Khalil Rountree couldn’t care much if a small number of fans (UFC Light Heavyweight Champion didn’t appreciate his latest performance).
At the UFC Baku main event on Saturday, Rountree cleaned Jamahal Hill in three rounds and was seen in three rounds towards a unanimous decision victory. This was the result of a bounceback for Lone Tree, who fought a hard-fought Alex Pereira this October when he challenged the light heavyweight title at UFC 307.
Rountree dominated the action, but his output did not satisfy everyone, including UFC champion Magomed Ankalaev.
Rountree responded to Ankalaev’s comments at an evening postwar press conference.
“It’s expected,” Rountree said. “That guy talks about me more than I talk about him. He says a lot, and that’s it, you’re the champion. Why are you talking about me? Do you talk about me?
Before Rountree shut down Ankalaev Chatter, he said he welcomed the possibility of fighting for the title again, but hadn’t publicly campaigned for it. Rountree won five consecutive fights and booked his shot against Pereira, but perhaps one win is needed to move to the number one competitor spot.
For now, he is content to leave his career in the hands of matchmakers.
“Where did this victory put me?” Rountree said. “Where the UFC places me in. I say it over and over again, I think it wants. What am I wanting and what am I aiming for?
According to one reporter, Ankarayev’s sentiment was echoed by some members of the audience who allegedly made an exit during the main event.
Neither of them bother Rowntree, who didn’t know what was going on in the stands focused on fighting the Hills.
“Have they started leaving the arena?” Rountree said. “During the strike? Did I make someone or something mad? Did I not see? When we go outside, the camera lights – hey, they don’t see anything so we need to start turning these camera lights.
“Thanks to everyone who left, a bit… everyone else who stayed.”