What is Khalil Rountree's fighting style?

Khalil Rountree Jr. is an American mixed martial artist who currently competes in the light heavyweight division (205 lbs) of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Born on February 6, 1990, in Los Angeles, California, Rountree was a deskbound overweight man once, which prompted him to take up mixed martial arts training in 2010 to get healthy. Making his professional debut in 2014, Rountree established himself as a fearsome striker with his background in Muay Thai.

Rountree came to the UFC via The Ultimate Fighter Season 23 in 2016, where he showed off his devastating power but lost in the finale. He bounced back with key wins over quality competition in Gokhan Saki, Paul Craig, and Eryk Anders. The 2018 knockout victory over Saki was a career highlight for Rountree, one that not only proved his Muay Thai skill but also netted him a Performance of the Night bonus. Rountree currently sits as the eighth-ranked contender in the UFC's light heavyweight division at a record of 13-5-0 (1 NC) as of September 2024. The California native’s next matchup is for the 205 gold against the reigning champion, Alex Pereira, at UFC 307 on September 30, 2024.

Khalil Rountree Fighting Style

Khalil Rountree Jr. is a dangerous fighter with a fighting style that combines aggressive striking with a Muay Thai base. Training in Thailand for a period, he developed his kickboxing and Muay Thai which has been the core factor in his style inside the octagon. He is a dangerous opponent with ferocious leg kicks, quick movement, and well-established knockout power with his kicks. His southpaw stance adds another layer of complexity an opponent must be prepared to face.

Throughout his career, Rountree has been able to display some heavy-handedness. Going into September 2024, nine of his wins have come via knockout. The constant pressure mixed with the capability of landing clean and hard shots usually proves to be a lot for opponents, hence forcing an early stop most of the time. He is also known for knocking out big-name opponents such as Anthony Smith and Chris Daukaus.