Khalil Rountree breaks silence after UFC 307 KO, praises Alex Pereira: "You’re the champ for a reason"

Khalil Rountree had the biggest opportunity of his MMA career this weekend as he fought Alex Pereira for the light heavyweight title at UFC 307. Despite losing in the fourth round via TKO, 'The War Horse' received a lot of appreciation for his performance.

The No.8-ranked light heavyweight broke his silence following the loss, thanking his opponent for helping in his journey via a lengthy motivational message. In a post shared on his Instagram handle, Rountree stated:

"I didn’t win the title but I grew last night. @alexpoatanpereira thanks for helping me see that I’m ready to take on the world. You showed amazing skill, you brought out a version of me that I needed to experience. You’re the champ for a reason, much respect. But I now know what I am capable of. #saltlakecity you guys were amazing and gave me such a memorable experience. I appreciate all of the positive messages from everyone around the world."

He continued:

"@danawhite @espn @espnmma and the entire @ufc staff, thanks for giving me a home, a place to have purpose and providing me with challenges to overcome... Brazil [Brazilian flag] you guys have a strong champion, be proud. I will take time to heal from this, I’ll be back even better, it’s inevitable. I’m grateful. Never give up on yourself, always fight hard, uplift your communities and find ways to make the most out of life. @deltacenter thanks for hosting us. #ufc307 was a night to remember."

Check out Khalil Rountree's full message below:

Rountree silenced the critics believing that he did not deserve a title opportunity. Despite losing, 'The War Horse' had plenty of impressive moments in the bout and was ahead on all three judges's scorecards at the time of the stoppage.

Conor McGregor praises Khalil Rountree and Alex Pereira following UFC 307 clash

Khalil Rountree stayed true to his promise by engaging in a striking battle with Alex Pereira on the feet, putting on a show for the fans. Conor McGregor was among those impressed with their bout, praising both fighters. The former double champ took to X in a since-deleted tweet, stating:

"That was real fighting in the @ufc main event last night. Never settle for that other bulls**t, @ufc fans! Never! Bravo Khalil and Alex! REAL"

Check out Championship Rounds screenshot of Conor McGregor's tweet on Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree below:

McGregor expressed that he was impressed with the bout in the immediate aftermath. 'The Notorious' also called for Pereira to move up to the heavyweight division, urging UFC matchmakers to allow him to become three-division champions. However, it remains to be seen whether 'Poatan' will get the chance to write history.