Khalil Rountree skilled one thing unusual in his brutal loss to UFC mild heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.
Rountree (13-6 MMA, 9-6 UFC) was battered in a Spherical 4 TKO loss to Pereira at UFC 307 this previous October. He underwent septoplasty surgical procedure from the injury suffered within the combat.
Though Rountree did not develop into champion, he put up a valiant effort which elevated his inventory.
“It was a bit surreal to be standing in entrance of him in moments, within the faceoff and stuff,” Rountree advised Struggle Power Movies. “However I requested for that combat from the start. I all the time knew that I wished to combat him, so once I was there, it was simply extra of a factor of like, ‘OK, yeah, I’m lastly right here’ – not a lot I’m right here in entrance of this man. It was extra of, that is what I’ve wished, that is the second I’ve all the time imagined.
“He’s an enormous man, he’s robust, he’s every little thing, however it didn’t actually combine me up an excessive amount of. I used to be blissful and ready. … The one factor I can actually keep in mind is simply being blissful. Even the second once I obtained completed within the fourth spherical, I simply felt so blissful all through that entire combat. It felt like I used to be the place I belonged. I felt like I belonged there. It was actually like dwelling in a dream and there was nothing however happiness and pleasure in these moments.”
Previous to the title loss, Rountree was on a five-fight successful streak. The setback to Pereira has gotten him extra respect from followers, leaving him extra decided than ever to satisfy his purpose of changing into champion.
“Very massive distinction – the time between now and that combat, there’s been an enormous distinction of feelings,” Rountree stated. “However it’s been extra good than unhealthy. I believe the reflection level, I’m targeted on getting higher now as a result of I wish to proceed to win. I wish to proceed to placed on thrilling fights, however I wish to proceed on the trail of changing into a champion.
“That’s nonetheless one thing that I wish to be, and I’m going to work in direction of being. However it’s additionally very nice that though I’m not a champion, I’ve obtained this stage of respect and recognition {that a} champion would have. So it’s a bizarre place to be in, however it’s good, and I’ve nonetheless obtained some work to do.”
Remember to go to the MMA Junkie Instagram web page and YouTube channel to debate this and extra content material with followers of blended martial arts.
