Salt Lake City – UFC light heavyweight Khalil Rountree Jr’s shot at Alex Pereira’s title came unexpectedly, but at a time when he needed something to pick him up. Now he battles for a belt at UFC 307 on Saturday night.
“I was having one of roughest days of my life. I was in the middle of some legal stuff, and my phone rang,” Rountree Jr told reporters including Cageside Press on Wednesday. He spoke on what it was like getting the phone call for UFC 307.
“They’re like how’s your day going? I said ‘terrible. What’s going on?'”
Rountree Jr (13-5) then got the news that would turn his entire day around.
“They’re like ‘well hope this makes your day a little bit better. You’re going to be fighting Alex October 5th in Salt Lake City’. My day turned around within a matter of seconds. It was just all smiles from that moment on,” he said.
Since the announcement fighters, fans and some media alike have criticized the booking. Rountree Jr. is currently ranked #8 in the division 6 spots below the man who many believed deserved the shot in Magomed Ankalaev. Ankalaev himself was already booked to fight when the UFC 307 main event was put together.
“I didn’t pay attention. I got no space, I got no time, for other people’s opinions. I’m fighting for the title on Saturday and as soon as I got the news that was all that I’ve been focused on,” he said.
“If it upsets people…it’s none of my business. My business is to do what the UFC called me to do. Everyone’s going to have opinions even after this, but I can’t let it be my concern.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Khalil Rountree Jr above. He fights Alex Pereira at UFC 307 on Saturday night.
