Khalil Rountree Jr. is one of the most devastating strikers in the UFC today.
The #7-ranger arranged UFC-light heavyweight competition showed the world how good he is in his last fight against Alex Pereira and brought the champion in deep water at UFC 307 in October in October.
Despite a strong start in rounds 1 and 2, Rountree's fight came into the championship rounds when the kickboxing legend Pereira broke his nose on the way to a masterful TKO finish in round 4.
Rountree, a Muay Thai Striker, made major adjustments to his game after fighting Pereira, knowing that he should evolve to keep his championships alive.
Rountree will now be opposed to the former champion Jamahal Hill in the main event of UFC Baku on 21 June.
Years before he was a UFC headliner, Khalil Rountree Jr. Dana White's attention to 'The Ultimate Fighter'.
Photo by Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Khalil Rountree shoots football kicks on the body for devastating finish on 'The Ultimate Fighter 23'
A 25-year-old Rountree was cast in season 23 of 'The Ultimate Fighter', where he participated in a UFC contract in 2016.
Rountree did not eventually won the light heavyweight tournament of the show, but De Jager made a lasting first impression on the UFC world with its wild finishes and explosive fighting style.
In his first fight in the show, Rountree opponent Muhammed Dereese wobbled with a main kick and bumps before he goes on the ground.
Instead of throwing more punches, Rountree went backwards and threw two football kicks at the body of Dereese to end the fight.
“Holy f— s -!” UFC CEO White responded to the Rountree finish.
“That guy is finished – animal,” White said about Rountree.
“That guy will be difficult to beat …”
Khalil Rountree Jr. trained with former UFC champion Luke Rockhold
Preparation for Jamahal Hill on UFC Baku, Rountree has surrounded himself with first -class coaches and former world champions.
Rountree has trained under Christian Knowles, coach of kickboxer Jonathan Haggerty, as well as BJJ champion Marcus Buchecha.
Rountree also collaborated with Luke Rockhold and got Sparren around with the former UFC Middleweight Champion.
“It's super great to have boys at this level to train with me,” Rountree said on his YouTube channel.
“It is not every day that you train with a champion such as Luke Rockhold or a world champion such as Buuchecha. You can't get this kind of work anywhere else.
“I do my best to elevate myself as a athlete,” Rountree added.