Khalil Rountree was unable to pull off the fairy tale upset at UFC 307 this past weekend in Salt Lake City.
He entered the main event as the #8-ranked contender in the light heavyweight division and was a big underdog against one of the biggest stars in the sport, Alex Pereira.
Rountree was stopped in the forth round but it was his toughness and durability that was praised alongside the expert striking of the defending champion.
"Pereira" was able to break his challenger down over time but he really put it on his opponent in the fourth, doing a lot of damage to Rountree before the finish came.
The champion needed to respond as the fight went down the stretch after a strong start to the contest from the sizable betting underdog.
Rountree landed some shots including a flash knockdown in the second round that showed that he was a dangerous striker that needed to be taken seriously by Pereira.
Similarly to his post-fight interview inside the Octagon, Rountree's first post on social media after the fight was filled with gratitude after having this opportunity.
He thanked the likes of Pereira for bringing the best out of him, the UFC, and his friends and family, signing off on the biggest week of his career to date.
"I didn’t win the title but I grew last night. @alexpoatanpereira thanks for helping me see that I’m ready to take on the world. You showed amazing skill, you brought out a version of me that I needed to experience. You’re the champ for a reason, much respect. But I now know what I am capable of. #saltlakecity you guys were amazing and gave me such a memorable experience. I appreciate all of the positive messages from everyone around the world. @danawhite @espn @espnmma and the entire @ufc staff, thanks for giving me a home, a place to have purpose and providing me with challenges to overcome.
"Big thanks to my wife @miakang, my family (Donny, Dave, P, all of my uncles and aunts, The Pavlica’s, the Ramseys, Everyone) for your unconditional support. Brazil ???????? you guys have a strong champion, be proud. I will take time to heal from this, I’ll be back even better, it’s inevitable. I’m grateful. Never give up on yourself, always fight hard, uplift your communities and find ways to make the most out of life. @deltacenter thanks for hosting us. #ufc307 was a night to remember."
