Last week at Salt Lake City’s Delta Center, Khalil Rountree Jr. showcased a blockbuster performance, taking on UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira in a four-round title battle. Ranked #8, Rountree Jr. didn’t “walk through Pereira,” but his stunning performance saw him go toe-to-toe with ‘Poatan,’ winning over critics. However, despite his power, Rountree’s ‘gas tank‘ faltered as he exhausted much of his energy in the first three rounds, leading to fatigue in the fourth.

This loss of pace and strength allowed Pereira to capitalize and secure the knockout. While the fight is now over, it’s still sparking discussion within the MMA community, with middleweight contender Khamzat Chimaev, who is set to face Robert Whittaker at UFC’s upcoming Abu Dhabi event, now being drawn into the conversation.

Anthony Smith Compares Khamzat Chimaev to Khalil Rountree Jr.

As UFC 308 approaches, everyone’s focus is on the most awaited fight of the event: Khamzat Chimaev vs. Robert Whittaker. This matchup was initially scheduled to happen last summer during the UFC’s debut in Saudi Arabia. However, ‘Borz’, famously dubbed the ‘King of Withdrawals,’ pulled out of the fight due to his habit of falling ill right before important bouts, a troubling precedent.

But illness isn’t the only issue for Khamzat Chimaev, his longevity in fights has also raised concerns. Known for his explosive technique from the very first round, the Chechnya native often struggles with exhaustion as the fight progresses. This was highlighted recently by UFC light heavyweight Anthony Smith during a discussion with Michael Bisping on his YouTube channel. Smith stated, “I think some of it reminds me of Khamzat a little bit, actually. I had some Khamzat comparisons where, if he could have fought at the pace he fought at for the first two rounds or two and a half rounds…”

He then discussed the possibility of Chimaev maintaining his explosive fighting style into the later rounds, claiming, “If he could do that for five—he’s unstoppable. The problem is, like you said, you can’t fight like that for 25 minutes. It’s too much of an output at our size. Some of the smaller guys can fight at that pace, but it’s just not quite as impactful when they land. Khamzat is very similar.”

However, the statement above is somewhat lenient toward Khamzat Chimaev, as he has been able to finish his fights in under three rounds, which is why he remains undefeated throughout his UFC journey.

Michael Bisping hit ‘Borz’ with a disturbing reality

Since his debut in the UFC, middleweight #12 contender Khamzat Chimaev has become a significant headache for his division. With his astonishing wrestling technique, he has dominated names like Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns, defeating whoever Dana White and company put in front of him. This has helped him maintain an unblemished record in the promotion. However, his career has not been free from setbacks and hiatuses, leading to numerous opportunities for his opponents.

Known for his ‘poor immunity,’ ‘Borz’ also carries a Conor McGregor-like fighting style that can leave him vulnerable in the later rounds—something that could give the upper hand to opponents like former champion Robert Whittaker, who is highly experienced in this sport.

Back in April, fighter-turned-analyst Michael Bisping shared his thoughts on Chimaev’s fighting style, stating, “The way he takes people down and dominates them right from the opening bell. He did the same thing against Kamaru Usman; granted, he didn’t get the finish, but he did slow down. Against Gilbert Burns, it was the same thing—he had a great round one, and then two and three were kind of close. Five rounds against somebody like Robert Whittaker, if he can’t finish him early, that could be a disastrous night for him.”

What are your thoughts on Anthony Smith’s comments? Does Khalil Rountree Jr. really have a “gas tank” comparable to Khamzat Chimaev, or is Smith misunderstanding the situation? Drop your opinion below.