The UFC and Dana White are headed to Azerbaijan for the first time, and they’re bringing along a surprising price tag! In a statement by the UFC boss, he revealed, “Azerbaijan and the city of Baku have an incredible history of hosting massive global sporting events, we have so many great athletes from in and around this country that it was a natural next destination for us. I’m excited to have our debut event there on June 21.”
According to online information, fans can grab seats at the UFC’s first-ever event in the region for as low as $58! Compare that to UFC 313 in Las Vegas, where the cheapest tickets were reported to be $233, and the top-tier seats? A jaw-dropping $10,000.
Suddenly, Azerbaijan feels like a steal. But here’s where it gets interesting.
That bargain price tag isn’t the only thing fans are talking about. Jamahal Hill, who’ll be taking on Khalil Rountree Jr. in the headliner for the event, has some explaining to do. The Michigan native, who once wore gold around his waist, hasn’t just been making headlines for his comeback. He’s been making waves for his waistline!
Sweet Dreams in Azerbaijan
You heard @JamahalH… link in bio for #UFCBaku tickets on sale NOW!
https://t.co/MynxH2pZ5x pic.twitter.com/aBF8ImFX8z
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) April 25, 2025
This isn’t the first time ‘Sweet Dreams’ weight has been called into question. Hill won the vacant light heavyweight title back in 2023 when he defeated Glover Teixeira at UFC 283. But he later had to vacate the belt due to suffering an Achilles injury during a basketball game. However, according to Jiri Prochazka, there was something else at play.
In an interview with ‘The MMA Hour’ at the time, Prochazka stated, “If you turn your weight to more than normal, then the knees and ankles, it’s bad. That was the first logical [thought] about that.”
And this time around, while promoting the clash against Rountree on social media, Hill came under fire from the fandom for looking in less than stellar shape! Here’s a look at what the netizens had to say.
Dana White’s ticket prices for UFC’s Azerbaijan debut get overshadowed by fans roasting Jamahal Hill online
For some, this was the first red flag. The belly. A subtle but serious concern in fight prep. Hill’s social posts have been met with side-eyes and jabs—not from his opponent, but from his own fanbase. With less than two months to go, every calorie counts, and fans are clearly watching.
“Lock in Jamahal. Lose that belly. The fight’s not that far off.”
This sting hits hard. Some fans think Hill belongs in a lower weight class, but only if he trims the fat. The word “fatty” is harsh, but it echoes a sentiment shared across forums: conditioning matters. And if you’re going up against the terrifying Khalil Rountree, you need every edge you can get.
“Hill is a perfect 85er, the fatty.”
Now that’s sarcasm dipped in concern. Moving up to heavyweight might be a joke, but the idea behind it is real. Hill’s size has prompted speculation that he may be outgrowing his division, not in strength, but in scale. Standing 6’4 tall with a 79-inch reach, ‘Sweet Dreams’ isn’t a small fighter, but should he move to heavyweight and avoid the rigors of weight-cutting entirely? What do you think?
“He should move up to heavyweight lowkey.”
It’s the classic fan conflict, loyalty vs. logic. The respect is there, but so is the realism. Rountree isn’t coming to play. He’s a knockout artist with a highlight reel soaked in violence. And if Hill shows up looking like an “uncle,” he might be in for a rude awakening.
“Dude still looks like my uncle. I’m a Jamahal fan but gimme Rountree by TKO.”
Even Daniel Cormier caught some strays from the fans. With a cheeky nod to the exchange between the former ‘champ-champ’ and Islam Makhachev, the fans pointed out that Jamahal Hill’s preparation for his upcoming bout resembles Cormier’s post-retirement bulk! But unlike Cormier, Hill doesn’t have the luxury of just commentating the fights now, he’ll still have to go to war inside the Octagon.
“Hill on that 2–3 years and forget DC diet?”
So, where does that leave us? Dana White has rolled the dice on Baku. Cheaper tickets, new market, familiar faces. He wants fireworks in the debut. But if the main event fizzles, there’s no refund for reputation. Jamahal Hill stated in the promotional video, “I come to take heads off”, yet the fans seem to think he might need to take off a few pounds first!
Can Hill turn back the clock and recapture the fire that once made him a champion? Or will the storm of criticism become prophecy in the cage? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
The post Dana White Drops UFC Ticket Price to $58 as Concerns Mount on Jamahal Hill’s Physique Before Khalil Rountree Fight appeared first on EssentiallySports.
