follows him and drills him with a low kick, taking the sting out of Usman’s right hand. Usman’s weaves and dodges are labored, and Abdelwahab can time him with his fists. Usman continues prodding the midsection with jabs and the occasional right hand, and he connects with a right hand that hurts the Egyptian badly. Abdelwahab keeps a decent poker face but is stood straight up, and Usman unloads on him to the head and waist. Abdelwahab grits his teeth and tries to slug it out, but Usman is too elusive in the final moments of the match.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Usman (29-28 Usman)
Christian Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Usman (29-28 Usman)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Usman (29-28 Usman)

The Official Result

Mohammed Usman def. Hamdy Abdelwahab via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Azat Maksum (126) vs. Tagir Ulanbekov (126)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Ulanbekov (-380), Maksum (+300)

Round 1

From the heaviest men’s division to the lightest we go, as flyweights take center stage next. Fresh off a victory in January, Ulanbekov (16-2, 5-1 UFC) wants to go two for two this year at the expense of Maksum (15-1, 1-1 UFC). In this battle of Russia vs. a former Soviet republic—Kazakhstan—referee Rich Mitchell will keep things on the up-and-up. There is a glove touch and a partial hug. They get right to it, flashing punches at one another after the brief embrace. They back off to measure the other, with Ulanbekov pushing out a front kick while Maksum rips several punches to the body. The momentum of Maksum darting in and out results in a near level change, and Ulanbekov resets, bounds forward and shoots in for a double-leg entry. Ulanbekov lifts his man up in the air and carries him around for a few feet, but Maksum is able to get his feet beneath him to not go down. Ulanbekov shoves him to the wall, and he lifts up Maksum’s leg to try to hit a single. Maksum bounces off the other foot, pushes off and starts winging punches. A head kick to end a series of swings makes Maksum fall over, but he springs back to his feet and has his guard up to block a high kick soaring at his dome. Maksum jabs the body with a kick, and he goes to the chest with a right hand. When “Kazakh” scores a low kick, Ulanbekov tags him with an overhand right counter. Maksum gets driven back during a flurry by the Russian, but he is quick to get behind his jab and pop it off Ulanbekov’s forehead. Ulanbekov reddens his foe’s nose with straight punches, and Maksum smacks him back with a body kick and sharp jabs of his own. Ulanbekov gets off a one-two and a front kick, and he waits for Maksum to advance so he can respond with his own quick offense. Ulanbekov wraps a head kick up over the shoulder, and Maksum responds with the same, a one-two with a head kick behind it. Ulanbekov dings his man with a right hand, and lands a body kick. The frantic flyweight round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ulanbekov
Christian Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Ulanbekov
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Ulanbekov

Round 2

The fighters double-touch gloves before getting back to it, and they pick up right where they left off. Ulanbekov slips a few punches to give some back. Maksum swings wildly and trips on his way out, and although he catches Ulanbekov, Ulanbekov tags him back. Maksum releases a solid right hand, and Ulanbekov shakes him up with one over the top. Maksum comes out swinging and walks directly into a jab, but he is active with punches and kicks. Ulanbekov drills his foe with a right hand, and Maksum crashes forward in the willing arms of his opponent, who knees him up the middle. Maksum separates and avoids a one-two, and his jab has turned Ulanbekov’s nose the shade of his shorts: red. Ulanbekov shoots in for a double, clasping his hands but not going anywhere. Mitchell asks for more action as Ulanbekov stalls out unable to take the fight down, and Maksum takes the fight into his own hands and swings his way out of the clinch, although he falls over with a head kick effort. When Maksum bounds back up, he flicks out a one-two and gets pegged with a right hand over the top. Ulanbekov stabs the body with a teep kick, drawing a takedown response out of Maksum that is stuffed. Maksum manages to circle around and take Ulanbekov’s back, and when he lifts Ulanbekov up, Ulanbekov grabs the fence and holds onto it to prevent the takedown. Rules, what are rules? Mitchell yells, but the damage is done, as Maksum gets the fight down but is only able to keep him there for a second. Maksum tries on a second attempt to elevate and slam Ulanbekov down, and Ulanbekov grabs hold of a guillotine choke and keeps it until the round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Maksum
Christian Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Maksum
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Maksum

Round 3

One final glove touch between the flyweights commences the action, and Maksum gets right in Ulanbekov’s face with quick combinations. Maksum drives a one-two down the pipe, and he chains a few body shots behind it. The two slug it out in an exchange, and Maksum hits a little harder and is a bit quicker. Ulanbekov grips him in a clinch and jams a knee in his belly, and Maksum pushes off before absorbing another. Ulanbekov gives chase and rails him with two long right hands, where he drops down and looks for a takedown. Maksum backs up to the fence behind him, and he thwarts the effort. Maksum eventually pushes away, swaying and countering with a right hand and shooting in for a double. Ulanbekov stands him up and the two start banging in the clinch, with mean uppercuts on both sides. Maksum stops a takedown effort and goes for two uppercuts, missing an elbow on the break. A shot from Ulanbekov is stopped in its tracks, and Ulanbekov gets back to the clinch and blasts knees to the body and an elbow up top for good measures. Maksum disengages and starts trading, with both fighters nailing one another with one-twos and then some, until they tie up. The uppercuts rip from both sides, and Ulanbekov slashes an elbow up top. The two are going toe-to-toe in what has become a near mirror match, and scorecards could be all over the map. Ulanbekov drills Maksum with uppercuts and stuns him with an elbow, and he lifts up a knee or two before Maksum breaks off. Ulanbekov rings Maksum’s bell with a right hand, and he shoots for a takedown. Maksum reverses him and throws him on his face, and he lifts up Ulanbekov from behind and dumps him on his head one last time for good measure. The judges will have their hands full for sure after this “Fight of the Night”-worthy effort from the flyweights.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ulanbekov (29-28 Ulanbekov)
Christian Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Maksum (29-28 Maksum)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Maksum (29-28 Maksum)

The Official Result

Tagir Ulanbekov def. Azat Maksum via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)

Irina Alekseeva (135.5) vs. Klaudia Sygula (135.5)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Alekseeva (-270), Sygula (+220)

Round 1

In a de facto four-woman bantamweight tournament, this bout and the next might set the stage for a new contender in the division starved for fresh challengers. Alekseeva (5-2, 1-1 UFC), nicknamed “Russian Ronda,” may only have one armbar on her ledger, but maybe she can pick up her second tonight. She battles Fitfabric representative Sygula (6-2, 0-1 UFC) out of Poland, who also posts exactly one armbar on her resume. It should be noted that both of these two, as well as the upcoming Darya Zheleznyakova, have lost to Melissa Mullins in the past, so a rematch could be in order if Mullins prevails. The bantamweights touch ‘em up as referee Lukasz Bosacki watches on. Alekseeva Sygula is quick to engage, with a low kick and a right hand over the top. Alekseeva tries to check a kick by lifting her leg up, so Sygula drills it on the other side and then follows with another overhand right. A huge right hand hurts Alekseeva, and Sygula uses Alekseeva’s momentum against her by blasting her in the face with her fists. Alekseeva’s responses have marked up Sygula’s face as well, especially her right cheek, but the overhand right from Sygula has been the best weapon thus far. Alekseeva walks through a few punches to tag Sygula with her own right hook. Sygula strings punches into low kicks, while Alekseeva flails and swings without concern of landing or not. Sygula wraps a right hand over the guard, and Alekseeva is tough but taking punishment. Sygula mixes things up with a pushing front kick, and she prods out a jab and a right hook, her most effect combo. Sygula dances out of the way of Alekseeva’s responses, striking more cleanly and accurately for the most part while Alekseeva is all about haymakers. Sygula comes up short on an elbow but still connects with her low kick, and Alekseeva’s leg shows a foot-shaped welt on the inside and outside. Sygula stays out of range from the attacks, darting in to nail Alekseeva with a left and a right before zipping away. Alekseeva stabs straight punches to the body, but her blows with arcs on them are less-than-accurate. Sygula bears down on her opponent, and she finishes a combo with a front kick, toes extended, that connects squarely to Alekseeva’s groin. Mitchell calls the foul—women can take groin shots too—and Alekseeva bounces around and recovers after about 35 seconds. Sygula does not come out slowly when they restart, rifling off a combination and dodging the looping counters. Alekseeva goes to the body with a kick, and Sygula stands in the pocket and trades just long enough before taking fire. The horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sygula
Christian Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Sygula
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Sygula

Round 2

Sygula picks up right where she left off, with aggression and active offense. Sygula does not go for broke, instead finding her openings and letting them go. Alekseeva, meanwhile, swings for the bleachers. A solid right hand to the body from Alekseeva surprises Sygula, who backs off in a hurry, and Alekseeva gives chase and tries to lay into her. The Polish fighter hurries away, and she lets rip an inside low kick that slams square into Alekseeva’s groin. Alekseeva immediately drops to her knees in pain, and a disappointed Bosacki calls time. Alekseeva tries to hurry back, and Bosacki tells her she needs to take as long as she needs. He goes over to Sygula to issue a hard warning, but does not deduct a point, because again, rules are meant to be broken in MMA. After somewhere in the neighborhood of 90 seconds, the ladies get back to throwing down, and Alekseeva is angry and looking for violence. Sygula stays light on her feet, hopping to and fro to not take much damage. The Polish woman bounds in with a left hand, and she springs away when Alekseeva loops two right hands at her. Alekseeva pushes the pace, backing Sygula off, but most of her winging shots miss the mark. Sygula pushes forward momentarily behind a one-two, and she pecks out a few jabs. Alekseeva swings and mostly misses, skimming the top of the forehead as her winging punches lose some of their sting. Sygula catches her at the end of a one-two, and Alekseeva frowns and aims a hammerfist at Sygula’s knee. Sygula clips Alekseeva when Alekseeva marches her down, and Alekseeva may land back but her nose gets busted open in exchanges. Sygula goes from body to head indiscriminately, stopping Alekseeva in her tracks for a moment. Alekseeva gathers her thoughts and spins with two kicks that miss the mark, while Sygula counters her right before the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sygula
Christian Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Sygula
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Sygula

Round 3

The final round opens up with Sygula attacking almost immediately, pushing out a front kick and trying her luck at an overhand right. Sygula walks into a front kick, and Alekseeva snaps her head back with a follow-up left hand. Alekseeva gears up for violence, swinging her shin to the midsection and crashing forward in pursuit of a body lock takedown. Alekseeva keeps it high and tight, jamming Sygula with knees. Sygula explodes out of the tie-up, and Alekseeva’s body language is not great as blood trickles from her nose and she takes several deep breaths. Sygula chains a number of punches together up top, and she stuns Alekseeva to her core with a standing back fist. Alekseeva bends over but does not go down, and Sygula attacks to try to finish the fight. Sygula unleashes punches in bunches until the two tie up, in which she changes levels and drags “Russian Ronda” to the mat. Sygula lands comfortably in half guard, where she smothers her opponent and grinds her out. Alekseeva bucks but gives up full mount in the process, and Sygula gladly claims it with a minute left. Sygula does not posture up, instead staying chest-to-chest to ride out the fight. She drops down a few punches and elbows to punctuate the round, and finally sitting up to rain down blows until the final horn blares. Sygula stands and raises her arms in the air, while the defeated Alekseeva remains on her knees in disappointment as the two go the distance.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sygula (30-27 Sygula)
Christian Laporte scores the round: 10-8 Sygula (30-26 Sygula)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Sygula (30-27 Sygula)

The Official Result

Klaudia Sygula def. Irina Alekseeva via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Melissa Mullins (136) vs. Darya Zheleznyakova (136)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Mullins (-278), Zheleznyakova (+225)

Round 1

With their bout already hinted at in the previous match, Mullins (7-1, 2-1 UFC) and Zheleznyakova (9-2, 1-1 UFC) will run back a match from Ares 9 in 2022 where Mullins pulled off the last-second TKO that some referees might have let go to the bell. Any doubt is about to be removed from the equation as these two bantamweights rematch, and referee Rich Mitchell is on top of the action. Gloves are quickly touched, but Zheleznyakova wants to get her hands on her opponent and does just that immediately. The Russian goes to the head and body, and she beats Mullins to the punch with a straight right hand when splitting apart. Zheleznyakova stings Mullins with a combination, and Mullins’ face is red and taking shots in a hurry. Mullins shoots desperately after getting hurt, and Zheleznyakova shoves her away and continues punching her in the face. Zheleznyakova disengages and finds her way forward with two looping hooks. Mullins catches Zheleznyakova on her way in with a right hand that turns Zheleznyakova’s nose red, but Mullins’ whole face is already crimson. Zheleznyakova swings a right hand that buzzes the jaw, and she goes to the body after to keep things flowing. Mullins pushes her away with a front kick, and she drills Zheleznyakova with a left hand but gets caught on the way back. Both women show facial damage after less than half a round, and Mullins stuns her opponent with a crisp right hand. Mullins stands in the pocket and nails Zheleznyakova with an uppercut, backing her opponent up and rifling off a left hand. Zheleznyakova circles and swings hard, knocking Mullins’ head around but not discouraging her from entering. Three more punches from Zheleznyakova connect clean on the Brit’s jaw, which still holds up under fire. Mullins meanders forward, bounding away from a few punches but sitting down on her right hand. Zheleznyakova misses on a few blitzes, and Mullins backs her off with a clean jab. Mullins puts three hands on her foe, dislodging Zheleznyakova’s gumshield. Mitchell grabs it and hands it back to the women, who take a moment to figure out who lost it. Zheleznyakova replaces it, and Mullins knocks it right back out on the restart. Mullins bullies her opponent to the floor, standing in half guard and sitting down into mount. Mullins snatches up an armbar in a moment, rolling over to lock it down. Zheleznyakova stays tight to stop the submission from hyperextending her limb, making it to the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Mullins
Christian Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Mullins
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Mullins

Round 2

The women tap their gloves together, and they proceed to trade jabs. Mullins pushes out a front kick to the ribs, staying out of range from the Russian’s long punches. Mullins stays in the center of the cage, hopping out of the way of the offense of her foe and clipping Zheleznyakova with a right hand. The right hand causes immediate damage, as Zheleznyakova’s left eye starts swelling up fast. Zheleznyakova tries to pay her back with an overhand right, but it is not nearly as powerful. Mullins flicks out her jab, and she hammers the front leg with a kick. Zheleznyakova crashes in swinging, and Mullins stands her ground and pops her with an overhand right. When Mullins goes to the lead leg again, she stumbles back and inadvertently avoids the counters soaring past her. They jab at one another, and Mullins eventually follows one with a two. Zheleznyakova swings wide a few times, her mouth wide open, and she finds her bearings and tags Mullins with a trio of punches. Zheleznyakova reaches out with a right hand and follows with a left on the jaw, and she backs Mullins off with a few punches and appears to frazzle Mullins with a body shot, who bends over. Zheleznyakova springs into action, spraying punches every which way including some towards Mullins. As Zheleznyakova lays into her opponent, Mullins grits her teeth and tackles the Russian to the mat. Zheleznyakova keeps her arms wrapped around Mullins to shut down any offense, and Mullins explodes with 15 seconds left to get into top position. The round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Zheleznyakova
Christian Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Zheleznyakova
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Zheleznyakova