Khalil Rountree Training: From Muay Thai Roots to UFC Glory

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The War Horse. That’s his nickname. A rising star in the world of MMA, UFC light heavyweight fighter Khalil Rountree has made waves since his debut, and we see it. He’s relentless. Driven. That name is earned, but it took time and effort. How Khalil Rountree started MMA may not be known to a lot of fans, and we aim to change that.

We’ll be looking into the Khalil Rountree Training regimen, his biggest highlights, his martial arts background, and how he got into joining one of the biggest combat sports wear companies out there, RDX.

Khalil Rountree’s Early Training

A lot of the fighters you see were working their way to the big leagues since they knew what it was. Not Khalil. He never even threw a punch until he was 20. Khalil Rountree’s fitness journey began in 2010 when his brother brought him along to a Muay Thai gym. And it changed everything.

He wasn’t there training to chase the belt. He really just wanted to get in shape. But after the first few sessions, something in him clicked. He started losing weight, getting fit, wanting more, and mainly wanted to be a part of the action he sees on the screen. He wanted to be a fighter.

But no fighter’s journey starts alone. They always had a crack team with them. His coach, his sparring partners, and his family. They taught him his base fighting form; it’s how the Khalil Rountree Muay Thai background came to be. But they kept building on it. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, boxing, and mixed martial arts. He incorporated all of these styles until it became one fighting form no one can replicate.

His Early MMA Fights

He has the body, the training, and the will. But what comes next? The fight. After losing a hundred pounds on his coach’s orders, Khail joined the professional racket. He started as any beginner would: in the amateur leagues.

He competed as a Middleweight and already showed his stuff when he got a win-loss record of 6 to 1. All under the Tuff-N-Uff and King of the Cage (KOTC) banners

But the real trial to glory was in the Resurrection Fighting Alliance. He made his debut as a Light heavyweight when facing Livingston Lukow and won by a unanimous decision in 2014. But his real debut began in his next fight, against Blake Troop.

It was one for the ages, a fight to last several rounds. But it wasn’t multiple rounds. It was one. And it ended in a TKO. In 39 seconds. That victory was the beginning of his path to becoming the UFC light heavyweight fighter Khalil Rountree.

Career Highlights

Since then, Khalil Rountree was on a roll! He may have been battered and bruised, hell, he even lost a few, but the Khalil Rountree fight history was something to behold. The UFC light heavyweight fighter Khalil Rountree has some impressive wins, like the TKO in the first round against Daniel Jolly.

And it all makes sense when you consider the Khalil Rountree training style. He’s relentless, eager to pave his path to glory. It’s why he has so many achievements to his name, like:

4 time Performance of the Night winner.
1 time Fight Of The Night Winner.
Tied with Chuck Liddell & Maurício Rua for most knockdowns landed in UFC Light Heavyweight division history with 14 knockouts.
Third most knockouts in UFC Light Heavyweight division history with 7 KOs.
Got the most knockdowns landed in a UFC Light Heavyweight division bout against Eryk Anders with 4 knockdowns.
Finalist for The Ultimate Fighter 23 Light Heavyweight Tournament

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Khalil is still young, still has gas in his mileage. He’s got no interest in throwing the towel and we’ll soon see what else he’ll add to his list of glories.

How RDX Sports Supports Khalil Rountree’s Training?

But to keep that growth going, to keep his accomplishment coming, to keep the punches flowing, Khalil needs some top gear with him. Khalil Rountree gym and coaches get his regimen going, keep his body at peak efficiency, but if you want to make it in the world of fighting, you need gear that can keep up with you.

So when he became a brand ambassador for RDX in June 2025, he got exactly that. Now he has RDX gear for training, for fighting, and it’s made a difference. RDX had given him the whole kit and kaboodle. Gloves, pads, hand wraps, and any training equipment he could need.

To see Khalil Rountree sponsored by RDX Sports was to see a champion get what he wanted with gear that could handle his training, his strength, and keep him going for the long haul.

FAQ’s

When did Khalil Rountree start his training in MMA?

In 2010, Khalil wanted to lose weight, build some focus, some discipline. He joined a Muay Thai gym where he felt a connection to something that turned his life around. That’s how Khalil Rountree started MMA.

How has RDX Sports helped Khalil Rountree’s training?

For fans seeing Khalil Rountree sponsored by RDX Sports, know that through them, he’s been provided the best equipment, support, and training to build him up to be the legend we all see in him.

What’s Khalil Rountree’s fighting style?

Khalil fights in the southpaw stance, and his main fighting base is in Muay Thai, where he learned some devastating kicks and strikes that show why his knockdown rate is so high. But he’s also made sure to incorporate other styles like MMA, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and so on.

Conclusion

The Khalil Rountree fitness journey is one we all can aspire to, but the truly impressive thing is how a man can go from average joe to hitting the amateur leagues in just one year of training and make it out a winner. That’s the sign of the Khalil Rountree training method working its magic, and with his RDX Sports partnership, who knows how far he can go.