Latest news with #Rountree
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Khalil Rountree shrugs off Jamahal Hill's disparaging remarks before UFC Baku
Khalil Rountree shrugs off Jamahal Hill's disparaging remarks before UFC Baku Khalil Rountree isn't taking Jamahal Hill's disparaging remarks ahead of their UFC on ABC 8 fight too seriously. Rountree (13-6 MMA, 9-6 UFC) takes on former light heavyweight champion Hill (12-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) in Saturday's UFC on ABC 8 (ABC, ESPN, ESPN+) headliner at Baku Crystal Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan. Hill told MMA Junkie that he plans on showing that Rountree isn't on his level, but the former title challenger doesn't take it as a personal attack. He explains why. "I think that's a mixture of a lot of things, but it's also not the first time that I've heard this," Rountree told MMA Junkie. "I heard it against Alex (Pereira), we've heard it against Jiri (Prochazka). 'Alex is not on my level, Jiri is not on my level, Khalil Rountree is not on my level.' So, I'm just going to leave it at that (laughs). I'm prepared." Rountree hasn't competed since falling short in a valiant effort against Alex Pereira in their title fight at UFC 307. Light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev and Pereira are expected to run things back, and Rountree hopes to find himself in the title picture again with a win over Hill. "It's so hard to say with guys' decisions and choosing to fight who and this and that," Rountree said. "So, I really don't know what to expect, who's going to fight who, but all I know is that by the end of the year, I would love to be right there fighting for the belt again. Whether it would be Alex or whoever else. I don't care who's there, it's about the belt and my biggest dream is I would love for it to be in Vegas. I would love to fight for the belt in Vegas, at home, and get a chance to win it at home."
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Alex Pereira offers UFC Baku prediction for Jamahal Hill vs. Khalil Rountree
Alex Pereira offers UFC Baku prediction for Jamahal Hill vs. Khalil Rountree Two of former UFC champion Alex Pereira's most recent wins have come over Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree, who will look to rebound against each other. Light heavyweights Hill (12-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) and Rountree (13-6 MMA, 9-6 UFC) square off in Saturday's UFC on ABC 8 (ABC, ESPN, ESPN+) main event at Baku Crystal Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan. Hill was knocked out by Pereira in the first round of their title fight at UFC 300. Meanwhile, Rountree won the first two rounds of his title fight against "Poatan" at UFC 307 before getting battered in a fourth-round TKO loss. Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) gave his prediction for the fight. "They're both great fighters and well rounded," Pereira told the UFC. "I fought them both, so I can say something more accurate. They're both dangerous, but I think (judging) by my fight against Khalil, I see him having some advantage against Jamahal. That's my opinion." After defending his light heavyweight title for a third time against Rountree, Pereira was dethroned by Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 in March. He is expected to get an immediate title-fight rematch against Ankalaev next, but their matchup is yet to be made official.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Khalil Rountree learned how to not be 'afraid of the fire' in Alex Pereira fight, vows to be 'undeniable' at UFC Baku
Khalil Rountree Jr. will be a part of history in his first fight since challenging for UFC light heavyweight gold this past October. Among the three title challengers that former champion Alex Pereira fought in 2024, none gave him a tougher battle than Rountree, as the two collided in a back-and-forth bout that made the short list for Uncrowned's best of the year. Rountree ultimately came up short, leading him to a clash with former champion Jamahal Hill this Saturday in UFC Baku's main event. The card will be the first UFC event in Azerbaijan after a Hill injury sunk the originally scheduled date for UFC Kansas City in April. Advertisement Having been in Baku since last Saturday, Rountree is pleased with how everything turned out. "It's an arena that I've never experienced before," Rountree said on "The Ariel Helwani Show." It's nothing like any arena that I've ever been to in the States. It's nothing like the T-Mobile [Arena]. It's nothing like anything. It's got a very different feel to it. It definitely feels authentic to Baku. "I've just been in awe of everything that I've experienced here. The arena was just one of those experiences. It just feels like a special place, it's got a different energy to it. I can't even explain it. It's not high up. It's kind of, like, low ceilings, but the floor is really wide, and I would just imagine it being packed with people, and it kind of brought me some chills, man." Despite the five-fight win streak Rountree rode into his Pereira title fight, he was ranked No. 8 in the UFC's light heavyweight division at the time and a controversial choice to challenge for the belt. Yet the performance was arguably the best of Rountree's career, and a stock-raiser even in defeat. Advertisement If he gets the win over Hill, Rountree hopes to be close to a second crack at the title. "There's been talks of what we'd like after this, and I think that the UFC have their own ideas and thoughts on what they would want," Rountree said. "My plan is to put on a performance that makes a title shot again undeniable, if that makes any sense. "I'm definitely sure that I'm ready to be a champion, and I'm ready to be that champion. Everything that I'm working on and doing is to be prepared for that again. That's absolutely what I want and what I'm gunning for. So my plan is to put on an undeniable performance, so that I can get that chance again." Rountree's performance against Pereira felt like a "coming of age" type of moment for the fighter. Early on in his UFC career, which began with "The Ultimate Fighter 23" in 2016, Rountree often impressed with highlight-reel victories but failed to string together consistency. When tasked with an opponent that could get him over the hump into title contention, he fell short several times under the bright lights. Advertisement So the first title fight of his 20-fight career was an eye-opener, to say the least. "I saw how far I was willing to go," Rountree said. "I was really tested to the very end in that fight. I went as far as I possibly could. In my mind, I enjoyed the whole thing. I enjoyed it all the way through, and it was just something that I remember. I gave my absolute all in that fight, so I got to experience what that feels like. I think that it just helped me grow — and not necessarily be afraid of the fire, for lack of better words. I've been through the fire, and although I didn't make it out victorious, I've been there, and I felt that, I felt it. So I think it toughened me up a bit. Advertisement "No fight stands out to me like that one does as far as having to go into deep waters." The UFC light heavyweight division has obviously shifted at the top since Pereira vs. Rountree. In March, Pereira finally met his match at 205 pounds, dropping his belt to Magomed Ankalaev after a back-and-forth bout at UFC 313. The expectation now is for an immediate title rematch between the two in 2025. For Rountree, though, it's not about the opponent when it comes to another title shot. "To be honest, I really care who the champion is until it's me," Rountree said. "I think that [rematch with Pereira] would be a great fight. I'm sure that people would want to see a second fight between us for the belt again. I think that would be exciting, but it's nothing that I'm hoping for. "Whoever has it, I'm doing whatever I can to prepare to fight whoever has it."
USA Today
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Khalil Rountree grateful for custom UFC shorts, explains design inspiration
Khalil Rountree grateful for custom UFC shorts, explains design inspiration Show Caption Hide Caption Khalil Rountree talks custom fight gear for UFC Baku main event bout Khalil Rountree Jr. talks to MMA Junkie's Mike Bohn ahead of Saturday's UFC on ESPN 69 main event against Jamahal Hill in Baku, Azerbaijan. Khalil Rountree says a lot of thought and consideration went into his UFC on ABC 8 custom fight shorts. When Rountree (13-6 MMA, 9-6 UFC) makes his walk to the cage Saturday in Baku, Azerbaijan for his headlining bout vs. Jamahal Hill (12-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC), he'll sport white and gray shorts with images that pay tribute to various aspects of his life and travels. "I got invited to design custom fight shorts, which was an absolute surprise, but I was so happy," Rountree told MMA Junkie on Tuesday. "The design inspiration, it's a lot about me." Featured perhaps most prominently is a design similar to Rountree's sak yant tattoos, which he got in Thailand, a place he trained extensively in order to craft his muay Thai abilities. His current home city of Las Vegas is also represented. "I wanted to put that representation of how much Thailand means to me and how much muay Thai means to me and my tattoos that I've got in honor of my martial arts journey, and that journey through Thailand," Rountree said. "Then I put some mountains on the legs that represent Las Vegas, my home. It's where I'm from. I wanted a piece of me and piece of Vegas on my shorts, but I didn't want slot machines and poker chips or Elvis Presley on my shorts. Vegas, to me, I love the mountain scenery. It's amazing. We've got the Red Rocks. We've got a lot of cool things there. That's just my way of kind of putting my Las Vegas stamp on there." Rountree said the two locations represent his duality. He is not the same person inside the cage as he is out of it. That's what he tried, and feels he succeeded in, doing during an extensive workshopping process with UFC apparel partner Venum. "A lot of people, when the talks about me, or the people who know about me, maybe my fighting style is known as violent or aggressive," Rountree said. "If people know me, they're like, 'Oh, you're such a different person than you are in the cage. I think that's just life. I do see a lot of contrasting things and duality of life and doing my best to find balance throughout my journey. That's why the shorts are split in half like yin and yang. I just think I did my best to make custom shorts that were just personal to me, and that really had some key things that just represent me as a person and as a fighter." Custom fight kits are rare and typically reserved for the creme de la creme of UFC talent. Rountree is honored to be included in the exclusive group and said it makes sense despite what the critics might say. "I'm really grateful," Rountree said. "It's nice because I do realize mostly champions or certain No. 1 contenders and stuff are usually the ones to get them. But I think the UFC knows exactly what they are doing. They are a billion-dollar business for a reason. I think that when it comes to me and just being with the business, I think that it's not a bad thing to do. I've been in the UFC now for 11 years. I finally got a fight to where my fanbase is now growing. But I don't think the UFC thinks I'm going anywhere anytime soon. I don't think I'm on the verge of getting cut or anything like that. I think it's a safe decision. It's a safe decision to make. I'll be around for a while. "I think I'll continue to connect with the fans for as long as I'm in the business. Maybe people who are new to this will think, 'Oh, this guy hasn't been around,' or blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. But I've been here for a long time now. I've been here for a long time. Maybe I haven't been at the top for a long time, but I've been in the business for a long time now. I've been loyal and dedicated to the UFC and the staff, so I think it's just kind of their way of being OK with that."
USA Today
28-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC's Khalil Rountree feels 'most confident' in a while heading into Jamahal Hill fight
UFC's Khalil Rountree feels 'most confident' in a while heading into Jamahal Hill fight LAS VEGAS - Khalil Rountree is embracing the opportunity to headline another UFC event. Rountree (13-6 MMA, 9-6 UFC) will look to rebound from his title loss to Alex Pereira at UFC 307 when he takes on former light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill (12-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) in the UFC on ABC 8 main event on June 21 from Baku Crystal Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan. "I think it's a great main event for people to watch," Rountree told MMA Junkie and other reporters during the TUF anniversary scrum. "You got two big strikers going in there, and I'm ready. I'm glad that the UFC called me. I've been training a lot, I've learnt from my mistakes in the Alex fight, and just went right back to work. Still got some scars but they're healed, they're not going to open back up. My mind's good, my heart's good, and we get to travel. So, I'm really fired up about this match. I feel good about this matchup, and this is the most confident I've been in a while. So, I'm ready to share that with the fans." Rountree received plenty of praise for his valiant effort against Pereira, where he won Rounds 1 and 2 on all judges' scorecards before "Poatan" rallied to finish him in Round 4. While Rountree's stock got higher, he's not entirely fulfilled. "The only pride that I have in that fight is the ability to win the hearts of the fans," Rountree said. "The fact that the fans saw my heart in the fight, and I got appreciation for just going in there and giving my all. But when I watch the fight myself, no pride. "Only corrections because I didn't get that far just to get that far. I'm still gutted for it. My goal, my dream, my focus right now is the belt, and that night I came up short. Just putting on a good performance for the fans isn't enough for me. So, I'm back in the game, I'm locked and loaded, and ready to be the champion."
