Khalil Rountree is taking the silver lining from his UFC 307 light heavyweight title loss to Alex Pereira.
Rountree put up a stellar showing in the opening two rounds against the Brazilian two-division champ, winning both on the judges’ scorecards and even briefly dropping Pereira to his knees during one exchange. Ultimately though, it was Pereira who triumphed as he seized on Rountree slowing down to score the fight-ending sequence in the fourth in what was the third successful defence of the 205-pound championship he won this past November.
And addressing his fans in a statement post-fight, Rountree paid tribute to his opponent and said that the fight truly showed him that his belief that he is one of the best light heavyweights on earth is a valid.
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“I didn’t win the title but I grew last night,” he wrote in a message posted to Instagram.
“Alex Pereira, 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.”
“Brazil, you guys have a strong champion, be proud,” Rountree added. “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.”
The defeat snapped Rountree’s five-fight winning streak at 205-pounds, four of which were finishes inside the distance. His next move in the cage remains unknown but it stands to reason that the UFC may opt to re-book the Rountree vs. Jamahal Hill bout that was scheduled for several months ago but from which Hill was forced to withdraw through injury.
