Building on his five consecutive victories (including four by knockout), Khalil Rountree got his first title shot in the UFC. On the night from Saturday to Sunday, he faces the terrifying Alex Pereira, in the main event of UFC 307 (to follow live on RMC Sport). One fight away from the light heavyweight belt, the American faced an incredible journey and challenges during his youth.
Jamahal Hill, Tom Aspinall in heavyweight or even Du Plessis returning to middleweight… the list of contenders for Alex Pereira was as long as an arm, after his last victory, last June against Jiri Prochazka, in the main event of the UFC 303.
For his 10th fight in the UFC, the Brazilian fighter will fight a sixth fight for a belt, a record in the organization. During the night from Saturday to Sunday, on the main poster of UFC 307, “Poatan” (Pereira’s nickname) faces Khalil Rountree Jr (to be followed live on RMC Sport).
“Rountree? The best striker Pereira has ever faced”
Big names and a change of category were once announced but the former UFC middleweight champion chose to stay at light heavyweight (- 93 kg), to try to defend his belt for a third time against Khalil Rountree Jr (9-5 in the UFC, 13-5 as a pro). Eighth among the Light Heavyweights, the American can pull off one of the biggest upsets of the year.
If the fact of offering a title shot to “The War Horse” may have surprised more than one, while Ankalaev (2nd) is still waiting for this fight, it is the style of Rountree which pleased the boss Dana White . On a series of five consecutive victories (including four by KO), the profile of the American, striker, who should remain standing against the champion Pereira (already victorious six times in the UFC by KO) in the octagon, suits the organizers.
If the bookmakers place Alex Pereira as a clear favorite, legend Michael Bisping does not underestimate Khalil Rountree, who has fists and kicks of steel. “Rountree? The best striker that Pereira has ever faced,” assures the former UFC middleweight champion in 2016. Something that the American logically confirms: “You have two of the best strikers in the world who are going to to beat, that’s what I want to give to the fans.”
A fate difficult to imagine when he was a teenager
Khalil Rountree Jr’s life changed when he was only two years old. Former bodyguard of Mohammed Ali, his father Khalil Rountree Sr, then manager of the Boyz II Men iconic group of the 90s, was on tour in 1992. As he left his hotel, he was assassinated by robbers. If the young American tries to fill this drama first with music, everything then goes into a tailspin.
Cigarettes, alcohol, drugs and especially junk food, Khalil finds himself harassed, depressed… At 19, he weighs more than 130 kg and one evening in his bed, his heart races. The American thinks he won’t wake up the next day.
The trigger? His brother who introduced him to MMA. At the age of 20, it was the first sport he practiced in his life. Fat loss, gym registration and amateur debut, Rountree became a professional fighter only four years later. Present in the UFC reality TV show “The Ultimate Fighter” in 2016, the American reached the final as best he could, but lost by unanimous decision.
He was still offered a contract. If he skates for his debut in the queen MMA organization, Khalil Rountree Jr is undefeated since 2021, winning five consecutive victories (including four by knockout). For his first main event in the UFC, the 34-year-old fighter can finally touch the holy grail. And he puts all the odds on his side: “I have never worked so hard in my life, I have never been so serious in training.” Pereira is warned, the blows will rain at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.
