Don’t expect any takedown attempts from Rountree in his title shot against Pereira at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City.
Khalil Rountree is preparing to put on a show for Salt Lake City when he fights Alex Pereira at UFC 307, even if it gets him knocked out.
Rountree was a somewhat surprising choice for a UFC light heavyweight title shot against Pereira on the October 5th card. He’s currently ranked No. 8 at 205 pounds and is coming off a drug suspension for DHEA. Fans and fighters argued that there are more worthy opponents (Magomed Ankalaev comes to mind), but you can’t argue against his exciting fight style — his five win streak with four violent finishes proves it.
The UFC probably picked Khalil because he bangs, and Khalil is not going to disappoint them on fight night in Utah. He confirmed as much in a new interview with The Schmo.
“So check this out: in my career, I have never shot one takedown,” Rountree said. “That’s not in my plans, right? I’m here to put on an amazing fight for the fans.”
“This one, regardless of what anybody says, this is a fight for the fans,” he continued. “I think with my style, with his style, this fight is not gonna disappoint. So I’m there to do what I do, to do what my fans and everybody knows that I’m capable of. And all I can say is expect expect a banger, man.”
Banging with “Poatan” is not the smartest way to compete against him, but Rountree does not care. Which is admirable in some ways but crazy in others. UFC fighters get paid half their money to show and half again if they win. Rountree is risking his win money plus future champion money and pay-per-view points for the favor of the fans (which will not pay his mortgage) and maybe a $50k Fight of the Night bonus (which will not cover his win pay).
As for all the haters that have dissed him for receiving this opportunity?
“It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter,” Rountree said. “The fight’s happening regardless of whatever they think or not. The fight’s happening, and it’s gonna be a good one. And that’s all I can say, man.”