Khalil Rountree Jr. has made waves with his lethal ‘Art of Eight Limbs’ technique in a promotion like the UFC, where kickboxing, BJJ, and wrestling fighters tend to dominate. Although ‘The War Horse’ wasn’t initially a Muay Thai practitioner, his UFC performances fell short of the expectations set by his earlier showings in other promotions. After facing multiple setbacks, Rountree Jr. traveled to Thailand in 2019 to sharpen his MMA skills, blending them with the deadly techniques of Muay Thai.

Since adopting this new style, ‘The War Horse’ has become unstoppable, riding a five-fight win streak, making fans eager to learn more about the coaches and teammates behind this middleweight contender’s transformation. So, without wasting time, let’s dive in and explore everything we know about the people behind Khalil Rountree Jr.’s rise.

Meet John Wood, Khalil Rountree’s MMA coach

Khalil Rountree Jr. currently trains at Syndicate MMA under the guidance of head coach John Wood (7-6-0), who was once a nightmare for his opponents from 2004 until his retirement. Since then, Wood has focused on mentoring the latest generation of fighters to cement their legacies in the sport. Among these fighters is the newly crowned bantamweight champion, Merab Dvalishvili, who recently made headlines with his win against Sean O’Malley at UFC 306.

John Wood expressed his happiness for Dvalishvili on Instagram by posting a picture with him, writing, “Still on cloud 9 for this guy! Love this dude and couldn’t be happier to see all of his hard work and dedication to his dream pay off!” In the comments, Merab Dvalishvili also appreciated his coach, commenting, “Thank you for everything, John.” Now that you are aware of Khalil Rountree Jr.’s coach, John Wood, let’s dive into ‘The War Horse’s’ training life and learn more about his teammates.

Where does Khalil Rountree train? Gym and teammates

Since his twenties, the gym has been Khalil Rountree Jr.’s battleground—a place where his struggle with weight transformed into a pursuit of greatness. It was there that he found his way to Black House MMA, and eventually, in 2018, he linked up with John Wood at Syndicate MMA, marking a turning point that would take him from a hopeful fighter to a full-blown contender.

John Wood isn’t just in Rountree’s corner—he’s guiding the entire ship. Whether it’s during fight camp or in front of the cameras, Wood is the voice behind “The War Horse.” Recently, Wood appeared on ESPN, laying it all out for the upcoming battle against Alex Pereira: “In a nutshell, yes. I believe, honestly, my gut tells me Pereira shoots on Khalil. I think he’s the one that breaks the game first and tries to get that takedown. Because that’s something he’s done before. I can tell you this—we aren’t shooting over here.” It’s a bold statement, but one that speaks to the confidence and strategy this team has built together.

But Wood’s influence is just one part of the story. The other part? Tiger Muay Thai in Thailand. After facing back-to-back losses, Rountree flew out to the famed gym in 2019, ready to evolve. Much like Thanos collecting stones, he added Muay Thai to his arsenal—another powerful weapon in his quest for dominance. That decision turned him into a different kind of beast, rounding out his skills and giving him the kind of firepower he’ll need against Pereira.

Now, UFC 307 awaits. It’s Khalil Rountree Jr. versus Alex Pereira, a showdown that could define both of their careers. Rountree’s eyes are set on dethroning the reigning light heavyweight king and taking the crown for himself. Will “The War Horse” emerge victorious, or will Pereira hold onto his kingdom? Let us know—who do you have in this clash of titans?