Light heavyweights Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree Jr. are set to clash in a five-round main event for the UFC’s return to Kansas City on April 26.
UFC officials announced the matchup on Wednesday along with the rest of the main card that includes the previously confirmed fight where Anthony Smith is expected to retire after facing Zhang Mingyang in a 205-pound showdown.
As for the headliner, Hill looks to bounce back following consecutive knockout losses to reigning UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira and former champion Jiri Prochazka in his past two outings. Prior to those losses, Hill had rattled off four straight wins including a title fight victory over Glover Teixeira to become UFC light heavyweight champion.
Sadly, Hill had to relinquish the belt after he suffered a torn Achilles’ tendon that kept him out of action for several months before returning at UFC 300 for the fight against Pereira.
Meanwhile, Rountree returns after a valiant but losing effort when he faced Pereira this past October in his first opportunity at becoming UFC champion. The 34-year-old fighter didn’t win but he gained a lot of recognition for giving Pereira everything he could handle right up until the conclusion of the fight.
Rountree earned the title fight after five straight wins, which included knockouts over Smith and Chris Daukaus as well as a decision victory over Dustin Jacoby.
In addition to the main event, the UFC also confirmed the full main card for UFC Kansas City, which you can see below:
MAIN EVENT: Jamahal Hill vs. Khalil Rountree Jr.
Anthony Smith vs. Zhang Mingyang
Giga Chikadze vs. David Onama
Michel Pereira vs. Abus Magomedov
Ikram Aliskerov vs. Andre Muniz
