Although the UFC features countless fighters with Muay Thai backgrounds, light heavyweight contender Khalil Rountree Jr. consistently commands attention. Early in his career, setbacks often overshadowed his victories. However, after refining his craft at the esteemed Tiger Muay Thai in Phuket, Rountree returned to the Octagon with a reinvigorated persona and a razor-sharp skill set. Beginning in 2021, he ignited a five-fight win streak, dismantling opponents like Chris Daukaus and Anthony Smith with precision and power.

Each victory showcased not only Rountree’s technical evolution but also his unwavering mental grit, proving he intends to etch his name in UFC history. His extraordinary resurgence earned him a title shot against then-champion Alex Pereira at UFC 307. In that high-stakes clash, Rountree electrified fans worldwide with a performance that highlighted his resilience and heart. Yet the battle came at a cost: it left him with a gruesome eye injury.

What happened to Khalil Rountree’s eye?

Unlike Alex Pereira’s previous title defense opponents, such as Jiri Prochazka and Jamahal Hill, Khalil Rountree Jr.pushed the champion to his limits. At one point, he even dropped the Brazilian, keeping fans on the edge of their seats. Despite this effort, Rountree fell short, with ‘Poatan’ securing a fourth-round knockout. Still, the contest came at a steep price: Rountree suffered a devastating eye injury that nearly left him blind.

Later, on the JAXXON podcast, ‘The War Horse’ revealed that he had been fighting blind against Alex Pereira. According to Rountree, the damage occurred early after a heavy shot from ‘Poatan,’ yet he chose to keep pushing forward given what was at stake. “In the moment, I didn’t feel it.” Khalil Rountree stated, “For instance, in the fight where the cut happened, I got hit and boom. I knew I had gotten hit hard, because I started to see my vision blur a little bit. But the second one that landed, the one that actually split my eye, in that moment I went blind.”

He continued, “But I thought, ‘F*ck it, I’m going to keep going’. I didn’t see anything after that, I saw just light, I didn’t see shadows, I didn’t see anything. It was like if someone put a frosted film [over my eye]. I couldn’t see, I’m f*cking blind, but I’m not going to give up… My eye was f*cked up, but I thought I would deal with it later.”

Despite enduring what could have been a career-ending injury at the hands of the former champion, Khalil Rountree Jr. holds no ill will toward Alex Pereira. Since then, Rountree has returned to the Octagon, most notably defeating Jamahal Hill in June. Nevertheless, he still carries the physical scars and lingering injuries from that brutal showdown with the Brazilian.

More about the brutal damage caused to Rountree Jr. by Alex Pereira

Last year, when then-champion Alex Pereira defended his third light heavyweight title, UFC matchmakers thrust Khalil Rountree Jr. into the spotlight at the top of the division rankings. Naturally, fans criticized the decision, arguing that Dana White & Co. were shielding their “golden goose” by matching ‘Poatan’ with a lower-ranked challenger. Yet, when the lights shone on Salt Lake City, Rountree transformed doubt into grit, delivering a performance that tested Pereira like never before.

As the fight progressed and his energy waned, Alex Pereira capitalized, seizing control and ultimately claiming victory. Nevertheless, despite the skepticism surrounding his title shot, ‘The War Horse’ showcased relentless courage against ‘Poatan,’ turning the first few rounds into a fierce, back-and-forth battle. Blood streamed from multiple cuts above and below his eyes, providing a vivid testament to the war he waged inside the Octagon. Following the bout, Rountree shared a haunting close-up of his face, exposing the permanent scars Pereira left behind.

UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier captured the moment, posting a photo of Rountree’s blood that had leaked onto his phone, which rested on the commentary table near the Octagon. To add to the toll, Rountree underwent septoplasty surgery to repair a deviated nasal septum sustained in the clash. Subsequently, the 34-year-old shared his recovery on Instagram, posting: “Septoplasty is the worst surgery on the planet! Pure pain.”

This week at UFC 320, Khalil Rountree Jr. and Alex Pereira once again take paths that could intersect — but against different opponents. ‘Poatan’ aims to reclaim his title from Magomed Ankalaev, while Rountree faces Jiri Prochazka as he pushes forward on his quest for another championship shot.