A brutal oblique kick gave Khalil Rountree Jr. the victory over Modestas Bukauskas on the main card of UFC Vegas 36.
Light heavyweight Modestas Bukauskas was looking to snap a two-fight skid at UFC Vegas 36. So was opponent Khalil Rountree Jr., a TUF 23 finalist with the promotion since 2016.
The hard-hitting pairing had all the markings of a lose leaves town match-up.
Both fighters took the center with no touch of gloves. Rountree landed a straight hand that hurt Bukauskas. Rountree started unloading combos that had Bukauskas running back. Rountree chased him. With 3:35 left in the round, Rountree finally settled down. Bukauskas’ nose was broken, and the commentators confirmed it. With two minutes left, both fighters exchanged heavy jabs. A heavy leg kick landed for Rountree. Rountree landed another straight right and chewed up Bukauskas’ thigh. Rountree landed another punch at the end of the round and Bukauskas threw a spinning kick.
OH MY GOSH 😱
Khalil Rountree is letting it FLY! #UFCVegas36 pic.twitter.com/y8UGoh58SA
— UFC (@ufc) September 4, 2021
At the start of round two, Rountree landed two calf kicks. Rountree landed another leg kick and hook. Both fighters exchanged jabs. Bukauskas landed a punch, and Rountree immediately followed it up with punch himself. Rountree landed a side kick to Bukauskas’ knee, and he dropped screaming. The fight is over.
Khalil Rountree ended his fight against Modestas Bukauskas with an oblique kick. pic.twitter.com/1iGRcHmeb3
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) September 4, 2021
What a bounce-back performance for Rountree. He hadn’t looked that effective since his dominant win over Eryk Anders, which came after he began training his striking in Thailand. The win saved his job while Bukauskas might be out for a while and out of the UFC, unfortunately.
Khalil Rountree Jr. def. Modestas Bukauskas by TKO (Leg Kick) in Round 2 (2:30)
