Khalil Rountree Jr. receiving a title shot did not sit well with some other light heavyweight contenders.
It was announced on Friday that Rountree will challenge Alex Pereira for the 205-pound crown at UFC 307 on Oct. 5 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Former champs Jan Blachowicz and Jamahal Hill immediately took issue with the announcement.
Blachowicz believes the Pereira is receiving “special protection” from the UFC, which the Brazilian doesn’t need.
“With all due respect to Khalil but there are at least two higher ranked contenders who are ready to fight Poatan,” Blachowicz wrote on X. “He doesn’t need special protection.”
With all due respect to Khalil but there are at least two higher ranked contenders who are ready to fight Poatan. He doesn’t need special protection.
— Jan Blachowicz (@JanBlachowicz) August 16, 2024
Meanwhile, Hill, who was scheduled to fight Rountree at UFC 303 in June, brought up this would-be opponent’s anti-doping suspension. Rountree was pulled from the Vegas card after accepting responsibility for ingesting a banned substance through a supplement before failing a drug test. “The War Horse” was suspended for two months by the UFC, although he still remains under suspension in Las Vegas. While Hill was later matched up against Carlos Ulberg, a knee injury forced the former champ out of that contest. Regardless, Hill claims Rountree getting a gold bid after a drug testing failure reflects poorly on the sport.
“Can’t believe what I just saw announced!!!” Hill wrote. “So a guy pulls out of a contender fight because of failed drug test for a banned substances and gets rewarded with a title shot?!! This is terrible for the sport and makes the rankings completely pointless!!!”
Can’t believe what I just saw announced!!! So a guy pulls out of a contender fight because of failed drug test for a banned substances and gets rewarded with a title shot?!! This is terrible for the sport and makes the rankings completely pointless!!!
— Jamahal Hill (@JamahalH) August 16, 2024
Responding to the criticism, Rountree claims if anyone isn’t excited about his matchup against “Poatan,” perhaps they are the problem.
“It doesn’t affect me,” Rountree told Kevin Iole. “I understand that [Hill] is upset for his own personal reasons. It’s really none of my business what he thinks or what anybody else thinks… I don’t think it’s terrible for the sport; I think it’s amazing for the sport. I think the fans are gonna be 100% hyped on this fight…I’m grateful for the UFC for this opportunity. Everybody else whatever negative opinions, if you’re anything but excited about this fight [with Pereira], maybe you got the problem. I don’t think it’s the matchmakers or the company. It’s like if you have a problem with this, I think the problem is yours.”
Pereira has already beaten Blachowicz via split decision at UFC 291, and he knocked out Hill at UFC 300 this past June in his first title defense. The Brazilian is fresh off a secon- knockout win over Jiri Prochazka at UFC 303 this past June. Meanwhile, Rountree is riding a five-fight winning streak — including four finishes — and comes off a knockout win over Anthony Smith in December 2023.
Meanwhile, Magomed Ankalaev, who was expected to be next in line for the title, doesn’t want any sympathy. Unbeaten since an upset loss in his UFC debut in 2018, Ankalaev was recently booked against Aleksandar Rakic for UFC 308 on Oct. 26 in Abu Dhabi. The Dagestani plans on paying his dues for the light heavyweight title until he is undeniable and advises Hill to do the same.
“I received a lot of messages today regarding the light heavyweight title fight,” Ankalaev wrote. “My job is to smash people’s face who they put in front of me. I will destroy Rakic in Abu Dhabi and I will not be denied. I don’t need nobody to feel bad for me.
“Why is Jamahal Hill crying? Pereira just made you sleep, get back in the [line] and work your way up or be ready for Abu Dhabi because Rakic may pull out.”
I Received a lot of messages today regarding the Light Heavyweight title fight, my job is to smash people’s face who they put in front of me, I will destroy Rakic in Abu Dhabi and I will not be denied, I don’t need nobody to feel bad for me @danawhite @Mickmaynard2
— Magomed Ankalaev (@AnkalaevM) August 16, 2024
Why is Jamahal Hill crying? Pereira just made you sleep, get back in the like and work your way up or be ready for Abu Dhabi because Rakic may pull out
— Magomed Ankalaev (@AnkalaevM) August 16, 2024
