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Khalil Rountree Jr. lost to Alex Pereira in the UFC 307 main event. But the never-back-down attitude he showcased inside the octagon won him many new fans. Many of them appreciated him in person after the end of his fight, but now fans have turned online to console him and laud his spirit.
Rountree started the fight on a good note, managing to push Pereira backward with his swings. But his gas tank turned out to be the decisive factor. Rountree's movements depleted as the fight progressed. By the beginning of the fourth round, he had become an easy target and suffered a TKO defeat at the hand of 'Poatan'.
However, the resistance Rountree put up against Pereira earned him the respect of the fans. A tweet from Championship Rounds showcased how they hailed Rountree during the time of his exit from Delta Center in Salt Lake City. The comments section of the post also got flooded with consoling comments.
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One such fan penned:
"This really breaks my heart"
Others presented similar opinions, writing:
"Fought like a warrior. Earned a lotta respect"
"Nothing to be ashamed of, freaking warrior bro much respect!"
"He earned respect from the MMA fans that night for sure. I’ll be rooting for this guy no doubt"
Check out a few more reactions below:
Alex Pereira admitted feeling Khalil Rountree's power
Not many UFC fighters have been able to shake Pereira visibly except for Israel Adesanya. But even 'Poatan' confessed that he felt the power in Khalil Rountree's strikes during their UFC 307 encounter.
Rountree earned a knockdown in the second round of the fight as he drove Pereira to the canvas with a counter right hook. The Brazilian may have climbed back to his feet swiftly after this, but the post-UFC 307 press conference had him admitting that he felt the strike.
"I felt [the strike]. But I've got to rewatch it, I'm not sure. I think it was something spinning, maybe I had my back to him. I don't remember. I felt it."
Check out Alex Pereira's comments below (10:35):
