No one wants to lose, but Halil Rountree stocks have risen higher than ever, despite falling to Alex Pereira in his first attempt to become UFC champion.
When the title fight was announced, Lone Tree was one of the most unlikely candidates to take a shot with the belt, but he entered the cage and fought Pereira for nearly 20 minutes before falling just before the fourth round. It was a very impressive show that Rountree proved to belong to one of the best light heavyweights in the world. That’s why his head coach, John Wood, knows a devastating victory over former champions like UFC Baku’s Jamahal Hill.
“UFC, we all know, rankings and all of that shit means nothing. That’s what the UFC wants,” Wood told MMA Fighting. “It’s something that fans (want) or think they’ll sell. They’re going to get on the hot hand. And once again, O’Malley (I got the Merab Dvalishvili Rematch).
“Halil has a really hot hand right now. We go out there (and win), and I think it’s even hotter. I think it’s really a huge possibility that we might get that next shot.”
Wood confesses that even if his war with Pereira looks better than expected, there is no way to sugarcoat the losses as catastrophic.
That being said, Rountree proved he’s hanging for £205.
“No one likes losing,” Wood said. “If you’re about to lose, the best way to lose was how he lost to Pereira. We just saw after UFC 315, I think Beral (Muhammad) stock might have actually gone up for that loss (to Jacques Della Madarena). The way too.
“I think getting out there and fighting your ass is just as good as you can get that great performance. I think you’ll see Khalil fighting really fast for the belt in the near future.”
Another factor that could potentially play in courtesy of Rountree is the uncertainty surrounding his next title fight at Light Heavyweight.
All the indications point to the new champion Magomouto doan Karaev, who is facing Pereira in the rematch in 2025, but the fighter has exchanged several controversial messages on social media, and in fact, in turn questioning the fight.
Obviously, Wood understands that the UFC may ultimately appeal to Pereira to book Ankaraev again, no matter what is said online, but he also understands the whimsical nature of the combat business.
“I know who’s what’s going on and what’s coming with a rematch, but I don’t think it’s that great,” Wood said. “So I think we’re in a great position to get out there and do a massive performance against Jamahar. If we get that KO, I think it’ll put us right in the next conversation.
“There are all kinds of things, but I know that Halil is right there, and it’s not something that’s very positive since that fight, and that’s what Pereira came up with.