Sean Strickland, the UFC’s resident wildcard, has apparently shown his softer side. For those not in the loop, Strickland has a reputation for being a bit of a loose cannon. He is known for his unfiltered comments and controversial takes. But it seems that ‘Tarzan’ might have a heart after all. And Khalil Rountree can attest to it.
The story is that Strickland approached Khalil Rountree Jr. at the UFC Performance Institute. The former middleweight champion has thrown some serious shade at Rountree in the past. Everything from cult accusations to some not-so-nice comments about Rountree’s personality. But the UFC 307 fighter had some nice things to say about Strickland.
“Honestly, the last interaction that I had with Sean Strickland was at the UFC P.I… Out of the blue, Sean Strickland comes up to me. He approached me, and he just said, ‘Khalil, I apologize, I’m a dumba*s. I actually kind of like you. I think you’re liberal, but overall, I like you, or I respect you,’ something along those lines. Almost squashing whatever beef,” said Khalil Rountree at the UFC 307 Media day.
This little interaction gives us a peek behind the curtain of Strickland’s public persona. Maybe the guy fans see in interviews isn’t the whole story. Maybe the loose cannon knows when and where to make amends and be nice to people.
This incident does make fans wonder. How many other fighters have these off-camera moments we never see? A prime example may be Colby Covington, who many have attested is a sweetheart off camera. But, in the world of MMA, it is easy to forget these are real people, not just characters.
Sean Strickland Doesn’t Think Khalil Rountree Has The Tools To Take On Alex Pereira
UFC fights never fail to stir up excitement, and the upcoming clash at UFC 307 is no exception. Strickland recently shared his thoughts on the title bout between Alex Pereira and Khalil Rountree Jr.
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Strickland’s connection to this fight runs deep, as he has been training with Pereira. These two were once rivals, but now they’re sparring partners. When asked about Khali Rountree’s chances, ‘Tarzan‘ didn’t sugarcoat his opinion.
“I just can’t see Khalil pulling it off… I think I may have watched him fight Anthony Smith, I just can’t see it happening. I don’t think he has the tools in the toolbox to beat Alex,” said Strickland, talking to Helen Yee.
But let’s not count Khalil Rountree Jr. out just yet. He’s been on a tear lately, knocking out opponents left and right. His recent win over Anthony Smith was particularly impressive. Still, Pereira is no pushover. The guy hits like a freight train and has the technical skills to match.
Also Read: Sean Strickland Sends Warning Shots To ‘Dutchman’ Dricus Du Plessis While Training With Alex Pereira
