Khalil Rountree Jr. is #6 in the UFC light-heavyweight division, known for his explosive striking and Muay Thai skills. He competed in the biggest fight of his career against Alex Pereira at UFC 307. Despite losing the fight, the American fighter revealed going through an unfortunate injury.
Alex Pereira overcame the first two rounds to inflict massive damage on Rountree’s face. The bruises and bloods remained very evident. However, most people didn’t learn about the American fighter somewhat going blind after a punch. Rountree revealed as much in his appearance on the JAXXON Podcast.
The second [punch] that landed—the one that literally split my eye—I went completely blind. I saw just light. I didn’t see shadows, I didn’t see anything.
Khalil Rountree via JAXXON Podcast
The punch split Rountree’s eye, but despite that he continued pushing through and fight. Ultimately, ‘Poatan’ landed damaging shots before a powerful body punch knocked Rountree down. Soon, the referee stopped the fight and the Brazilian superstar defended his title for the third time.
The #6 ranked light heavyweight star remains focused on making his return to the UFC by early 2025. After all, he has some surgeries to recover from. Meanwhile, Pereira also revealed that he faced multiple injuries and health issues leading up to this fight.
Alex Pereira reveals fighting with an injury against Khalil Rountree
Alex Pereira got the belt back home even after fighting with unavoidable injuries. After two dominant title defenses, Poatan faced Khalil Rountree next. Their UFC 307 main event fight didn’t go past round four. Both of them managed to deliver a fan-favorite fight. Pereira discussed how his medical problems affected him during the fight camp.
Alex Pereira wins against Khalil Rountree (Image via The Independent)After the UFC 307 PPV, Poatan revealed the problems he faced during the post-fight presser. The injury added difficulty to his preparation but did not prevent him from competing. He shared the details of his physical challenges, including the injury, after the fight.
I was on antibiotics, I had fever, I had a bad throat and lot of things happened. Also going back when I was in Brazil, I hurt my rib…
Alex Pereira via Post Fight Conference of UFC 307
‘Poatan’ said the lead-up to his fight with Rountree was more challenging than the fight itself. He faced visa issues, which delayed his training, and had to deal with a persistent cough. Despite all these, the UFC superstar managed to get the win.
Now, the Brazilian champion intends to return around March next year. He has shown interest in moving up to the heavyweight division. However, a title defense against Magomed Ankalaev appears to be the next fight for Poatan.
