MMA News

Tag: UFC light heavyweight division

  • Former UFC Title Challenger Sounds Alarm Over Khamzat Chimaev’s Potential Move To Light Heavyweight

    Former UFC Title Challenger Sounds Alarm Over Khamzat Chimaev’s Potential Move To Light Heavyweight

    Khalil Rountree Jr. has spent the past few months training alongside Khamzat Chimaev, and the experience has left him with a clear takeaway. If “Borz” ever makes the move to light heavyweight, the rest of the division could be in serious trouble.

    Chimaev is currently preparing to defend his middleweight title against Sean Strickland at UFC 328, marking his first defense since capturing the belt in 2025.

    But even before stepping into that fight, the unbeaten champion has openly discussed ambitions of moving up again in pursuit of a second title.

    Khalil Rountree Jr. Sees Major Problems If Khamzat Chimaev Moves Up

    During a recent media scrum, Khalil Rountree Jr. opened up about his time training with Khamzat Chimaev and what it revealed about a potential move to 205 pounds.

    “It’s definitely exhausting,” Rountree said. “It’s exhausting, it’s difficult, it’s humbling. It’s inspiring in a way, too, because his effort and his will, his skill is unmatched. So, when you go up against that, there’s a lot of things that can be said. There’s just a lot of things that can be learned when you truly find yourself going against the best in the world.”

    The former title challenger, who currently sits among the top contenders at light heavyweight, did not hold back when asked about the idea of “Borz” entering the division.

    “I just told you, training with this guy, he’s the best in the world. It’s difficult. It’s difficult in all areas, in standup, in grappling. No one gets an easy round with Khamzat. It doesn’t matter what weight class, what size.

    “That was my initial thought, like, ‘Damn, if he made the move up, we’re all kind of screwed.’ That’s kind of how I look at it.”

  • Khalil Rountree Wants To Honor Murdered Father’s Name At UFC 307

    Khalil Rountree Wants To Honor Murdered Father’s Name At UFC 307

    Khalil Rountree Jr. recently shared his determination to pay tribute to his late father by securing a victory at UFC 307.

    “The War Horse” has a chance to bring his dreams to life as he prepares to challenge reigning UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira this weekend at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

    Rountree Jr. has been a fixture on the UFC roster since 2016, delivering numerous highlight-reel performances. However, many MMA fans may not be familiar with his personal journey. The Ultimate Fighter season 23 alum carries a legacy tied to his father, Roderick Khalil Rountree, who was a road manager for the iconic music group Boyz II Men.

    Tragically, in May 1992, when “The War Horse” was just two years old, his father was murdered by three armed robbers at the Gold Coast hotel in Chicago.

    The unfortunate demise of his father cast a shadow over Rountree Jr.’s early years, leading him down a dark path of substance abuse that nearly cost him his life. Struggling to cope, he seemed headed for self-destruction before discovering MMA, which became the key to turning his life around.

    Rountree Fights To Honor His Father & Sees UFC Title As Perfect Tribute

    During a recent interview with New York Post Sports, Rountree Jr., revealed that his path into fighting was driven by a deep need to pay tribute to his late father. The Californian expressed that this title shot is the culmination of a lifetime of hard work and dedication. He sees this opportunity as a moment to bring new honor to his family’s legacy, especially in memory of his father.

    “I think, for me, it’s everything that I’ve worked for, really. Not knowing my dad growing up, but knowing what happened to him,” Rountree Jr. said. “I always just wanted to — or, not always, but there came a time, especially when I started fighting, that I wanted to honor him and make something of myself so that I can imagine him looking down and being proud.”

    “Like ‘wow, my son was this kid that had no courage and locked himself inside his room’ to — ‘wow, this guy’s fighting lions in the cage for a world championship.’ So it’s really big, and I’m so excited for this moment and just to be able to be in this situation to bring more honor and more light to the work that my father did and also the work that I’ve put in.”

    “The War Horse” is currently on an impressive five-fight winning streak, with his last appearance in the Octagon being a third-round knockout of Anthony Smith in December 2023. Rountree Jr. faced a setback this past May when he was handed a 4.5-month ban after testing positive for a steroid hormone. However, the suspension was lifted on September 18.

    • Read More: Chael Sonnen Explains Why Upset Could Be ‘Brewing’ In Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree At UFC 307
  • Former UFC Champion Touts Khalil Rountree To Beat Alex Pereira ‘At His Own Game’

    Former UFC Champion Touts Khalil Rountree To Beat Alex Pereira ‘At His Own Game’

    A former UFC middleweight champion recently praised Khalil Rountree, claiming he has what it takes to defeat Alex Pereira by outclassing him in his own area of expertise.

    “The War Horse” is preparing for his first title shot as he challenges reigning light heavyweight champion Pereira in the main event of UFC 307, set for October 5 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

    “Poatan” has been a relentless powerhouse since making his mark in the 205-pound division last year, firmly establishing his dominance by defending his belt twice within the span of two months. Pereira is coming off a second-round knockout of Jiri Prochazka in their highly anticipated rematch at UFC 303 this past June.

    While Pereira may be renowned for his crushing power and world-class kickboxing that dismantles his opponents, Rountree has made it clear that he won’t resort to takedowns, opting instead to keep the battle standing.

    Michael Bisping believes that “The War Horse” is more than capable of going toe-to-toe with the Brazilian champion in a striking showdown…

    Bisping Warns ‘Poatan’ To Respect Rountree’s Abilities: ‘Pereira Has To Take Him Seriously’

    During a a recent video on his YouTube channel, “The Count” gave his thoughts on the upcoming title clash between Pereira and Rountree. The UFC Hall of Famer highlighted some of the notable names the American challenger has taken down in recent bouts, pointing out that while “The War Horse” may appear hittable, he’s proven his prowess by defeating elite-level kickboxers like Gokhan Saki.

    Bisping emphasized that Pereira should tread carefully in striking exchanges, as Rountree is no stranger to top-tier competition.

    “Anthony Smith was able to land some straight rights, and if Smith can land them, you’ve got to think that Pereira is going to land them,” Bisping said. “But if we dig a little deeper, if we look at some of the other people that he’s [Rountree] beaten, there’s a name that stands out, and that name is the one and only Gokhan Saki… When he went up against Khalil Rountree, he got knocked out in the first round.”

    “Who is Khalil? Well, Khalil was a kickboxer. He has the confidence to put it out there and truly mean it by saying that he’s not going to shoot. He’s going to stand there, go toe to toe, and try to beat Pereira at his own game.”

    Rountree is currently enjoying the success of a five-fight win streak. The 34-year-old was initially slated to face former champion Jamahal Hill at UFC 303, but Rountree had to withdraw after receiving a 4.5-month suspension for testing positive for a steroid hormone. Fortunately for “The War Horse”, the suspension ended on September 18, clearing the path for his return.

  • Latest UFC Star Talks Environment Of ‘Weakness’ Backstage At DWCS

    Latest UFC Star Talks Environment Of ‘Weakness’ Backstage At DWCS

    Navajo Stirling recently spoke about the palpable nervousness among fellow aspiring fighters at Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS).

    Stirling punched his ticket to the UFC with a brutal second-round, one-punch knockout of Phillip Latu during the main event of Week 5 of DWCS. In a surprising turn of events, the 26-year-old Kiwi has already secured his promotional debut matchup. He’s set to step into the Octagon on December 15 at a UFC Fight Night in Tampa, Florida, where he’ll face Tuco Tokkos in a light heavyweight showdown.

    Stirling, a highly skilled kickboxer, hones his craft at the prestigious City Kickboxing gym in Auckland, training alongside former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and seasoned lightweight Dan Hooker. He transitioned to MMA in September 2022, making his professional debut against James Craughwell under the banner of the Shuriken Fight Series promotion.

    Although the MMA community has yet to witness much of Stirling’s talents, the City Kickboxing prodigy turned heads with his recent performance, proving he possesses all the makings of a future star in the sport.

    Stirling Asserts Mental Edge Over Other Fighters At DWCS

    During a recent interview with Sky Sports NZ, Stirling reflected on his experience competing on the grand stage of DWCS. The UFC newcomer noted that many of the other contenders seemed overly anxious about their performances. He confidently expressed his belief that he could outshine the rest with his composure and skill.

    “It was just like, so many were looking around and seeing how nervous all the other fighters were,” Stirling said. “Just seeing them go through their rituals and mantras, it was like I could just see— I don’t know if it’s weakness or something— but I just know if I was fighting guys like this, I would run through them 100 times over. And I think the UFC staff could see in my presence that I was meant to be there and that I was really going to own the moment.”

    Stirling went on to say that the earlier matchups on the card lacked excitement, which motivated him to give his best performance. He added that the pressure of representing his country fueled his determination even more.

    “It was a very lackluster card, and I feel like I did that. It was even so bad that there was one guy who didn’t even show up. When I saw a guy who had the opportunity of a lifetime not put his foot forward by even entering the Octagon, it made me think to myself: if I had the weight of my nation on my shoulders, I would go out 100 times over, even knowing I was going to get knocked out within 10 seconds. I would rather do that than not show face at all.”

    Stirling boasts an undefeated professional record of 5-0, displaying impressive strength along the way. However, the path ahead in the UFC’s highly competitive light heavyweight division will be far from smooth. Before he can think about climbing the ranks, the rising star must first overcome fellow newcomer Tokkos, a dangerous opponent known for his devastating knockout power and slick grappling skills.

  • Chael Sonnen Feels Khalil Rountree Fight Will Fast Track Alex Pereira’s Heavyweight Move: ‘The Best Way, Get Him Beat!’

    Chael Sonnen Feels Khalil Rountree Fight Will Fast Track Alex Pereira’s Heavyweight Move: ‘The Best Way, Get Him Beat!’

    Chael Sonnen recently suggested that Alex Pereira’s upcoming clash with Khalil Rountree could be the ideal launchpad for the Brazilian’s much-anticipated leap into the UFC heavyweight division.

    “Poatan” is gearing up to defend his light heavyweight crown for the third time as he faces Rountree in the headline bout at UFC 307, slated for October 5 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

    However, numerous fans have voiced their apprehensions about the matchup, pointing to Rountree’s ongoing suspension for the unintentional intake of the banned substance Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Meanwhile, others argue that Magomed Ankalaev, currently on a 12-fight unbeaten streak, would have been a more fitting contender for the 205-pound title.

    As for Pereira, anticipation is swirling around his future, with many wondering what’s next for the striking phenom who has already claimed titles in two weight classes. He has hinted at the possibility of moving up to the heavyweight division, where he could potentially become the UFC’s first-ever three-division champion.

    However, before he can chase that historic milestone, “Poatan” must first conquer the formidable challenge posed by the heavy-hitting Rountree. Sonnen believes that the fight with “The War Horse” could be pivotal in shaping Pereira’s path forward…

    Sonnen Thinks Pereira Will Jump To Heavyweight If Rountree Hands Him A Loss

    During a recent video on his YouTube channel, Sonnen delved into the upcoming title clash between Pereira and Rountree. The former UFC middleweight title contender remarked that “The War Horse” might be the most stylistically challenging opponent Pereira has faced to date.

    “Khalil Rountree is going to roll over Alex Pereira,” Sonnen said. “So all of this talk about Khalil not deserving a [title shot], Khalil should not be in those positions—there’s only one person that needs to believe that, and that is Alex Pereira. It’s a very, very dangerous fight, and why on Earth take the risk? We think that we know, whether we do or not, but we have a consensus as to why not Ankalaev?”

    Sonnen went on to suggest that the quickest and most efficient path for “Poatan” to transition to the heavyweight division would be if he suffers a defeat at the hands of Rountree at UFC 307. Such a loss would relieve him of the obligation to defend his 205-pound title.

    “The best way to get Alex to heavyweight—because we can’t make him a heavyweight tomorrow if he’s got the 205-pound belt—is to remove the 205-pound belt from the equation. We could all agree with that, right? Anyone not fighting for a title can move weight classes right now. So, the best way to get him to heavyweight is not to clean out the division and keep doing more work and saying all the right things on social media. That is a way, but it takes a lot of time and some luck. The best way? Get him beat, get the belt off him, and he’s free to become a heavyweight.”

    Pereira has been an unstoppable force since his commanding entrance into the 205-pound division, starting with a decision victory over Jan Blachowicz at UFC 291. He went on to capture the vacant light heavyweight title in a showdown with Jiri Prochazka at UFC 295 and has since successfully defended his crown, notching two defenses within just two months. Most recently, he delivered a stunning second-round knockout against Prochazka in a rematch at UFC 303.

  • Khalil Rountree Responds To Critics Of Title Fight Against Alex Pereira: ‘Couldn’t Even Call Them True Fans If You’re Not Happy’

    Khalil Rountree Responds To Critics Of Title Fight Against Alex Pereira: ‘Couldn’t Even Call Them True Fans If You’re Not Happy’

    Khalil Rountree recently clapped back at critics who questioned his title shot against reigning UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.

    Last week, UFC CEO Dana White made waves by announcing that Rountree will challenge Pereira in the headline bout of UFC 307, set for October 5 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

    The fight announcement raised eyebrows, as “The War Horse” is still serving a suspension for the inadvertent use of the banned substance Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), which was found in one of the supplements he was using while preparing for his scheduled bout against Jamahal Hill at UFC 303 this past June.

    Rountree is still under suspension from the Nevada Athletic Commission, which extended his two-month temporary ban during a hearing last month. With the 34-year-old Californian now slated to fight in October, it’s likely he has already reached a settlement with the commission, though the official announcement is expected at a later date.

    However, many from the MMA community, including fellow fighters, have voiced disapproval of the upcoming fight, citing Rountree’s suspension and questioning his place in the UFC light heavyweight rankings. Yet, “The War Horse” remains undeterred by the critics…

    Rountree Admits Title Fight Opportunity Was Unexpected

    During a recent interview with MMAFightingonSBN, Rountree opened up about the announcement of his title fight against Pereira. The seasoned light heavyweight contender revealed that he received an unexpected call from UFC CBO Hunter Campbell, who offered him the chance to face “Poatan” in October.

    “I got a call from Hunter,” Rountree said. “I was having a bad day that day, dealing with some other stuff, and he was like, ‘Hey, I’ll make your day better; we’ve got this opportunity for you to fight Alex in October.’ It kind of came by surprise, but of course, I’m going to accept.”

    “The War Horse” also responded to the naysayers who have been downplaying his title shot, acknowledging that it’s out of his hands but making it clear that he’s not letting the negativity distract him from his goal.

    “I understand that people are upset. Whatever. It’s not my problem, for one. It’s not my problem. It’s out of my control. They give me the call, I take it. Let them deal with their own problems. Let them talk to the UFC. Whatever fans are not happy about this, I don’t know why. I couldn’t even call them true fans if you’re not happy about this matchup. But for everybody else, they’re absolutely right. It’s going to be exciting from start to finish, and I’m hyped.”

    Rountree is currently on a five-fight win streak, with four of those victories coming by knockout. His most recent triumph was a decisive win over former title challenger Anthony Smith in December 2023. He boasts a UFC record of 9-5 with one no-contest.