Khalil Rountree was in a bad place mentally when he suffered a blowout loss to Johnny Walker at UFC Fight Night 140 in November 2018. This loss gave him a new perspective and set him on a journey of transformation and a potential title fight against reigning champion Alex Pereira. This weekend at UFC 307, Rountree faces Pereira, a formidable opponent who shouldn’t be underestimated. But as Rountree said during an appearance on Demetrius Johnson’s Mighty podcast, his confidence in himself remains strong.
“I lost to Johnny Walker, but it was a fight I knew I could win. I wasn’t there emotionally and mentally. I didn’t even want to be there,” Rountree said. I admitted it. He went on to explain: I didn’t want to be there and ended up getting knocked out for the first time in my career. ”
Alarm bells and technical improvements
The knockout was a wake-up call for Rountree. He took time to reflect on his emotional and mental state going into the match, but also realized how much he needed to learn from a technical standpoint. Rountree analyzed his mistakes and identified areas where he was lacking, particularly in clinch work and elbow usage.
“I never learned how to protect myself from elbows. I didn’t even know how to use them offensively. But I’ve always loved Muay Thai and it’s a big part of the sport. I knew that,” Rountree said.
trip to thailand
Armed with these new insights, Rountree made the life-changing decision to travel to Thailand to immerse himself in Muay Thai. At the time, he had just lost a game he believed he should have won and had a lot to work on mentally and technically.
“I decided to go to Thailand. I’m going to learn from this (loss) and learn Muay Thai the right way,” Rountree said.
Our first time in Thailand was completely different from anything we had experienced before. He trained at a gym in Bangkok, away from the tourist crowds, where he met Cypriot Muay Thai fighter Savas Michael. Michael, who competed in ONE Championship and the Rajadamnern World Series, provided Rountree with valuable advice on how to survive the intense Muay Thai training in Thailand.
“You have to learn the language, this is how you eat, this is how you get around,” Rountree recounted Michael’s advice. He added: The Thai culture and people are very welcoming. I have never been to a country where I felt so accepted. ”
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Aim for the championship belt
After enduring difficult times and returning home, Rountree found a sense of belonging in Thailand. Initially, I had only planned to stay for one month, but I ended up staying for nearly three years. He felt so comfortable that he considered giving up his UFC career to focus on Muay Thai and move permanently to Thailand. However, the COVID-19 pandemic put a halt to his plans, which may have been a blessing in disguise for his UFC career. Rountree returned to the United States to test his new skills and was clear on his ultimate goal.
“I want the belt. My goal is to be champion,” Rountree said.
Fast forward to 2024 and Alex Pereira is the current light heavyweight champion. He has been crushing his recent opponents and many are wondering who can stop him. Rountree will be looking to dethrone the champion next this weekend, and he has a clear strategy on how to do so.
“I’m going to stand up and fight. Neither of us are fools. We both know who we’re up against. It’s an exciting time,” Rountree said. He spoke with confidence.
UFC 307: Full Fight Card
main card
Starting on Sunday 6th October at 3:00am BST – available to watch on BT Sport
Light Heavyweight (Title Fight): Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. Women’s Bantamweight (Title Fight): Raquel Pennington vs. Julianna Pena Bantamweight: Jose Aldo vs. Mario Bautista Women’s Bantamweight: Ketlen Vieira vs Kayla Harrison Middleweight: Roman Dorise vs Kevin Holland
spare card
Sunday, October 6th, starting at 1am BST – available on UFC Fight Pass
Welterweight: Stephen Thompson vs. Joaquin Buckley Women’s Strawweight: Marina Rodriguez vs. Yasmin Lucindo Middleweight: Cesar Almeida vs. Ihor Potieria Lightweight: Alexander Hernandez vs. Austin Hubbard
Early qualifying
Starting Saturday, October 5th at 11:00pm BST – Available on UFC Fight Pass
Light Heavyweight: Ryan Spann vs. Ovince Saint Preux Women’s Strawweight: Carla Esparza vs. Tecia Pennington Welterweight: Court McGee vs. Mickey Gall
Rountree’s journey from a crushing defeat to a title shot against one of the most dangerous fighters in the division is a testament to his resilience, growth, and dedication to the sport.
Source: MMAnytt.se
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