Khalil Rountree Jr. has released his first statement regarding the cancellation of his highly anticipated main event fight against Jamahal Hill at UFC Kansas City. Rountree shared his reaction and provided context for the change.
In a message on his YouTube channel, Rountree explained that he received a call from the UFC informing him of Jamahal Hill`s injury, which unfortunately made Hill unable to compete at the Kansas City event on April 26th. Rountree stated, “So it looks like I’m out of a fight, and it’s going to be postponed.” He added that he is currently unsure of the rescheduled date but understands postponement is the likely outcome.
The UFC has since announced a new main event for their return to Kansas City, featuring a welterweight bout between Ian Machado Garry and Carlos Prates.
Regarding Hill`s injury, Rountree, who is currently ranked No. 7 in the light heavyweight division by MMA Fighting Global Rankings, mentioned that he was not given specific details. He said, “I have no idea what the issue is, all I know is UFC told me that he had to pull out due to an injury.” Rountree understands that the UFC typically doesn`t disclose injury specifics but confirmed he was told Hill needs recovery time, leading to the fight`s postponement.
Rountree expressed hope that the matchup with Hill will remain intact and simply be rescheduled for a later date. He stated, “So hopefully it stays that we stay matched up, just at a later date.”
Hill was aiming for his second fight in 2025, having previously fought at UFC 311 in January where he suffered a loss to Jiri Prochazka. Rountree and Hill were initially scheduled to fight at UFC 303 in June, but Rountree was forced to withdraw due to a suspension. Rountree then went on to fight Alex Pereira for the light heavyweight title at UFC 307 in October.
This news is undoubtedly a setback for Rountree`s 2025 goals, as he had aimed to fight three times this year. While still possible, Rountree is hoping for a quick rescheduling of the fight with Hill. He emphasized, “I really want this fight to happen. I think it’s a great matchup for me and this is the fight that I want. So hopefully this injury heals up quick, because I want to stay focused on fighting Jamahal.”
