Khalil Rountree Jr. got here up brief at UFC 307, however he didn’t take without any consideration the lengthy path he took to get there.
In Saturday’s fundamental occasion at Delta Middle in Salt Lake Metropolis, Rountree went toe-to-toe with mild heavyweight champion Alex Pereira earlier than ultimately succumbing to strikes in Spherical 4. Although Rountree was lined in blood by the top of the bout, he gave the previous kickboxing star a run for his cash within the putting division, and afterwards he advised Joe Rogan that his temper wasn’t dampened by the loss.
“My thought coming into this battle was simply to be grateful, actually,” Rountree stated in his post-fight interview. “I’ve been doing all this for a very long time and everyone heard my story, however I used to be simply actually excited to come back in right here, and I actually simply embraced the second all the best way up till this second.”
“No, I don’t assume I used to be stunned [by Pereira’s striking] in any respect,” Pereira continued. “I assumed that I used to be going to have the ability to hit him much more, however he did a very good job at evading the punches and counter-striking.”
Earlier than Rountree may end his thought, he needed to blow a bloody stream of snot out to clear his nostril. The ugly gesture was a becoming exclamation level for one of the crucial violent fights of 2024.
Rountree, who went from Final Fighter finalist to UFC title challenger over an eight-year stretch, had nothing however love for the gang in Salt Lake Metropolis and vowed to compete in Utah someday sooner or later.
“I’ll always remember this coaching camp my complete life,” Rountree stated. “You guys have been so f*cking superior. I’d love to come back again anytime, practice at altitude, battle right here once more, I like you guys. I swear to God I’ll be again at some point.”
