Fresh off his title fight defeat at UFC 307, Khalil Rountree Jr. joined Michael Bisping on the Believe You Me podcast to discuss the fight and his thoughts on moving forward. Rountree, who gave it his all in the Octagon against Alex Pereira, broke down what went right in the early rounds and what ultimately led to his downfall.
Khalil Rountree Jr. Reflects on UFC 307 Loss to Alex Pereira
Bisping opened the conversation by highlighting Rountree’s strong first two rounds. Many fans felt that he was in control at the beginning of the fight. However, as the bout progressed, Pereira’s pressure and pace seemed to wear him down. When asked if fatigue played a role, Rountree explained that while he did get tired, it wasn’t entirely due to poor cardio or altitude acclimatization.
“I got tired, but I really can’t say that it was cardio reasons or altitude because we spent so much time up there [Salt Lake City],” Rountree explained, “One of the runs, I think, prior to fight week, I did six miles at 7000ft, so I was acclimated. But one thing I like to make clear is that people don’t really realize how it takes a lot of energy when you start absorbing punches, and the body responds how it responds.”
Rountree acknowledged that the damage from Pereira’s strikes took a toll on his energy reserves, a factor that’s often overlooked by viewers.
Khalil Rountree Jr. Praise for Pereira’s Strategy
Khalil Rountree Jr. had nothing but respect for his opponent’s approach in the fight. He credited Pereira for maintaining a consistent pace and making tactical adjustments as the fight progressed.
“He kept the pace; every round, he kept making adjustments,” Rountree said, “He didn’t decline, he didn’t come out slower, and actually ended up coming out faster, and with a little bit more pressure every round.”
That steady pressure from Pereira began to take its toll on Rountree, particularly once Pereira established his jab and started mixing up his strikes.
“After he started establishing that jab and mixing up the different strikes, I really started to feel it, and that’s what slowed me down,” Rountree admitted.
The Power of Pereira’s Jab
While Pereira is renowned for his deadly left hook, Rountree emphasized that it was Pereira’s jab that had the most significant impact during their fight. The precision and timing of Pereira’s jab were enough to rattle Rountree and disrupt his rhythm.
“That jab, man, like when he started jabbing me, ‘boom,’ and my brain’s just like, ‘wow,'” Rountree said,”So, like, that takes energy.”
The impact of Pereira’s jab clearly left a lasting impression on Rountree, who openly discussed how it affected his performance and contributed to his fatigue.
Rumours of a Fight with Jamahal Hill
Despite the challenges in his fight against Pereira, Rountree remains focused on what lies ahead. When Bisping brought up rumours of a potential matchup with former UFC light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill, Rountree clarified that nothing is set in stone.
“That’s definitely rumours,” Rountree responded, “Journalists and MMA media have a way of posting and saying things to get people’s attention. Obviously, that fight was supposed to happen this year, earlier on. And what I said was, I think that fight specifically is inevitable.”
Rountree emphasized that he’s open to fighting anyone in the top five but doesn’t have a personal vendetta against any particular opponent. He’s more focused on growth and improvement moving forward.
“I don’t have any personal vendetta or have my eyes set on one opponent,” Rountree said, “I’m just really looking to learn and grow from this and come back even better, honestly.”
Rountree’s Positive Outlook on Media and Fan Interaction
At the end of the interview, Bisping praised Rountree for his openness in discussing the loss and for continuing to engage with the media and fans despite a bruised face and broken nose. Rountree, who was recently spotted at the UFC Apex wearing a nose brace, explained his reasoning behind staying visible after such a tough defeat.
“This is a part of it. This comes with it,” Rountree said, “You know, it’s very rare to lose a fight and still have people wanting to talk to the loser. I’ve been okay, I’ve been happy about it if people want to speak and hear my experience. I’m glad that the people were inspired.”
Rountree also expressed his gratitude to the fans who support fighters through the highs and lows of their careers, noting that their involvement is a big reason why he does what he does.
“It’s like, you know, I think the fans are the people that drive us. We do it for the fans, we do it to entertain the people, to have them feel like they are a part of this moment with us.”
For Rountree, there’s no hiding from the challenges he’s faced. Instead, he’s focused on recovering and bouncing back even stronger.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
