UFC’s ranked #8 light heavyweight contender Khalil Rountree Jr. silenced his critics last week by pushing division king Alex Pereira to the limit. As ‘Poatan’ is known for making quick work of his opponents, it made Rountree’s performance even more impressive. Although ‘The War Horse’ ultimately lost the title fight that day, his explosive outing earned him respect from UFC superstar Conor McGregor, who praised him by saying, “Never settle for that other bullshit, @ufc fans! Never! Bravo, Khalil.”

Riding high on the accolades from around the world, Rountree Jr. is now looking to get back in action against Jamahal Hill next year. While speaking to Kevin Iole, Khalil Rountree Jr. stated, “I think he’s ranked No. 3. I think anyone up there in the top five is kind of inevitable, so let’s see what happens. I think pretty shortly here, I’ll be talking to the matchmakers and the bosses to see what they think.”

His interview spread like wildfire, catching the attention of Alex Pereira. Impressed with Rountree’s performance against him, Pereira issued a warning to Hill based on his own experience through Instagram, claiming, “If Jamahal accepts this fight, he won’t be able to handle Khalil.”

As Jamahal Hill is currently returning from a hiatus since being knocked out by Pereira at the historic UFC 300 back in April, he has once again come into the limelight this week. Enjoying the Pereira vs. Rountree Jr. fight from the crowd, Hill expressed his boredom by yawning, hinting that he found the fight unexciting. This comment has recently come under scrutiny from fans and MMA pundits alike.