No one needs to lose however Khalil Rountree’s inventory arguably raised larger than ever earlier than regardless of falling to Alex Pereira in his first try at changing into UFC champion.
On the time the title combat was introduced, Rountree was one of many unlikeliest contenders to get a shot on the belt however he went into the cage and battled it out with Pereira on the ft for almost 20 minutes earlier than he fell simply earlier than the top of the fourth spherical. It was a really spectacular exhibiting that proved Rountree belongs among the many finest gentle heavyweights on this planet and that’s why his head coach John Wooden is aware of a devastating win over a former champion like Jamahal Hill at UFC Baku places him proper again into title rivalry once more.
“The UFC, everyone knows, rankings and all that shit don’t imply something. It’s what the UFC needs,” Wooden instructed MMA Preventing. “It’s what the followers [want] or what they suppose goes to promote. They’re going to trip the new hand. Once more, that’s why O’Malley [got the Merab Dvalishvili rematch]. He was the most well liked hand nonetheless left obtainable, nonetheless standing and prepared to do that.
“Khalil’s received a very popular hand proper now. I believe we go on the market [and win], it’s even hotter. I believe that’s an actual huge risk we would get that subsequent shot.”
Now Wooden confesses that there’s no approach to sugarcoat {that a} loss is devastating even when Rountree got here away trying higher than anticipated in a warfare with Pereira.
That mentioned, Rountree positively proved he can cling with anyone on this planet at 205 kilos and he’s a reliable risk to anyone loopy sufficient to face in entrance of him and commerce strikes.
“Nobody likes to lose,” Wooden mentioned. “When you’re going to lose, one of the simplest ways to lose was the way in which that he misplaced to Pereira. We simply noticed [this after UFC 315], I believe Belal’s [Muhammad] inventory really may need gone up for that loss [to Jack Della Maddalena]. He misplaced a belt in order that sucks for him, nobody needs to do this however he went out and confirmed some various things and had a banger of a combat with a man. So I believe you’ve received folks taking a look at him another way too.
“I believe typically simply going on the market and combating your ass off is simply pretty much as good in case you’re in a position to have that nice efficiency. I believe you’ll see Khalil combating for the belt actual fast within the close to future.”
One other issue doubtlessly enjoying in Rountree’s favor is the uncertainty surrounding the subsequent title combat at gentle heavyweight.
All indicators are pointing in direction of new champion Magomed Ankalaev dealing with Pereira in a rematch someday in 2025 however the fighters have exchanged some contentious messages on social media that has solid some doubt on that combat really taking place subsequent.
Clearly, Wooden understands that the UFC may in the end make the decision to ebook Ankalaev in opposition to Pereira once more it doesn’t matter what’s being mentioned on-line however he additionally understands the fickle nature of the combat enterprise.
“Who is aware of what’s occurring and what that rematch is coming but it surely doesn’t sound that nice,” Wooden mentioned. “So I believe we’re in an ideal place to go on the market and have a large efficiency in opposition to Jamahal and I believe that if we get that KO, that places us proper within the dialog of who’s subsequent. If not, perhaps we’re combating Pereira once more for the subsequent title shot if Ankalaev will get booked. Who is aware of.
“There’s every kind of issues however I do know that Khalil is correct up there. It didn’t actually really feel like a loss in opposition to Pereira and all of the issues which have give you it and the stuff that has been very optimistic since that combat. I believe that one huge win over Hill, which I really imagine goes to occur, our identify’s within the dialog.”
