Khalil Rountree couldn’t care much less if a handful of followers — and the UFC gentle heavyweight champion — didn’t respect his newest efficiency.
Saturday’s UFC Baku foremost occasion noticed Rountree cleanly out-strike Jamahal Hill for 5 rounds en path to a unanimous resolution win. It was a bounce-back outcome for Rountree, who suffered a hard-fought loss to Alex Pereira when he challenged for the sunshine heavyweight title this previous October at UFC 307.
Although Rountree dominated the motion, his output didn’t fulfill everybody, together with UFC champion Magomed Ankalaev, who tweeted he was “falling asleep” watching the headlining contest.
Rountree responded to Ankalaev’s remark on the night’s post-fight press convention.
“It’s anticipated,” Rountree mentioned. “That man talks about me greater than I discuss him. He says a lot and it’s, like, bro, you’re the champion. Why are you speaking about me? Get away. Go get pleasure from being the champion. Give up speaking about me on Twitter. No extra Ankalaev questions immediately. For those who ask me, I’m placing the microphone down.”
Previous to Rountree shutting down the Ankalaev chatter, he mentioned he welcomed the potential of preventing for the title once more, however wasn’t brazenly campaigning for it. Rountree gained 5 straight fights to guide his shot towards Pereira and certain wants one win away to maneuver into the No. 1 contender spot.
For now, he’s content material leaving his profession within the palms of the matchmakers.
“The place does this victory put me?” Rountree mentioned. “Wherever the UFC places me. I say it over and over, what I need, I believe it’s clear. What I need and what I’m aiming at. However it’s as much as the UFC.”
Based on one reporter, Ankalaev’s sentiment was echoed by some members of the viewers that allegedly made their exit throughout the principle occasion.
None of that bothers Rountree, who wasn’t conscious of what was taking place within the stands as he centered to combat Hill.
“They began to depart the world?” Rountree mentioned. “In the course of the walkout? Did I offend somebody or one thing? I didn’t even see. Once we’re strolling out, the digicam gentle — hey, they should begin turning these digicam lights as a result of I can’t see something. I used to be like nearly tripping, it’s so brilliant in entrance of you, I couldn’t even see the group. However it doesn’t matter, I used to be able to go combat.
“Whoever left, hey… everyone else who stayed, thanks.”
