Prediction: Khalil Roundtree inside the distance
My pick is Rountree, and it’s not because I think Hill’s washed—it’s because this version of Hill, the one we’ve seen post-title, just isn’t the same cold sniper that rose up the rankings. And against someone like Rountree, who’s all violence and explosion with no hesitation, you can’t afford to show up anything less than 100% locked in.
Before becoming champ, Hill was looking like a serious problem at 205. He used his range beautifully, had some of the fastest hands in the division, threw volume without being predictable, and controlled the pace in a way that gave his opponents no rhythm. But after that title run ended, something shifted. He started doing more talking than fighting—constantly online, chirping back at fans, trying to maintain this “I’m him” aura. And it felt like all that talk carried over into the cage.
Look at the Pereira and Jiri fights. He didn’t fight smart—he fought like a guy trying to fulfill a promise. Like he had to deliver some viral KO to validate all the noise. And instead? He got clipped, cracked, and ended up as someone else’s highlight. That’s not the Hill who sniped Johnny Walker or handled Thiago Santos. That was a guy fighting emotionally, not tactically. And if that guy shows up against Rountree, it’s a wrap.
Because Khalil Rountree loves the chaos. He’s explosive from the jump, but what makes him scary now is that he’s figured out how to maintain that explosiveness throughout the fight. He’s fast, but not wild. Calculated with his pressure, quick with the kill switch, and he knows when someone’s giving him an opening. And Hill, fighting the way he’s been, is giving openings like candy on Halloween. His hands drop after combos, his chin’s up more than it used to be, and his focus looks like it’s split between proving something and surviving.
Stylistically, yeah, a prime Hill with that sniper-style, sharp jab, and smart range control could give Rountree problems. But this isn’t that version. You gotta trust the tape, and lately the tape says Hill is too hittable, too emotional, and too likely to get caught trying to be spectacular instead of being smart.