Following his dominant performance at UFC on ABC 8 in Baku, Azerbaijan, Khalil Rountree Jr. had a pointed message for the reigning UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Magomed Ankalaev. Rountree Jr. wasn’t just celebrating his unanimous decision victory over former champion Jamahal Hill; he was responding directly to public criticism from the division’s titleholder.
The Spark: Champion’s Criticism
During Rountree Jr.’s main event bout on Saturday, Magomed Ankalaev took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to offer a brief, four-word review: “I am falling asleep.” This terse assessment from the champion quickly garnered attention and clearly registered with Rountree Jr.
This criticism comes from Magomed Ankalaev, who recently claimed the light heavyweight title with a controversial unanimous decision victory over Alex Pereira at UFC 313. While Ankalaev secured the belt in that fight, the decision itself was met with boos from the crowd and debate among fighters and analysts. Adding to his history of debated outcomes, Ankalaev’s previous title shot against Jan Blachowicz in 2022 ended in a controversial split draw.
Despite having a background in combat sambo often associated with dominant grappling, Ankalaev’s title win against Pereira was not defined by wrestling; he notably failed on all 12 takedown attempts against the striking specialist. Instead, he relied heavily on striking pressure and using clinch attempts to stifle Pereira’s offense. This context makes his criticism of Rountree Jr.’s performance, particularly one resulting in a decision, notable.
Rountree’s Fiery Response
At the post-fight press conference for UFC on ABC 8, Rountree Jr. (14-6 MMA, 10-6 UFC) addressed Ankalaev’s comment with clear annoyance.
“It’s expected,” Rountree Jr. stated regarding the champion’s reaction. “That guy talks more about me than I talk about him. He says so much. It’s like, ‘Bro, you’re the champion. Why are you talking about me? Get away. Go enjoy being the champion. Quit talking about me on Twitter.’ Gosh. No more Ankalaev questions today. If you ask me, I’m putting the mic down.”
Rountree Jr.’s message was simple: Ankalaev, as the champion, should focus on his own status and leave other fighters like himself alone.
Defending the Performance: Strategy Over Finish
While Rountree Jr. earned a clear unanimous decision win over Jamahal Hill, landing effective strikes and severely attacking Hill’s lead leg with kicks, some online observers felt he could have pushed harder for a finish. They pointed to moments of perceived inactivity or circling away, particularly when he seemed comfortably ahead on the scorecards.
However, Rountree Jr., who was coming off a TKO loss to Alex Pereira last October, was not only satisfied with his performance but revealed his approach was entirely intentional.
“I think the fight was great,” Rountree Jr. explained. “I was patient. I took my time. I stayed as safe as I could stay, still while defending myself and protecting myself and securing the rounds. I thought that it was well thought-out.”
He attributed his success to “phenomenal coaching” and executing a “great game plan,” specifically mentioning that he intentionally held himself back from rushing to try and secure a knockout, despite the natural inclination. His primary goal with this measured approach was to “go the distance and gain more experience in the octagon,” prioritizing strategic execution and valuable cage time.
Rountree Jr.’s defense highlights a calculated choice to secure the win and build ring time, contrasting with the online desire for a highlight-reel finish, and adding an interesting layer to the ongoing dynamic in the light heavyweight division.
