Syndicate MMA head coach John Wooden remembers when Khalil Rountree gave critical consideration to ending his profession earlier than it even started.
“After I first began teaching him, he was on the verge of – actually not even realizing if he wished to combat,” Wooden instructed MMA Junkie Radio. “I bear in mind having a dialog with him. He was speaking about retiring and going into development as a result of he had a superb development job that was gonna pay him quite a bit. I type of begged and pleaded with him and mentioned, ‘Hey, man, give me six months, and we will have you ever the place it’s good to be.’”
Almost a decade later, Rountree (13-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) is on the verge of reaching the top of his profession as he will get set for his first title shot in opposition to mild heavyweight champion Alex Pereira on Oct. 5 at UFC 307 in Salt Lake Metropolis.
“He’s paid his dues and hitting his stride,” Wooden mentioned.
True as that assertion could be, Rountree’s title shot hasn’t precisely been met with open arms. Whereas he’s on a five-fight successful streak, Rountree, 34, is ranked simply No. 8 within the official UFC mild heavyweight rankings.
There’s additionally the truth that he’s coming off a failed drug check that pressured him out of UFC 303, which was later attributed to a complement firm’s “huge oversight” by UFC anti-doping program Fight Sports activities Anti-Doping.
For Wooden, Rountree’s title shot shouldn’t be solely a longtime coming, nevertheless it carries further particular weight given their relationship. Wooden acknowledged that he and Rountree had “ups and downs” previous to Rountree leaving Syndicate to coach in Thailand for just a few years.
Ever since Rountree returned “5 or 6 fights in the past,” it’s been precisely what Wooden hoped for.
“When he left initially, it did damage,” Wooden mentioned. “I really like the man. Anytime a fighter leaves it’s an emotional factor. However he got here again, and it’s manner higher than I believe it ever may’ve been. He grew into himself. He’s matured as a person. He seems at issues completely different – the way in which he speaks, the way in which he talks. It’s simply completely different now. …
“He simply actually got here again as an entire new particular person. You possibly can see that the main focus, the vitality, the whole lot was completely different. His mentality, he simply grew up quite a bit. He’s actually type of got here into his personal. The mindset is he’s prepared for this, and he’s been prepared for this now for the final couple years. We’re actually beginning to see the whole lot play out. We’re beginning to see the expertise and the mindset come collectively, the work ethic and the whole lot, and that’s why we’re right here the place we’re at, on the verge of successful a title.”
For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 307.
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