With a nickname like ‘The War Horse’, Khalil Rountree Jr. is one of the most lethal light heavyweights inside the Octagon. Currently holding the no. 8 spot in the UFC’s light-heavyweight division, Rountree has been on a 5-fight win streak that began in 2021. Holding wins over names like Dustin Jacoby, Chris Daukaus and former title challenger, Anthony ‘Lionheart’ Smith, Rountree’s 78% KO/TKO percentage has made him a force to be reckoned with.

But where did he pick up the skills that have allowed him to dismantle elite light heavyweights with ease? Many fans are curious to know more about Rountree’s unique style that resembles a ‘nak muay’ more than an MMA fighter. So without further ado, here’s a look at all we know about ‘The War Horse’ and his journey to becoming a master of the ‘Art of Eight Limbs’!

Tiger Muay Thai- where Khalil Rountree trained!

In 2018 at UFC Fight Night 140, Khalil Rountree faced a devastating loss at the hands of Johnny Walker as he was knocked out in the first round of their fight with a vicious elbow. What happened next? Determined to add a new element to his game, in 2019, Rountree decided to move to Thailand, the land that gave birth to the lethal art of muay thai.

His destination? The renowned Tiger Muay Thai gym is located in Phuket. Founded in 2003 by William McNamara, an American with a passion for the sport, Tiger Muay Thai quickly became a hotspot for fighters. What started as a humble gym with just one ring has since grown into a global powerhouse.

With the help of investors, McNamara expanded his vision. The gym soon welcomed mixed martial arts (MMA) to its training programs. It wasn’t long before the world started to take notice. Every year since 2013, the gym has hosted Fight Team tryouts, drawing talent from all over the globe. The winners receive scholarships, and many have gone on to make a name for themselves, including UFC standouts like Dan Hooker and Kai Kara-France.

For Rountree, the decision to move to Tiger Muay Thai was a game changer. When he stepped into the cage against Eryk Anders at UFC 236 in 2019, he looked like a completely different fighter. Using the traditional Muay Thai stance with a light front foot, Rountree unleashed hell on Anders. Knocking him down 4 times in a single bout, he set the record for the most knockdowns in the 205 lbs. division!

But it’s not just ‘The War Horse’ who has found success with his training at Tiger Muay Thai, because many other UFC stars have also utilized the gym to great effect in their journey to the top of the sport.

Other fighters who trained at Tiger Muay Thai

A quick look at the list of notable fighters who trained out of Tiger Muay Thai will show a veritable who’s who of some of the biggest names in the world of combat sports! As mentioned earlier, Dan Hooker and Kai Kara-France made their way to the gym through the grueling tryouts. But their skills speak for themselves as both ‘The Hangman’ and ‘Don’t Blink’ are currently ranked in the top 5 of their respective UFC divisions.

Other notable names who’ve gone through the gym include Petr Yan, a former bantamweight champion, Israel Adesanya, a former middleweight champion, and Valentina Shevchenko, the current women’s flyweight champion. If you thought that was it, there’s still more! Khamzat Chimaev, Brad Riddell, Rafael Fiziev, and Arman Tsarukyan are some more elite fighters who’ve benefited immensely from their time in Thailand.

Where does ‘The War Horse’ train now?

Adding to Khalil Rountree’s skillset that he picked up during his time in Thailand is John Wood’s experience and knowledge. Once a fighter himself, Wood is now the head coach at Syndicate MMA in Las Vegas, Nevada, the gym where ‘The War Horse’ spends most of his time and is one of the main reasons behind his incredible rise to prominence.

Wood was also a key figure behind Merab Dvalishvili’s success. The Georgian put the MMA world on notice when he dominated Sean O’Malley at UFC 306 and claimed the bantamweight title. Now as UFC 307 looms large for Rountree, it remains to be seen what game plan Wood comes up with to take on the challenge of Alex Pereira. 

‘The War Horse’ and ‘Poatan’ are ready to light up the Delta Center at Salt Lake City in Utah when the UFC comes to town, and once the dust settles, will we see a new light-heavyweight king crowned? Or will Alex Pereira continue his dominance in the UFC? Let us know what you think in the comments below!