Khalil Rountree Jr. could have misplaced to Alex Pereira at UFC 307, however he didn’t really feel too unhealthy about it.
Again in October, Rountree practically pulled off an unimaginable upset, giving mild heavyweight champion Alex Pereira all he might deal with earlier than in the end getting completed within the fourth spherical of their title battle. The battle was the actualization of his dream, so regardless of the loss, “The Battle Horse” says he was fairly completely satisfied even within the second of his defeat.
“It was a bit surreal to be standing in entrance of him in moments, within the face-off and stuff,” Rountree informed Battle Vitality Movies. “However I requested for that battle from the start. I all the time knew that I needed to battle him, so after I was there, it was simply extra of a factor … that is what I’ve needed, that is what I’ve all the time imagined. …
“The one factor I can actually keep in mind is simply being completely satisfied. Even the second after I acquired completed within the fourth spherical, I simply felt so completely satisfied all through that entire battle. It felt like I used to be the place I belonged. I felt like I belonged there. So it was actually like dwelling in a dream and there was nothing however happiness and pleasure in these moments.”
Rountree was not the one one completely satisfied; his admirable efficiency earned reward from UFC CEO Dana White and from followers. So despite the fact that he didn’t declare the sunshine heavyweight title, it was nonetheless a star-making efficiency for Rountree, who says that over the previous few months, the response from followers has led to a distinction of feelings for him.
“Very massive distinction,” Rountree stated. “The time between now and that battle, there’s been an enormous distinction of feelings. But it surely’s been extra good than unhealthy. I feel the reflection level, I’m centered on getting higher now, as a result of I need to proceed to win. I need to proceed to placed on thrilling fights, however I need to proceed on the trail of changing into a champion. That’s nonetheless one thing I need to be and I’m going to work in direction of being.
“But it surely’s additionally good that though I’m not a champion, I’ve acquired this stage of respect and recognition {that a} champion would have. So it’s a bizarre place to be in, however it’s good. I’ve nonetheless acquired some work to do.”
And now having had a number of months to mirror, Rountree is aware of precisely what work he must do. As a result of, having come so near the mountaintop, Rountree now has renewed confidence that he can change into a world champion. He simply must preserve working.
“I’d say particularly within the battle towards Alex, I knew that he was a harmful fighter, and so there was a wholesome stage of warning in that battle,” Rountree stated. “I feel that transferring ahead, I feel will probably be good to have warning however I see myself actually having the ability to let unfastened transferring ahead. I don’t need to — I gave all of it. I actually did. I went all the best way to the tip, however I nonetheless suppose there may be extra of me to offer. I feel that, so far as my ability and intelligence goes, there’s some room there. …
“I didn’t know till now that I wanted to essentially study extra. Clearly, it doesn’t matter what, we’ve acquired to proceed to develop, we’ve acquired to proceed to study; however I feel this battle actually put it into perspective. It actually helped me to see the hole of the place I need to be versus the place I’m. it simply type of woke me up.”
