Khalil Rountree Jr. says critics of Alex Pereira fight are not “real fans”: “It will be exciting from start to finish”

Khalil Rountree Jr. makes no apologies for taking advantage of an opportunity.

UFC general manager Dana White recently announced that Rountree will challenge Alex Pereira for the light heavyweight title at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City. The clash was highly unexpected, as Rountree is still serving a suspension for accidentally ingesting a banned substance. Speaking to MMA Fighting this week, Rountree explained how it all came about.

“I got a call from Hunter [Campbell],” said Rountree. “I was having a bad day that day, was busy with other things, and he was like, 'Hey, I'm going to make your day better, we have this opportunity for you to fight Alex in October.' It was kind of a surprise, but of course I'm going to take the offer. This is the fight I wanted, it's the fight I've been calling for, and I'm excited, I'm happy, I'm grateful.”

Of course, not everyone is as happy as Rountree. Fans and a number of fighters criticized the fight given Rountree's suspension and the fact that he is only ranked No. 8 in the UFC light heavyweight rankings. But Rountree isn't worried about the naysayers; he's focused on the people who are supporting him getting this opportunity.

“I understand people are upset. Whatever. It's not my problem, at least not,” Rountree said. “It's not my problem. I have no control over it. They call me – OK, I'll take it. Let them deal with their own problems. Let them talk to the UFC. Whatever fans aren't happy with it, I don't know why. I couldn't even call them real fans if they're not happy with this matchup.

“But for everyone else, they are absolutely right. It will be exciting from start to finish and I am excited.”

Despite some concerns, Rountree has currently won five fights in a row, including defeating former title challenger Anthony Smith last December. He is also the only person to have defeated three former GLORY kickboxers in the UFC. In that regard, Pereira is something of a final boss of GLORY kickboxing in MMA, a two-division champion who made the seamless transition to the UFC. When they meet in the Octagon in October, Rountree believes he will add another fight to his list and make his dreams come true.

“This is what I've been working for,” Rountree said. “When I started MMA, everything changed, my life. It all happened quite by accident, but I stayed strong, I stayed committed and I always believed that this was possible. Now I'm finally here, living in this reality that was a dream, so it means everything to me. It's the time that I always saw in my head. Now it's here.

“I have a message for Alex: see you in October. For everyone else: nothing. See me in October.”