Rountree Jr. calls Chimaev ‘best in the world’ and drops bold warning about 205-pound move
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC Khalil Rountree Jr. played a role in Khamzat Chimaev’s preparation for UFC 328. Despite competing one division above, he joined a group of ranked fighters supporting the middleweight champion.
Alongside names such as Brendan Allen, Rountree helped sharpen ‘Borz’ ahead of his upcoming title defence against Sean Strickland. The experience gave him a close look at the champion’s overall skill set. Speaking at a press conference yesterday, the 36-year-old American shared his assessment.
His comments reflected both admiration and concern about Chimaev’s potential future. Khalil Rountree Jr. calls Khamzat Chimaev ‘best in the world’ and warns division Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images Rountree made it clear that training with Chimaev changed his perspective on the champion’s level.
He described him as one of the most complete fighters in the sport. The light heavyweigh contender said (via MMA Junkie): “I feel many different ways. When I first heard the news, I was a bit bummed out, really.
Just to know that a guy like Khamzat would come to your division and had to be a potential matchup if that happened, it doesn’t make me happy to think about that. “I just told you, training with this guy, he’s the best in the world. It’s difficult.