Khalil Rountree Jr. recently revealed that receiving a title shot at UFC 307 came as a surprise, particularly since he was still facing repercussions from a positive steroid test.
“The War Horse” is set to challenge reigning UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira in his first-ever title opportunity this Saturday at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
However, the announcement of this matchup was unexpected, as Rountree Jr. was still navigating the sanctions imposed by the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) after testing positive for Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a prohibited steroid hormone, earlier in May.
The 34-year-old Californian was initially slated to face Jamahal Hill at UFC 303 in June—a bout that could have served as a title eliminator. However, Rountree had to withdraw due to the positive test. In an August hearing, the NAC reduced Rountree Jr.’s suspension to 4.5 months, acknowledging his decision to self-report the violation.
This reduction allowed “The War Horse” to become eligible for UFC 307, as his ban ended on September 18.
Rountree Jr. Reveals He Envisioned a Title Shot Before It Became Reality
In a recent interview with Caged Minds Combat Sports News, Rountree Jr. expressed that he, like many others in the MMA community, did not expect a title opportunity while still serving his suspension.
“It was a big surprise to me,” Rountree Jr. said. “I definitely didn’t expect the call to come when it did, but when it happened, all I could say was that it was a huge surprise. I was full of excitement. It was, I guess, like the call I had imagined for a long time… It was a complete surprise, so the way it happened was so unexpected. I didn’t realize that the phone call for a title fight was as close as it was.”
Rountree also shared that the cancellation of his fight with Hill left him uncertain about his future in the UFC and when he would next compete.
“The fight that I was booked for before, I thought could possibly be the title eliminator, but after everything happened, I really didn’t know what was next. I didn’t know if I’d be waiting nine months to a year to fight. I didn’t know who the opponent would be. I imagined all the ranked guys getting shots before I did, but like I said, a big surprise phone call came through, and I gladly accepted.”
Rountree Jr. last fought in December 2023, when he knocked out Anthony Smith at a Fight Night event. He is currently on a five-fight win streak, with notable victories over fighters like Chris Daukaus, Karl Roberson, and Modestas Bukauskas.
Read More: PFL Star Picks Khalil Rountree To Finish Alex Pereira In The First Round At UFC 307
