In 2024, light heavyweight contender Khalil Rountree Jr. made headlines in the UFC—not for his victories, but for being dominated by Alex Pereira at UFC 307. However, this wasn’t just any ordinary defeat; from the first round to the fourth-round doctor’s stoppage, the fight kept fans on the edge of their seats, making it one of the most exciting matchups of the year. Despite facing off against Pereira head-to-head, the title challenger couldn’t secure the win, but he proved to be one of the Brazilian’s toughest opponents to date.

Since that loss, Rountree Jr. has stepped out of the spotlight, but as the year draws to a close, he’s back in the limelight, this time collaborating with ‘Fighting Energy Films’ on YouTube. Reflecting on the fight, ‘The War Horse’ shared an honest confession. “When I was in the cage and he was walking out, the only thing I can really remember is just being happy. Even the moment when I got finished in the fourth round, I just felt so happy throughout that whole fight. It felt like I was where I belonged.”

But why did Rountree Jr. feel so happy with his loss? Simply because he silenced his doubters in the process. When the fight between Rountree Jr. and ‘Poatan’ was announced for Pereira’s third title defense, many of Pereira’s critics dismissed the matchup, particularly since ‘The War Horse’ was ranked #8 in the division at the time. Top-ranked contenders like Jan Błachowicz, Jiri Prochazka, Jamahal Hill, and Magomed Ankalaev criticized the UFC and Dana White for “saving” Pereira, who was already waiting in line to face him.

Moreover, at that time, Khalil Rountree Jr. was also coming off a suspension due to unintentionally consuming a banned substance. Once he learned of the violation, the former title challenger promptly notified the UFC and authorities, raising questions about his legitimacy to fight for the title after such a recent suspension. Nevertheless, ‘The War Horse’ proved the critics wrong with a standout performance, earning recognition from UFC CEO Dana White and even UFC superstar Conor McGregor.

Dana White, Conor McGregor, and others praised Khalil Rountree Jr.

As Frank Ocean famously said, “Work hard in silence, let your success be your noise.” This perfectly encapsulates the journey of Khalil Rountree Jr., who endured many struggles in his career, including a challenging 9-4 record in his early UFC fights. However, after stepping back and taking time off, ‘The War Horse’ went to Thailand to sharpen his Muay Thai skills. Since then, he has never looked back, earning a five-fight win streak that was only snapped by Alex Pereira in a fierce battle.

Although he lost, Rountree Jr.’s skills didn’t go unnoticed. UFC boss Dana White, in the post-fight press conference, acknowledged his performance, saying, “Did this not play out the way everybody thought it would? Everybody knew. Everybody at first, ‘Oh, he’s ranked No. 8.’ You knew it was going to be a badass fight. You knew it was going to be a badass fight. You can never measure heart. You don’t know how that’s going to go. Now you know.”

Moreover, Conor McGregor also paid tribute to both Pereira and Rountree Jr. on social media, writing, “That was real fighting in the @UFC main event last night. Never settle for that other bullshit, @UFC fans! Never! Bravo Khalil and Alex! REAL.” ‘The War Horse’s recognition even extended beyond MMA, as boxing legend Tyson Fury shared a picture from the fight on his Instagram story, captioning it, “Warriors of modern day.”

With such widespread praise, it’s clear that 2024 was a defining year for ‘The War Horse’, propelling his name to new heights. Now, as 2025 approaches, who would you like to see Khalil Rountree Jr. face next? Drop your thoughts below.