For Khalil Rountree Jr., his upcoming encounter with Alex Pereira is predicted to be nothing short of a dynamic, explosive battle.
Rountree Jr., presently positioned as the #8 UFC Light Heavyweight challenger, has suddenly seen his career trajectory accelerate, as declared by UFC CEO Dana White. He is now set to vie for championship supremacy against the defending champion Pereira during the main event of UFC 307 this October 5 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
This title fight proved to be a startling twist of fate for Rountree. Despite numerous contenders outranking him and his recent hiatus from the ring, last fighting in a victorious bout against Anthony Smith in December, he finds himself in the line-up for a championship contention. Rountree, known as ‘The War Horse’, shared the shocking news during an interaction with Kevin Iole.
“I was totally caught off guard,” shared Rountree, of receiving the call to contest Pereira. “The whole situation felt surreal. I wasn’t aware of such an opportunity landing at my doorstep at this point in my career. Although it was a surprise, I was always ready for it and it’s a dream come true.”
The only thing Rountree did see coming was the reaction of his colleagues in the light heavyweight category who found out that he was up against Pereira for the championship. One such reaction came from Jamahal Hill, the former champion and current #3 contender.
Hill was originally scheduled to fight Rountree at UFC 303, yet expressed contempt regarding Rountree’s escalated trajectory from a positive drug test and subsequent two-month suspension earlier this year, to a decisively crucial title fight this October. It’s worthwhile to mention that Rountree promptly reported the supplement that resulted in him testing positive for DHEA, which is a banned substance, and had his suspension lifted in July.
Rountree, however, remains unshaken by Hill’s criticism, dismissing claims that his opportunity was ‘detrimental to the sport’. He countered the comments by remarking, ‘I believe he has his own personal motivations. I don’t perceive this as detrimental to the sport. In fact, I think it’s a significant progression for the sport.’
A gripping clash between two formidable strikers is what’s on the cards in the much-awaited Salt Lake City bout. Pereira, a former GLORY Kickboxing Champion, is set to face Rountree’s threatening Muay Thai style of fighting that has attributed to his impressive victories, knocking out four out of his last five opponents.
Pereira brings his own impressive resume to the clash, famed for his knockout skills. This skillset was unequivocally proven this year, with back-to-back wins over Jiri Prochazka and Jamahal Hill. This face-off between Pereira and Rountree, who is contending for the title for the first time, promises to be a thrilling spectacle for the fans.
“I’m confident the fans are going to thoroughly enjoy this bout,” conveyed Rountree. “We’re set to go toe to toe. It adds a remarkable level of excitement to the sport…. if people have an issue with this, they need to reassess.”
Rountree thinks of Pereira as an accomplished striker who possesses a blend of vast experience and knockout power. He identifies with these qualities, asserting, ‘I see myself as a fighter possessing analogous attributes. So, what it boils down to now is a thrilling showdown between two skillful and powerful strikers vying for the championship title.’
As the fight draws near, Rountree does not find himself overwhelmed by fear. Rather, he is pulsating with the thrill of anticipation. ‘No, it’s not fear,’ he assures, ‘I’m eager. I’m energized and look forward to delivering the most spectacular fight of the year. Without a doubt, it’s going to be the Match of the Year.’