Khalil Rountree Jr. went back to the drawing board following his UFC title fight against Alex Pereira.
Last October, the #7 UFC Light Heavyweight contender came close to dethroning then champion Alex Pereira when he rocked him with strikes at UFC 307.
It wasn’t enough to close the show, but Khalil Rountree’s early success in the first two rounds and undeniable heart in the championship rounds earned the Muay Thai striker much respect even in defeat.
Rountree suffered a broken nose in his fourth-round TKO loss to Pereira in what was one of ‘Poatan’s’ toughest fights to date.
Now, Rountree is set to meet former champion Jamahal Hill in the main event of UFC Baku and the former title challenger is doing everything he can to ensure he gets his hands raised.
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Khalil Rountree Jr. says he needed ‘more support’ after losing to Alex Pereira
Coming up short against Pereira, Rountree reevaluated himself as a fighter and decided what needed to be changed.
“One of the most important things after the Alex fight for me was to continue to progress,” Rountree said on his YouTube channel.
“[I was] thinking what could I have done better? Even though I put in a really good camp and I did my best in that camp, I always try to think that there’s like there’s always room for improvement no matter what. A few of the things I felt like I felt like I could have improved in my strength.
“I think I could have had an extra ear in my corner to let me know moments when my opponent was hurt that I could have capitalized on.
“I think just a little bit more support. Right after the fight, that’s immediately what I went after. I was thinking, where can I find more support and how can I get stronger?”
Rountree addressed his strength with longtime coach Lorenzo Pavlica. For his extra eyes and ears in the Octagon, Rountree enlisted the help of Christian Knowles, coach of kickboxing star Jonathan Haggerty.
For his grappling, Rountree has been working with 17-time BJJ champion Marcus Buchecha.
“As I climb the ranks and get closer to becoming the champion, knowing that there’s gonna be guys coming after me to get the belt. I wanna be a well-rounded fighter,” Rountree continued.
“I wanna be the best version of myself that I can be in all areas.
“I’m starting to feel so much more confident on the ground and I can take anyone,” Rountree said of grappling with Buchecha.
Khalil Rountree thinks UFC title is ‘inevitable’ with Jamahal Hill win
5-1 in his last six fights, the rejuvenated Rountree thinks he could re-enter title contention with a victory over Jamahal Hill at UFC Baku on June 21st.
“My goal is to be the UFC champion at light heavyweight very soon,” Rountree said.
“I really plan to have one fight, but if it takes two to get there, then so be it.
“My plan is to just show up and be the best version of myself. Putting in these hard hours every day at the level that I’m training at, I think the title is inevitable. I think that it’s really just there for me.”
Rountree continued.
“I’m not done climbing the mountain. After the Alex fight, that just showed me what I’m capable of.
“It showed me that I do belong there and I’ll fight hard to get it.”