Issue 215

March 2025

Spencer Kyte sits down with Khalil Rountree Jr. to find out why self-belief hits harder than doubt.

For a long time, Khalil Rountree Jr. was unsure whether he deserved to compete on MMA’s biggest stage. Octagon inconsistency and the fickle opinions of the MMA audience made him question everything. At one point, he was ready to pack it all in, stay in Thailand, and live a simple life of training, taking fights, and remaining off the radar. In 2021, a couple of months after dropping a decision to Polish journeyman Marcin Prachnio, the Las Vegas native moved home to find out how good he could be. Gone were the questions about his place amongst the sport’s best. These were replaced by a burning desire to prove he belonged. Somewhere in the recesses of his mind, he’d always believed he was someone who could challenge for championship gold. We caught up with him to find out how he silenced those internal whispers of self-doubt. 

A RENAISSANCE

With each win, those people bent on diminishing his flame worked to downplay his success. People said his win over Modestas Bukauskas was dirty. The violent finish of Karl Roberson meant little. He didn’t deserve the nod against Dustin Jacoby. Knocking out Chris Daukaus was against a non-athletic cop from Philly. Even dispatching Anthony Smith was downplayed. Few talked about the power. The speed. The obvious improvements. The once-inconsistent fighter had put together a five-fight winning streak with savage finishes. Sadly, the narrative wasn’t about the upgrades. It was that he was cashing in on favorable matchups. When he was announced as the challenger to Alex Pereira for the light heavyweight title, the prevailing thought was that it was undeserved. The UFC was said to be handing the Brazilian champ another favorable stylistic opponent rather than pitting him against Magomed Ankalaev. Few gave Rountree Jr. a chance, but the quiet man was confident he could go toe-to-toe with ‘Poatan.’ 

THE NIGHT EVERYTHING CHANGED

“I wasn’t affected by the aura,” says Rountree Jr., stationed in a recovery pool at the UFC Performance Institute, reflecting on his experience against Pereira last October. “I felt it, but I was like, ‘Okay.’ I expected it, so it wasn’t a surprise. For me, standing in front of him at weigh-ins and stuff, I was just happy because I manifested this. This is what I wanted. This is the guy I wanted to be standing face-to-face with. The only thing I did feel prior to the fight is his size. His stature. The way he carries himself and stuff. He’s got big hands. He’s got a giant head. He’s a big man, and he carries himself like a big man. But I didn’t feel this thing from him as if he was trying to intimidate me or anything. I felt like we were both really prepared to go to war with each other. The one thing I did feel that people see and that is true is the power. When he finally established his range and started figuring that out with me, the first jab, I was like, ‘Oh shit! These are hands of stone. Okay.’ That was one thing that stood true is that he has that power, but I didn’t feel any witchcraft-y shit that people have said.”

THE BIG SHOW

After standing nose-to-nose with a war-painted Pereira at the weigh-ins, Rountree Jr. went shot-for-shot with the champ the following night, surprising many by getting the better of the striking exchanges through the first two rounds. In 10 minutes, the once hyped prospect who had been written off, resurrected, written off again, and showed he could hang with the marauding champ. The fight ultimately didn’t go his way, but Rountree Jr. put forth a tremendous effort and changed opinions. 

“Right after the fight was done and I was in the back getting checked out by the doctors, I had a big breakdown,” he admits with a smile, never one to hide his emotions. “I was super-devastated that I had lost, but it was crazy, because during the fight, I was so happy. In between rounds, I just remember being so happy in that fight. It was this joy in the cage that I never felt before. Knowing that I lost, I had a quick breakdown. I spent the night in the hospital, but the moment I got back from the hospital and, I got to see my phone and my friends. The response was ridiculous. It was absolutely ridiculous. I got a call from the UFC, and they were just like, ‘What an amazing fight!’ It didn’t feel like a loss anymore. Looking back now, it doesn’t feel like a loss because I gained so many fans and supporters and people who genuinely see me for who I am now.” 

Credit: Zuffa LLC

THE NEW MAN

“There is no question about who I am anymore.”

I let that line linger momentarily, the two of us sitting in brief silence. I let it sit because I’ve spent the last six or seven years speaking with Rountree Jr. ahead of just about every fight. We’ve had deep, meaningful conversations about life and who we are as human beings under the guise of a Fight Week interview. I know about his struggles with Imposter Syndrome and living a very minimalistic life in Thailand because we’ve spoken about it. I’ve watched him take long pauses as he searches for the words to describe things he was feeling. And teared up with him as we discussed his journey from being an overweight adolescent battling suicidal thoughts and crippling depression to a burgeoning MMA title contender. 

I let that last line linger because I know how much it means for him to finally show everyone the best version of himself and have them accept him for who and what he is: a dynamic, world-class talent and legitimate championship threat.

“It’s so hard to put into words the feeling, but it’s been amazing,” he says when I ask how it feels to finally have reached this point. “I feel like all of the work that I’ve been doing over the years was all for this time in my life. I’ve done some traveling since then. Been to Finland, Sweden, France. And no matter where I’m at, people are recognizing, ‘You’re the guy that fought Alex!’ It’s wild, but it’s so cool! What I’ve dedicated my life to getting into the UFC and all of this hard work. It’s like now I’m being recognized for it, and I got to go out there and put forth the greatest fight of my life. It was a great performance, regardless of the loss, and so many people got to see it and got to appreciate it. It’s really hard to put into words, but it’s really fulfilling, and it only feels like the beginning.”

LEVELLING UP

There is a common belief in American stick-and-ball sports that you’ve got to get close to the ultimate prize before you can win it. Sure, there are exceptions, but it’s often the rule. Getting close shows you’re capable and what more needs to be done to achieve the ultimate goal. That is precisely where Roundtree Jr. is as he ventures towards his first bout since his first fight for UFC gold.

“It’s so vital!” he says excitedly when asked about the importance of sharing the cage with Pereira and getting that initial taste of the sport’s highest level. “I’ve gone through everything I’ve gone through in life, and then I got to experience what it’s like to fight at a championship level against a guy like Alex. I got to feel that. I got to taste it. I’ve been there. I’ve got a sample of it, and now that I know what it’s like, I’m gunning for it, you know? Now I’m gunning!”

He laughs with an exuberance so powerful that he can’t help but chuckle at himself.

“I got there with the work and everything I did to get there, but since I’ve tasted it, now I know what it takes, and I’m gonna add some more. It really does now feel like the beginning. Every time I go and fight, I’m putting my all into it, and I’m finding out more about myself, continuing to push the limits, and pushing to see what the limits are, breaking barriers, and I’m not gonna stop. There is just so much good coming out of the decision to going all-in on becoming a champion. It’s just taken my training to another level. It’s taken everything to another level because I have no quit. I don’t stop. I don’t look for shortcuts. I’m just a full workhorse now, and it all came from that fight. Beat up. Tired. Hot outside. I’m just going for it all. There are no excuses. It’s shown me there is nothing wrong with a little bit of pain. A little bit of struggle. As long as I keep moving forward in life, I’ll be good. There is a comfort in life now where I’m just prepared to work hard every day.”

RENEWED PURPOSE

Rountree Jr. has been working with several new people, including Muay Thai coach Christian Knowles and his brother Lyndon, as well as a host of standout Brazilian jiu jitsu practitioners. This is all while John Wood of Syndicate MMA continues to oversee the whole of things, and strength and conditioning coach Lorenzo Pavlica remains an integral voice in his camp. While the fight against Pereira provided an addictive first taste of fighting for championship gold, it also allowed him the clarity to refine all his skills. 

“Everything is definitely elevated,” Rountree Jr. says, grinning. “It’s a really good time in life right now. I’m happy with it. I’ve made some adjustments in my camp. Brought in some new coaches and training partners. That fight actually allowed me to invest into my training camp. So now I can do things in a way that I couldn’t before. I can bring guys over from across the world to stay with me, and we train and have everything dialed in — from diet to recovery. I’m invested 100 percent now. Now is the real title run. It’s started. It’s in full effect.”

THE FASTEST ROAD BACK

Rountree Jr. sees his bout with Hill as the quickest way to get his title shot. 

“I’m excited to get back to fighting for the title again, and so I think it’s a great way to make my way towards making that happen again,” he says when asked about the pairing. “It’s a great matchup for everything that I have planned. For me, I want to fight for the title again soon. I’d love to fight for the title by the end of the year, and I think a matchup against Hill is something that helps me get closer to what I want, 100 percent.”

The two men were scheduled to compete at UFC 303, but Rountree Jr. was forced out of the contest after unknowingly ingesting a banned substance through a tainted supplement, resulting in a brief suspension. Hill also withdrew from the event, returning to the Octagon for the first time since his loss to Pereira at UFC 300 earlier this year at UFC 311 in Los Angeles, where he was stopped by another ex-titleholder, Jiri Prochazka.

THE BUILD-UP

Never one to shy away from sharing his thoughts, Hill was quick to diminish the performance Roundtree Jr. put in against Pereira. He implied he would have beaten the challenger quicker and that the two men were not on the same level. As of writing this, the oddsmakers currently disagree with Hill. 

“From what I’ve seen and the things that he’s said about ‘we’re not on the same level,’ and he’s a way better fighter than I am, those things are what excite me the most,” he says, grinning. “That’s what excites me the most because I get to go out there and put on my best performance and to shut that conversation down.”

UFC Hall of Famer Donald Cerrone used to always shake his head at competitors trying to get in his face at weigh-ins, considering it futile given the following night, they would be locked in the Octagon together. Rountree Jr. feels the same.

“That’s my whole thing!” he cackles when I mention Cerrone’s outlook. “It’s like, ‘Cool!’ We both get to go in there and get to prove who’s right. You don’t think we’re on the same level. Let me change that. There’s not much that I need to say,” he adds, smirking and shaking his head, uninterested in the theatrics. “You know me. I’m not a guy that needs to talk myself up. I always let my fighting speak for itself. And so in training and in life right now. I’m making sure everything is as precise and professional as possible in order to go out there and put on a great performance.”

THE BIG UP

As we wrap, I tell Rountree Jr. that he looks happier than I have ever seen him, noting that most of our conversations have admittedly come in the late stages of training camp or Fight Week itself, which isn’t necessarily a joyous time. He draws a long pause to consider my comment before responding.

“One thing I can say to that is that I feel like my happiness comes from my work. It’s a self-esteem thing. I’m putting in hours. Being as healthy as I can be. I’ve got great people around me. An amazing team. An amazing wife. Everyone is so supportive. I’m not making any bad decisions right now. Everything is for one thing, and one thing only, and that’s to become the champion. So, I’m living my life with a championship mindset and a championship lifestyle, and it feels good. I’m happy with it and happy about it.”

And a happy fighter is arguably the most dangerous fighter.