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The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Daniel Cormier Show - Khalil Rountree on loss to Alex Pereira, Jiri Prochazka, UFC journey, losing father
01:18:37
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- [00:00]
Daniel Cormier
This is an iHeart podcast.
- [00:04]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
The best kind of help is the.
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Daniel Cormier
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Khalil Rountree Jr.
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Daniel Cormier
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Khalil Rountree Jr.
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Daniel Cormier
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Khalil Rountree Jr.
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Daniel Cormier
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Khalil Rountree Jr.
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Daniel Cormier
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Daniel Cormier
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Khalil Rountree Jr.
That's the power of Lenovo. With intel inside, maximize your edge by shopping@lenovo.com during their back to school sale. That's lenovo.lenovo. lenovo the volume look Da Boyza Double Champ. I'm your favorite podcaster and now I'm an official role partner. Fellas, whether you're in or you're out of that bedroom with your partner significant other, you gotta satisfy those needs. It's as important as it come guys. And, and one thing about Ro. When you're in that bedroom, Ro Sparks got you back with his long lasting functionality two in one prescription treatment for guys who just want a little more control of those erections. You know them old thing get away from you every now and again. If you're not careful. And it don't take long either, because after they dissolve, they work in about 15 minutes on average. Hey, I love that. You gonna love that. So if prescribed, new sexual health patients, get 15 off of your first order of roast sparks on a recurring plan. So if prescribed new sexual health patients, you get 15 off of your first order of sparks on a recurring plan. So connect with a provider at Ro Col DCTV to find out if prescription roast sparks are right for you. That's ro.codctv for 15 off of your first order. Hey, y' all don't have to thank me yet, but you will thank me later when you get on those rose sparks. Let's go. All right, guys. I'm in Las Vegas for a new episode of the Daniel Cormier show, brought to you by Total Wireless, the official wireless provider of the UFC. They're in your corner with unlimited 5G data that will not slow you down, and no guy that never slows down, a guy that can do just about anything. And when you talk about inspiring, I get to sit down with an inspiring guy today in Khalil Roundtree Jr. This is a man whose journey began with tragedy, honestly. Lost his dad when he was a kid, struggled with depression, weight, his identity. But 19 years old, Khalil Roundtree walked into a gym at 300 pounds, and he made a choice that ultimately, it changed his life, and he never looked back. Khalil has now dropped over 100 pounds. He's fought his way through the ultimate fighter to a UFC championship, and he's become one of the most feared guys in the entire sport. But what makes Khalil special is that beyond the violence is his honesty and his message that men can be dangerous and kind. And I'm very honored to be sitting and joined today by the one and only Khalil Roundtree junior.
- [05:11]
Daniel Cormier
Khalil, that was awesome.
- [05:12]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Thank you for joining, my friend. You are the man.
- [05:15]
Daniel Cormier
I'm so excited to be here. No, that was cool. Thank you. It's nice to. It's nice to hear that back, especially on the. The path and the journey that I am trying to create for myself. So to hear someone like you give an introduction like that, it's. It's nice and it's. It feels good, man.
- [05:34]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
It's just your work that you've done have put you in a position where guys like me want to sit down with you, talk to you, kind of get to know you a little better, man, because the things that you have done in your life and the things that you have been through. Have truly been amazing, and we will get there. But you grew up in Las Vegas. Yes, growing up in Vegas, I mean, we all come here to fight, right? We come here to fight. People come here to party, right? What was childhood in Vegas like?
- [06:12]
Daniel Cormier
It was very. It was very interesting. So, like you said, people usually come here, fight, party, or some type of entertainment. So I moved here in 95. So I was born in LA. My mom moved us here to Las Vegas to take care of my great grandmother. At the time, my mom was doing hospice. She was in home nurse and stuff. So we came here to take care of my great grandma in 95. And then up until her passing, we just. We were in school, so we just ended up staying here. In those days, I mean, we had the Strip and that was it. Yeah, you know, the Strip and the people who ran the city or who worked, you know, the locals here, it's either you worked at, like, a bar, you know, your mom was a cocktail waitress, or worked at, like, the hospital or some type of service job to just kind of serve the Strip.
- [07:08]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [07:08]
Daniel Cormier
And everything on the outside was just really desert plots of land that people were looking to, like, purchase and then build a housing development or a plaza or something like that. So there's just a lot of desert land before, you know, before how it is today. So we had the Strip and we had desert. So as a kid, we kind of just. We grew up in the heat, summer heat, just a very dry place. Only visitors, you know, would come here to just celebrate. So it was just an interesting place to grow up. Man, like, the Influence wasn't really the best. You know, like Sin City, you know, like, all this stuff. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, and people leave. So, like, we never really got to. It was hard to, like, form connections with people because they're in and out, or family members would just come to be, like, in and out. We didn't have sports, you know, like, we don't walk because it's just too hot. So it was interesting, man. It was. So I. I grew up just kind of trying to find my way through the desert, really.
- [08:12]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
You know, what's. What's interesting about your life and your journey is that music was the influence in your childhood, not sports. We don't get that much in terms of athletes. Right. Especially ones that compete at the level that you compete at. You and I were speaking before we went on air, and you said, I never played football. And that, to me, is crazy because it's all I've Done is play sports.
- [08:40]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah.
- [08:41]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
So when you make the transition, you become a professional athlete. It's almost natural. But you didn't have that.
- [08:46]
Daniel Cormier
No, not at all.
- [08:47]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
You said you had a fear of playing football.
- [08:50]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah. Both my brothers, my older brothers growing up, they played sports. Every sport, baseball, basketball, football. And I would go to the games and support them. And people would always ask me, like, when are you going to get out there and go play? Because I always had size, I was always a big guy.
- [09:08]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [09:09]
Daniel Cormier
So people would always ask me, like, when are you going to get in there? And I just like, no, I'm not interested. And it's because I never had that kind of courage instilled in me. I was a bit afraid because I knew that I was big. But like, I'd never really been used to for like my having to compete.
- [09:28]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [09:28]
Daniel Cormier
Or, you know, having to interact with other people because I was really introverted. So a lot of sports and stuff kind of made me shy. You know what I mean?
- [09:39]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah. But Khalil, in that, right, in that learning to interact with people and compete at that young age, it allows for athletes to have that quality. To have that quality, especially as they evolve into who they become as mental and athletes. Has that been difficult for you to develop? Right. Because if that's something that you didn't have almost forced into you as a youth, how do you develop that as an adult? Because Since I was 6 years old, I've played some sort of sport. So competition to me was natural. It came second nature, that experience of competition and somebody in front of me that I have to beat. How do you develop that as a man?
- [10:23]
Daniel Cormier
It's been a. It's been a very interesting journey. I think the number one thing that has helped me develop in that area is the people around me, like, my environment.
- [10:36]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [10:36]
Daniel Cormier
I started to listen to, you know, guys that had experience in sports or older than me, and I. It was like influence, but at an older age. So now it's like 20 years old. Getting in my first one on one fist fight in an amateur. You know what I mean? I'm like, I don't know, confrontation. But these guys are telling me kind of what to do. So. Okay, I guess this is it. You know what I mean? And then it just. It came from that really. It came from someone else acknowledging it in me and then just kind of be like, all right, like, you gotta. You gotta really bite down and find this fire to compete. I know it's in there.
- [11:17]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
The music industry, though, played a massive part, was that from your father?
- [11:21]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah, my father. He was a road manager for Boyz II Men and New Edition back in the late 80s, early 90s. And he passed away on tour. He was murdered on tour with Boyz II Men. And growing up, I had all of these plaques that were left for him from Boyz II Men, New Edition. Everybody who worked with Anytime their album got, you know, gold, silver, platinum, they would always gift my dad with that. So my dad's name was always at the bottom. And it's like 200 million records sold, you know, Boyz II Men to Khalil Rountree. And so from a kid, the only memories, the only tangible things that I had from my father were what he was awarded.
- [12:05]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [12:06]
Daniel Cormier
So I always was inspired by music because I felt like that was my connection to my father.
- [12:12]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [12:12]
Daniel Cormier
So I always just connected through, like, almost like spiritually through music. That kind of helped me fill that void of, I guess, emptiness that I didn't even really know I had. It was just. I was kind of born with it or it was taken from me. So then there was a hole that was left, and I filled it with music because of what my dad left behind.
- [12:32]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
So it meant to you just a connection to your dad? Because I watched that. Right. You did something called UFC connections, and you said you were constantly buying instruments. I mean, could you play? Did your. Did your mom have the ability to show you how to use those instruments, or were you trying to teach yourself? Because that spoke to you, right? Music spoke to you?
- [12:51]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah, I taught myself. Really?
- [12:53]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
What instruments did you play?
- [12:54]
Daniel Cormier
So my first instrument was a drum set. I asked my mom if she could buy me a drum set for Christmas. That's all I wanted, nothing else. And she was able to do that one Christmas. And I would listen. I would just put on my headphones and put on one of my favorite songs, and I would just try to follow the beat with the sticks until it became almost seamless, and it fit right in with the song. And I started to figure out, like, okay, cool, now I can take off my headphones, and now I can play drums or I can play this song specifically. And the drums got too loud. My mom was just kind of sick of me beat, you know what I mean?
- [13:34]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
I would become annoying.
- [13:35]
Daniel Cormier
It becomes annoying.
- [13:36]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Well, especially in the beginning when you're not very good at it.
- [13:38]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah. But I was dedicated, you know, and she. She supported me, and I picked that up. But I realized, like, okay, this is too loud. And so my next instrument, I believe, was a bass guitar. And then so, like, I started playing the bass guitar, and then I would listen to my headphones, you know, hear, okay, this is the bass line. And then I would just practice over and over again until it sounded right. And I never had anybody teach me, like, this is a chord. This is, you know, chord progression. This is the E string. A string. Like, no one taught me that. I just picked it up and tuned to what I heard. And then that's how I learned how to play instruments. And that's how I, that was like my escape or, like, my outlet to start collecting. Like, okay, cool, now I want a keyboard. And I'd, like, learn a song. I'd listen to it and just, okay, that's the note. That's not until I can play it.
- [14:32]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
So you had, like, a musical ear. Yeah, right. Like, but, but, like, do you really believe, like, do we believe that it's almost passed down to you? Like, can we, do you think we're. Stuff like that is passed down like a kid's father who is a great athlete is going to be relatively good athletically in most cases. Do you think that that was passed down to you a little bit? Because I can't listen to music and then play music. Doesn't work that way for me.
- [14:59]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah, I, I, it could be, I mean, it could be that's passed down. I don't know. And I'd never heard any stories of my dad actually playing any instruments. But some of the great stories I did hear is that he was potentially a renaissance man. Like, he could cut hair, he could fix anything, you know, he could do. He was a jack of all trades from everybody I heard stories from that knew him. That's what they said. But I never heard anything musically. So I, I always just say, like, because of what he left behind and the memories he left behind, then that just, it comes from him.
- [15:35]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [15:35]
Daniel Cormier
You know, whether he had the ability or not, just like his existence, that, it just, it, it passed music down to me.
- [15:41]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
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- [17:19]
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- [18:32]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
What's up, everybody?
- [18:33]
Daniel Cormier
Daniel Jeremiah here, and I'm Bucky Brooks on Move the Sticks.
- [18:36]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
We take you inside the game, from.
- [18:38]
Daniel Cormier
Scouting reports and player development to team building philosophies, coaching trends and how front offices construct winning rosters. Every week, we study the tape, talk to decision makers and share the insights.
- [18:49]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
You won't find anywhere else is the.
- [18:51]
Daniel Cormier
Kind of conversation that connects the dots.
- [18:54]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
From college football prospects to the NFL.
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Daniel Cormier
Stars of tomorrow, we break down the draft, analyze matchups and evaluate how teams.
- [19:01]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Put it all together on game day.
- [19:03]
Daniel Cormier
Plus, we dig into Coaching strategies, roster construction, and the trends that shape the.
- [19:08]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
League year after year.
- [19:09]
Daniel Cormier
Whether you're a die hard fan or just love understanding the game on a deeper level, we give you the full picture.
- [19:15]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
If you want insight that goes beyond.
- [19:16]
Daniel Cormier
The box score, this podcast is for you. The don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Six podcast.
- [19:21]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
On the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [19:30]
Daniel Cormier
Hey, this is Matt Jones and I'm Drew Franklin and this is NFL Cover Zero. We think NFL coverage should be informative and entertaining and twice a week that is exactly what you're gonna get. We're just here to try to give you an NFL perspective a little bit different. Did you see the Colts pretzel? That was my other big takeaway from that game. What was that? Looks like something that should not be sold. Oh my. So that was my other big Colts takeaway. Have you sold that? Yes. Might want to go back to the Colts stadium. Yeah, I might want to go back to the drawing board on that. Yeah.
- [20:00]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
I thought the shape we had with pretzels was working pretty well for generations.
- [20:04]
Daniel Cormier
We're just here trying to enjoy it. We hope you all will join us throughout the year. And let's go. I hope I'm as youthful as Pete Carroll is at his age. He's a young 73. He is a young 73. He is spry. I wouldn't fight him. I would listen to NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin on iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast. I'm Marcus Grant. And I'm Michael F. Florio, and together we host the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast.
- [20:39]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Ready to dominate your fantasy league this.
- [20:42]
Daniel Cormier
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- [20:55]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [21:03]
Daniel Cormier
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- [21:09]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
When we were talking, I told you we have some things in common. Your dad was murdered at a very young age. My dad was murdered when I was seven years old. Right. So I was a little older. But your dad passed when you were two years old. But you didn't find out why until you were a teenager. Right. You thought he was sick.
- [21:26]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah.
- [21:27]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
And then you learned that he was murdered as a teen.
- [21:30]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah.
- [21:30]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
One why? So Long before you found out. And two, how'd you process that? How'd you process that as a teenager finding out that it was violent crime that got your dad? Because, Khalil, as. As a black man, right, we learn early that there's a lot of violence in our community. Right. And my father passed to violence. Years did also. How did you handle that?
- [21:58]
Daniel Cormier
When I. When I got to be around, I think it was around, like, 11. I think 11 was the age that my mom told me the truth. But up until 11, I mean, as we get older, we just get smarter, right? Or we just get a little bit more, like, tuned to things. And I just remember as I got older, before I turned 11, the thing that he, like, died from diabetes and stuff. Like, it really just. I didn't. I didn't believe it anymore.
- [22:26]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Really?
- [22:27]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah.
- [22:27]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Like, it didn't make sense to you.
- [22:29]
Daniel Cormier
It just. Not that it didn't make sense. It was just more just like how, like, when I was around or if I asked questions about my dad, people's responses about how he died, it just didn't seem genuine, you know, like, when you're a kid, you can kind of sense, you know, bullshit when. Yeah, like, kids get kind of, you know. So, yeah, I just knew that. But I never knew exactly what it was, but I always knew, like, maybe it was something else. They just don't want to tell me. So around the time when my mom did tell me actually what happened, I remember a sense of relief, of, like, knowing, like, okay, I know I'm not crazy. I knew it was something else. But then, like, when it. When she told me that he was murdered, that, to me, that's where, like, life really started to, like, hit for me. That's where, like, anger and pain and resentment and. You know what I mean? Like, a hard look at life. Hit me at 11 because of that. Because now I'm like, I know murder is real. I see it on tv, whatever, but it's, like, to be directly affected by it. Now it's like, okay, I don't have my dad because he was murdered. And then now I just think about, like, the world is a dark place, or, like, you know, my mind starts to make up whatever it is about murder and why it happened. And. Yeah. And so then that's kind of where, like, I guess I started to have a more pessimistic outlook on life.
- [24:00]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
How old are you two brothers?
- [24:03]
Daniel Cormier
My middle brother Donovan, is five years older than me. And then David is, I believe, around five years older than him. So there's like a 10 year gap in total.
- [24:14]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
They were old enough to understand.
- [24:16]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah.
- [24:17]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Did you ever find out what happened?
- [24:18]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah, I know the whole story, all the details.
- [24:21]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
I told you.
- [24:24]
Daniel Cormier
You know, what it took. I knew the basis of what happened. He was on tour, you know, he. He was a well put together guy, and some guys went to his hotel to rob him, essentially is a story that I heard. Rob him. Which turned into a fight, which turned into a gunfight in an elevator. So, like, I knew the baseline story, and then as I got older, I started to look more into like the actual, you know, what's like the court document, the report, the.
- [24:58]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
The primary.
- [24:59]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like all.
- [25:00]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
You've seen it?
- [25:01]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah, I've seen it all. Yeah.
- [25:02]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
And so you seek that out for some sort of closure or, like, why did you seek that out?
- [25:07]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah, I mean, it's like I'm. I'm a curious guy, you know, I'm a curious guy. I like to explore. It's. It's good to read. I like. You know what I mean? I like to read as much as, you know, as I give myself time to. So, yeah, I figured, like, instead of avoiding it, why not read what's like, fact written by law written, you know, like.
- [25:30]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Because everything we get is a story.
- [25:32]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah, exactly.
- [25:33]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Now you know the story because.
- [25:35]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah.
- [25:35]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Was that hard to deal with?
- [25:38]
Daniel Cormier
No, I actually feel like the more and more I. I look into things or like. Or just kind of put myself in that night, I think the more I'm.
- [25:52]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
At peace, you know, so many people couldn't do that.
- [25:54]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah, it brings me more peace than anything. It brings me more peace and more pride. Yeah.
- [26:01]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
You said that many of the stories you get from your dad is from people that knew him. They spoke of his kindness, they spoke about how he was a Renaissance man and all that has. That. Has that served to shape you in terms of who you are today?
- [26:17]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah, absolutely. Everything from like the way I speak to the people I surround myself with or books I want to read or, you know, the plans that I have for my life and all that stuff is like a direct. You know, I'm directly impacted by just the stories that I heard of my dad.
- [26:40]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah. So let me ask you this, all right. Because this is one thing that I didn't struggle with necessarily, but it always came up when people would speak to me about my father. Right. When my father got killed, he was killed by the dad of his new wife right on Thanksgiving. And it was very sad for my mother because obviously it was the father of her children. But so many people spoke of him in such positive light. And I'm like, well, if everything was so positive, like, when will somebody speak to me truthfully? Because nobody's perfect. Right? You and I both make mistakes. And I'm pretty sure I know my father wasn't perfect. My father was a womanizer. That was his. His. Has anyone ever had a real conversation? Like, has anybody ever said, did you ever go? Because you're an intuitive guy. You ever go, well, tell me something that wasn't so bright and shiny.
- [27:41]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah.
- [27:42]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
About my father.
- [27:43]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah. 100%. You have my mother.
- [27:45]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
And your mom was able to tell you those things.
- [27:47]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah.
- [27:48]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
And did you appreciate that?
- [27:50]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah.
- [27:51]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah. Right?
- [27:52]
Daniel Cormier
I actually did. Yeah. Gave me a. It gave me a perspective, man. On. On love.
- [28:00]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [28:01]
Daniel Cormier
You know what I mean? On. On relationship. On reality of seeing, like, it kind of. For the longest time, I, you know, idolized my father. And then my mom, you know, kind of tells me some stuff, and I'm like, okay, like, everybody's human.
- [28:16]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
He was a man.
- [28:17]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah. Yeah.
- [28:18]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Like. Like, honestly. Because we. We are taught as boys to put these men on the pedestal at times, and then you learn. Well, but it doesn't change the love.
- [28:27]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah.
- [28:27]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Right? Yeah. My mother, who to me was the sweetest human being in the world, I loved my mom to death before she passed. But my dad used to sometimes pop into the house even though he was married to that other woman. You know what my mom did once? What can I tell you? My mom did? Khalil, you always take some crazy.
- [28:46]
Daniel Cormier
You hit him in the head with like a.
- [28:47]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Okay, no, Khalil was crazier than that. We were driving at a four way stop in my hometown.
- [28:54]
Daniel Cormier
Okay. Four way stop.
- [28:55]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yep. Envision it. Close your eyes. Lafayette, Louisiana. Small town.
- [28:58]
Daniel Cormier
Let's see. Okay. I'm in Lafayette.
- [29:00]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
She's driving to Plymouth.
- [29:01]
Daniel Cormier
Okay.
- [29:01]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
My mom's driving to Plymouth because we all had Plymouths. My mom sees the car of my father being driven by the other woman.
- [29:07]
Daniel Cormier
Left hand, right hand or straight?
- [29:08]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Left hand, right hand. My mom's coming straight. The lady's coming from the other side.
- [29:11]
Daniel Cormier
Okay.
- [29:11]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Mom hits her with the car.
- [29:13]
Daniel Cormier
Oh.
- [29:13]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
She runs the car to the other car.
- [29:16]
Daniel Cormier
I don't mean to laugh, but damn.
- [29:18]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
My mom was a saint to me.
- [29:20]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah.
- [29:20]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
But I can't forget that she did that, because you know what she told the police? That's my car. I'm driving my car. Why can't I wreck both of my cars? It doesn't change the love I have for my mom. Yeah, Right. Obviously, I was with my mom until I was 43 years old, so it's different. 42 years old with my dad. I was going at 7. I wanted to know the truth. Right. But it didn't change the love that I had for.
- [29:44]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah, of course.
- [29:45]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Right. So you can look at all that and get those true stories and you appreciate the true story.
- [29:49]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [29:50]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Because only. Not the good. Not only can. Not only can you be shaped by good, you can also kind of try to avoid some of the things that might have been bad.
- [30:02]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah. I mean, I think it's a part of, like you said, being a man, being a human. I mean, other people make mistakes and then try to pass it down so that we don't make the same. But you got to do something, you got to mess up to be able to pass something down. You know what I mean?
- [30:17]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah, for sure.
- [30:18]
Daniel Cormier
Like, we can't all be perfect. And. Yeah. I think it's. It's always good to have, you know, a true perspective.
- [30:23]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Man, that was awesome.
- [30:24]
Daniel Cormier
That's. That's so crazy.
- [30:25]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah, she's crazy. She was crazy a little bit. But again, you never know. Right. But that will never change the way I viewed my mother, because she protected me and she loved me. And that's one thing that in our community, we get our mom. John Jones's mom passed, and, you know, him and I's history, and I felt compelled to tell him how sorry I felt for him because I still had my mom, and we know how important they are to us. Your mom raised you and your brothers. She believed in you. I mean, she believed in you more than anyone. And at 14, she even let you go off on your own a little bit.
- [31:00]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah.
- [31:01]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
When you decided to play drums, she supported you.
- [31:04]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah.
- [31:05]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
How was that? Having that, like, just undying support by someone that could see greatness in you, even when, at times, frankly, you might not have seen it in yourself.
- [31:17]
Daniel Cormier
It's unreal, man. I'm eternally grateful for my mom. I still have a very close relationship with my mom. She holds a very, very deep, you know, the deepest part of my heart because of everything that she went through as a single mom to raise four kids. You know what I mean? Not marry on purpose, because she just would never put anything before her kids, you know, it's, like, very selfless. Yeah. And I just remember, yeah. When I was young, anything that I wanted to do, yeah, my mom always supported me. And that was where I was kind of speaking about, like, the sports earlier. Like, I didn't have the. The courage. I didn't have that courageous push from someone in my household, but I always had love and comfort. Yeah, comfort and love. Whatever. I. If I was afraid, not. Not like, oh, I'm afraid, Mom, you know, but it's just, like, I just knew, even if my mouth was shut, whatever. I walk in the door, and my mom kind of already knew she had you, she had me. You get what I mean? So if I said, hey, mom, I want to be in a band, and these guys are going to California, this would be my first time traveling, playing on a stage. And she's just like, okay, like, if that's what you want to do, I support you, and. But just go in and do your best and make sure. You know, make sure you do your very best on. On stage when you're performing. And here's the phone. Like, make sure that we stay in contact. But I want to hear all about it when you get back home, you know, Like. And so I'm like, okay. And then after high school, like, I told my mom, because she told me, I just want you to graduate high school. Whatever you do with your life after that, you'll be 18, you're a man. You got to go. But my only dream is, please finish high school. Like, that's my only, like, my living dream. Just finish high school. So I finished high school, and I didn't play music at the time, but my friends who I grew up with playing music, they made it. They were signed by a label. Label was paying for them to go on tour all this. And they invited me to come out and still be on the road with them and selling their merch. This was fresh out of high school, so I told my mom, like, hey, I got a new job. Gonna be gone two and a half months out of the year at a time, traveling all around the country via bus. This is what I'm. She's like, okay, like, that's amazing. You get to travel the world. You get to go to states I've never been to. Like, she's like, that's so cool. So send me photos, take, you know, and that's just been. That's just been my mom from the start. Yeah.
- [33:51]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Sounds like she's just, like, your biggest supporter.
- [33:53]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah, Biggest supporter. The only thing that, like, she supports my fighting, but she can't watch it.
- [33:58]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
I was gonna ask you that. Like, how is it now, right? When you tell mom at 21, hey, I'm gonna be a mixed martial artist. That's what I want to do. Hey, I'VE supported you in bands. That gets scary. My mom would go to the fights because I wouldn't do it without her. But I don't know that she ever watched a fight because her head was down the whole time. She was so scared. How's that now, though? But not only the fact that she won't watch, but the fact that you can give her now. Here, mom, this is me, little Khalil. The one that you believed in at every step of the way. I can take care of you. Now. How is that for you as a man?
- [34:32]
Daniel Cormier
I mean, it feels good. And I definitely. It's still a big part of my, My motivation because, like, I want to do more. You know what I mean? Like, yeah, from the outside, you know, from the outside, looking in and based off where I come from and even just people in my family, like, I'm doing well. I'm blessed, you know, I'm, I'm. I'm grateful. But like, when I think about moms, I'm like, okay, like, I can do more. That's all. Every time I see my mom, it's like, I got. I can do more. And I will. And I gotta. And like, I got you. I got you. You know what I mean? Like, it. That however it is, you know, maybe it's not a, you know, 10 million dollar house like I imagine, but it. It's going to. It will be something. You know what I mean?
- [35:15]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Isn't that amazing?
- [35:16]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah.
- [35:16]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Like you said, amen. I would walk in and she got me. But now at this age, Mom, I got you. Yeah, right. One of my greatest accomplishments was buying my mom house. When I. When I grew up, my mom cleaned houses for a living. And I wanted to make sure that by the time she passed, she had her own house cleaners. And that meant something to her.
- [35:34]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah, for sure.
- [35:35]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
All the belts, all the other stuff, it didn't matter as much as me giving to my mother what she gave to me, you know? Remember the Nutty Professor? The little fat boy that. Hercules.
- [35:47]
Daniel Cormier
Hercules, yeah.
- [35:47]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
My mama used to have me feeling like that. I'm a little fat boy. It didn't matter what I felt. I'm picking up my muscles. He's so strong, baby. And it just gave me this belief that I could do anything.
- [35:58]
Daniel Cormier
That's amazing.
- [35:58]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
That's just the craziest thing of all time.
- [36:03]
Daniel Cormier
There's something special about folks who come through without being asked. Like your coworker surprising you with your favorite coffee just because. Or your friend handing you the aux cord the moment you get in the car. No debate, no fight, just positive vibes. That kind of love. It just hits different. And that's exactly the energy. AT&T is on with their new guarantee. If there's ever a network interruption, AT&T will proactively credit you for a full day of service. No calls, no emails, no jumping through hoops. It's just handled. It's like the universe saying, I got you. Except this time it's not the stars aligning. No, it is your network. And let's be real, that connection is everything. So whether you're holding down the group chat, checking in on your parents, scrolling through TikTok, your network's gotta come through. And if there's a problem, AT&T is on the case. No stress, no drama, just real backup. When it counts. Credit for Fiber downtime lasting 20 minutes or more or wireless downtime lasting 60 minutes or more caused by a single incident impacting 10 or more towers. Restrictions and exclusions apply. See att.com guarantee for full details. AT&T connecting changes everything.
- [37:17]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
What's up, everybody?
- [37:18]
Daniel Cormier
Daniel Jeremiah here and I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the Sticks.
- [37:22]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
We take you inside the game.
- [37:23]
Daniel Cormier
From scouting reports and player development to team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. Every week we study the tape, talk to decision makers, and share the insights.
- [37:35]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
You won't find anywhere else.
- [37:36]
Daniel Cormier
It's the kind of conversation that connects the dots. From college football prospects to the NFL stars of tomorrow. We break down the draft, analyze matchups.
- [37:45]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
And evaluate how teams put it all together on game day.
- [37:48]
Daniel Cormier
Plus, we dig in the coaching strategies, roster construction, and the trends that shape.
- [37:53]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
The league year after year.
- [37:54]
Daniel Cormier
Whether you're a die hard fan or just love understanding the game on a deeper level, we give you the full picture.
- [38:00]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
If you want insight that goes beyond.
- [38:02]
Daniel Cormier
The box score, this podcast is for you. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Six podcast.
- [38:07]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
On the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [38:15]
Daniel Cormier
Hey, this is Matt Jones. I'm Drew Franklin and this is NFL Cover Zero. We think NFL coverage should be informative and entertaining. And twice a week, that is exactly what you're going to get. We're just here to try to give you an NFL perspective a little bit different. Did you see the Colts pretzel? That was my other big takeaway from that game. What was that? Looks like something that should not be sold.
- [38:38]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Oh my.
- [38:39]
Daniel Cormier
So that was my other big Colts takeaway. They sold that? Yes. Might want to go Back to the drawing board at the Colts Stadium. Yeah, I might want to go back to the drawing board on that. Yeah.
- [38:46]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
I thought the shape we had with pretzels was working pretty well. It's worked for generations.
- [38:50]
Daniel Cormier
We're just here trying to enjoy it. We hope you all will join us throughout the year. And let's go. I hope I'm as youthful as Pete Carroll is at his age. He's a young 73. He is a young 73.
- [39:00]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
He is spry, I would say.
- [39:01]
Daniel Cormier
I wouldn't fight him. I would listen to NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. I'm Marcus Grant. And I'm Michael F. Florio, and together we host the NFL Fantasy Football Player Podcast.
- [39:25]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Ready to dominate your fantasy league this season?
- [39:28]
Daniel Cormier
Then you need the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast, your ultimate source for player news, draft tips, and winning strategies.
- [39:35]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Whether you're a rookie manager or a.
- [39:36]
Daniel Cormier
Fantasy vet, we've got the insight to help you crush your opponents.
- [39:40]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [39:49]
Daniel Cormier
Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit toyota.com NFL now to learn more.
- [39:54]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Hey, Khalil, like, you dress the way you Dr. Dress has always been like, this boy got some style. You were in gq.
- [39:59]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah.
- [40:00]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Recently.
- [40:00]
Daniel Cormier
Wow.
- [40:01]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Gq, Khalil.
- [40:03]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah.
- [40:04]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Say it again. You were in gq.
- [40:05]
Daniel Cormier
That's so cool.
- [40:06]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Like, what did that mean to you? To not only have the. The foresight to. To always keep yourself up, make yourself look nice, but life outside of fighting. This is not just mixed martial arts. You have built something to where that magazine and that platform is like, we want Khalil Roundtree Jr. That has to matter to you.
- [40:31]
Daniel Cormier
It's so cool, DC, because I just. I get to enjoy, like, all of these cool things and have all these cool experiences. And at the end of the day, D.C. like, I'm just being myself, man.
- [40:46]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [40:47]
Daniel Cormier
Like, I fight in the cage. I've always from since the first time I lost weight. Part of my motivation to lose weight was I want to be able to shop in the mall.
- [40:58]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [40:58]
Daniel Cormier
I want to be able to wear the outfit that's on the mannequin.
- [41:01]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [41:01]
Daniel Cormier
And when I was so big, I couldn't. You know what I mean? Like, the biggest size was XL. Here I am 4X. Like, so what am I wearing? You know, just like a blank T shirt and. You know what I mean? Some shorts from Costco Like, I don't know. But now, like, since I've lost weight, it's like, now I like. I like clothes I want to wear. I want to dress like whatever I see on the mannequin or whatever, you know, And I'm still just being myself, and, like, I'm. I'm just living life, and I'm. I'm blessed to be able to do what I do. And it's through fighting, through channeling that, you know, having the support, but stepping into that courage of, like, I'm all this and I can fight and you know what I mean? And I'm the baddest man on the planet. Like, it. No, it's just. It's so cool, man.
- [41:48]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
But, yeah.
- [41:49]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah, it's so cool.
- [41:50]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah. You spoke about men having a softer side. You said, I am equally violent and dangerous as I am sensitive in kind. I mean, I. I honestly, it's like, for a guy like me. Right. Or a guy that doesn't do what you do, they can't even really understand or comprehend that. But why is balance so important for you? Not only the violence, because the style is very violent. Right inside the octagon, it's very violent. But you also want to make sure people understand that there's a different side to Khalil Roundtree. And I think that's why platforms like GQ are, like. That's what interests me, because there are. I mean, our 700 fighters on this roster.
- [42:33]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah.
- [42:34]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Every one of them violent. But I don't think everyone has that other side like you do.
- [42:41]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah, it's. It's. It's. It's definitely interesting. I think that a part of A part of just my story, like, not having my dad and only kind of having my mom, I think that helped me. If my dad was around, maybe I would have definitely been one. One sider, you know what I mean?
- [42:59]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
More.
- [42:59]
Daniel Cormier
Or I would have seen this guy, 6, 5, 3, 20, you know, just built, and I'm like, who knows? My brain would have, like, I want to be like him. No. You know what I mean? And, like, my mom, five foot, nothing. So, like, here I am, sprouting up, being loved by my mom. The only real love, true love, that I knew was from my mom. So I think it's. It's not very common. I know that there are other men like that in the world, and I'm. I'm grateful for everything that's happened and you know what I mean? Although, like, it took a long time to get to where I'm at today. I can sit here and say, like, I'm grateful that.
- [43:39]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
For the journey.
- [43:40]
Daniel Cormier
For the journey and for everything that I've lost and everything. So that I can be the guy who I am today and have the. The good, you know, experience of both. Like the extremes of both, really.
- [43:51]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah, for sure. Yeah. And a journey is never taken alone. Your wife Mia.
- [43:57]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah.
- [43:57]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Has played a massive part in your journey, the Dragon.
- [44:00]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah.
- [44:00]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
I mean, how. How important has she been in. In this whole thing? And how much has her presence and. And how much has her presence meant to you to become the person that you are today because you don't hide her? I was at the Contender Series and you were there with your wife. Like, you guys are, you know, at the golf simulator. You're there with your wife. Like, how important has her presence been to Kahlil?
- [44:24]
Daniel Cormier
Oh, man, it's. It's everything, you know? Like, she is. She's the Dragon, man. She's like, you know what I mean? It's like if. If you see me, you know, flying in, riding in, like, I'm with the dragon. That's how I look at it, you know, like, and, like, I love her and we're best friends, you know, we're like, we're ride or die. We, like, we're honest with each other. We're as equally sweet with each other. You know what I mean? It's like, it's just, man, like, I'm so grateful for Mia. She's smarter than anybody I've ever met in my life. Yeah, we've got a great, like, communication level of respect. It's just, I'm. I'm lucky. So it's like, yeah, if I'm going to Contender series and I'm bringing my wife, we're going golf and bring my wife. Because we, like, we're. We're a unit, man. Like, we've. That's just kind of the life that we've chosen to. To build together is like, let's just do it together versus, like, you and me and. Oh, let's just. Let's ride together and, And. And make some dreams come true, you know?
- [45:30]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
That's amazing.
- [45:31]
Daniel Cormier
It's fire. It's fire. Definitely the healthiest relationship I've ever been in.
- [45:36]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
With the healthy relationship comes the question. Kids.
- [45:39]
Daniel Cormier
Absolutely.
- [45:40]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
In the future, like, or is this something you're going to focus on?
- [45:42]
Daniel Cormier
Absolutely.
- [45:44]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Or do you want a family?
- [45:45]
Daniel Cormier
Give me. Give me my kids. No, I really. I want twin girls.
- [45:50]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Girls? You want girls?
- [45:51]
Daniel Cormier
That's my dream. Yeah. Like, my dream. Obviously, it's like, yes, twin girls. And. And I'm set for life, the belt, and then twin girls and like, I need nothing else out of. Out of this life. But, yeah, we're playing. We're. We're. We're hoping so the both of us have an understanding right now that I'm so close to getting to the belt again.
- [46:13]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [46:13]
Daniel Cormier
And there's some, you know, one to two big obstacles in front of that. And we've. We've both decided that right now is. This time is dedicated to me.
- [46:26]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [46:26]
Daniel Cormier
And, you know, the next. The rest of this year for sure. And I'd like to say by this time next year, there's either one Bruin or one coming out. You know what I mean?
- [46:40]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Kids are best.
- [46:41]
Daniel Cormier
One or two. Like I said, you know, twin girls would be my absolute dream.
- [46:44]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Well, you got to have twins in your family. Do you have twins in your family?
- [46:47]
Daniel Cormier
My mom's a twin, and then my mom's twin, her daughter has twins.
- [46:52]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Okay.
- [46:53]
Daniel Cormier
There's. It's in the blood. For sure.
- [46:55]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
It's in the blood. So it might actually be a possibility.
- [46:57]
Daniel Cormier
It's possible.
- [46:58]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
So you and I met long time ago.
- [47:00]
Daniel Cormier
Yep.
- [47:01]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
At Vandali Silver's gym.
- [47:02]
Daniel Cormier
Yep.
- [47:03]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
I didn't recall that as much as you did, but that was after you had made a change in your life. You had decided that, I'm done being heavy, I'm done smoking, and just kind of wasting my life away. Like so many teens do. So many teens make bad choices early that ultimately affect them. Do you remember when you decided that enough was enough? Depression, overweight, doing the wrong thing. No true direction. Do you remember a time where you go, enough is enough. I want to change. I'm going to do something different 100%.
- [47:42]
Daniel Cormier
I was on tour with the bands that I was working with, and that time was like the darkest time in my life. I remember sitting in the van, in the front seat of the car, just contemplating what the last week to two weeks looked like in my brain, you know, like, what was I experiencing? What was I going through? What was I doing? The environments that I was in. So I'm sitting in the front seat of the van, got, like, the shade down. The guys have to play that night. And I remember just, like, sitting there and I'm thinking about just all the stuff, the past bars, you know, just conversations. I was, like, taking pills that I didn't even. I didn't even know what they were. You know what I mean? Like, they were some. They were just pills, like prescription pills, and it was Just in. You were lost. Yeah, it was just. You know what I mean? I was, like, on the road, I'm. I'm around a bunch of people who I like. I really. At the core of who I am, I really don't fit in here. But all of the layers of stuff that I built over myself makes me feel like this is where I belong. You get what I mean?
- [48:53]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah. Yeah, for sure.
- [48:53]
Daniel Cormier
My. My. My hatred for self, for people. Like, you know, I'm just, like. I just covered in filth, you know? Like, that's how I could describe myself at the time, just covered in filth. But I'm sitting in the front of this van, and I remember I was just like, man, I've never done this before, but, like, if there's a God, turn my life around. Because, like, this is terrible stuff. You know what I mean? I'm like, I don't even want to live anymore. Like, yeah, I just, like, I'm literally sitting front, like, in the front seat of this van, just thinking, like, I don't even want to be alive. And I was just like, if there's anything out there, now's your chance. Otherwise, like, I'm. I'm done for.
- [49:41]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
You said you felt your heart almost stopped.
- [49:43]
Daniel Cormier
Felt my heart almost stop. That's around the same time. It's like, that was, like, also in the. It's all around the same time, you know what I mean? Like, I'm feeling. My heart's like, slow down these bad things. I'm, like, contemplating everything that I've done. Bad, right.
- [49:59]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Trying to figure out why.
- [50:01]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah. But also, like, not even really caring. You get what I'm saying? Like, does that make sense? Like, yeah, like, kind of trying to kill myself in a way. You know what I mean? Because, like, obviously, I know it's bad for me, but that's all I was going after. I had nothing else to go after. So I was like, okay, if this is my fate, this is my fate. Until. Yeah, I was like, kind of like heart scare, and I was just like, okay. I mean, this has to be a turnaround. Like, this has to be a turnaround. I've got to do something different. I guess I don't really want to die. Yeah, I. Yeah, like, I'm too. I'm too young. My mom would be so sad, you know, I just started thinking about all that stuff, other people, and then trying to find a way and. Yeah, eventually that way was my brother Donnie watching UFC and kind of showing me, hey, this is what I'm interested in. Maybe one day I can do this or we can do this. And started from there.
- [51:03]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah. And 11 months later, you're down £100. How hard was it in the beginning on that journey to not get discouraged and honestly give up? Because when you're heavy, right. You're not starting from any type of cardio base.
- [51:17]
Daniel Cormier
No, not at all.
- [51:18]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
You're. Literally, every single thing you do is the hardest thing you've ever done.
- [51:22]
Daniel Cormier
And it hurts.
- [51:23]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
It hurts. How hard was it to not give up in those moments? Because, like I said, 11 months later, you're down £100.
- [51:31]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah.
- [51:32]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Was it. Was it seeing the results that propelled you forward? Or can you remember that?
- [51:37]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah, I remember. Okay. So the. The day I joined the gym and I took my first Muay Thai class, I. That's the day I stopped smoking cigarettes because I just felt like.
- [51:49]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Couldn't breathe.
- [51:50]
Daniel Cormier
Couldn't breathe at all. You know, two kicks on the pad, three kicks on the pad, and the coach is telling us we got to do 20 each leg. I was just like, well, if, like, I like this. I like being able to kick the shit out of something, but I can't breathe.
- [52:05]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
I can't do it.
- [52:06]
Daniel Cormier
So then that day, I was just like, okay, that's got to be out of the question, because, like, I like.
- [52:11]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
This, but, like, were you smoking cigarettes or just weed?
- [52:15]
Daniel Cormier
Two packs of cigarettes.
- [52:16]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
So cigarettes.
- [52:18]
Daniel Cormier
40 cigarettes.
- [52:18]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Here's the problem. You knew what cigarettes do to you.
- [52:21]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah, but I don't care.
- [52:22]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Cigarettes kill you.
- [52:23]
Daniel Cormier
I didn't care. That's the thing. I didn't care. Like, I just didn't care. I could see this stuff. It says on the package, this and that. And, like, I see people, like, you know, talk. Yeah.
- [52:35]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Just got the hole in it.
- [52:36]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah, the hole in the neck. And, like, I've seen. I saw the effects. Like, there is no positive from it, but I didn't care. You get like, I'm just like, who cares? I have nothing to look forward in to life anyway. I'm gonna die in this one bedroom apartment with five of my family members anyway.
- [52:52]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [52:52]
Daniel Cormier
You know, like, I just had. This is pessimistic.
- [52:56]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [52:56]
Daniel Cormier
Outlook. Until I started training Muay Thai mma.
- [53:00]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Safe. Saved you.
- [53:01]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah. Vanderla's place, like, that was like, kind of like our safe haven. My brother and I both, we both. We saw Pride, I think, on YouTube or something, and we saw Vanderlei Silva, the axe murderer. We loved his style. We started looking up more stuff, and then we found out, wow. Vanderlei Silva just opened up A new gym in Las Vegas. If we're gonna do this, let's go there.
- [53:23]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [53:23]
Daniel Cormier
And then we started going right on. Right on the freeway.
- [53:27]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [53:27]
Daniel Cormier
And we started going there, man. And that's everything that, like, the people that we met there and just, like, the. The training and just the lifestyle itself is what. What changed us.
- [53:38]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
How far into your journey did you. You and I meet?
- [53:41]
Daniel Cormier
I would say, like, within that first 11 months.
- [53:44]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
You were still an amateur.
- [53:45]
Daniel Cormier
I didn't even have my first fight yet.
- [53:47]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Oh, okay. I had no idea it was, like.
- [53:49]
Daniel Cormier
Literally D.C. like, I'd probably been in it for three months, four months.
- [53:55]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Really?
- [53:55]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah.
- [53:56]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
That's awesome. Yeah. And then you come across just Vander Lay and guys that are just passing through. And then we train, and you see what I become, and you're like, man, I can do this.
- [54:04]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah. You slam me all over the ground.
- [54:06]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Well, you hadn't wrestled before.
- [54:08]
Daniel Cormier
Maybe borderline tear up. And then I had to find out that I just went with, you know, this Olympic wrestler.
- [54:15]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Well, yeah, you hadn't wrestled before.
- [54:16]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah.
- [54:17]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
But then you watch those guys passing, like, all right, man, I'm on the right track, cuz. Cuz then it's easy to go forward when you're rubbing elbows with these people. We probably had a conversation after practice.
- [54:28]
Daniel Cormier
We might have. Yeah, yeah.
- [54:29]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Sat and talked.
- [54:30]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah.
- [54:31]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
And that's, like. That's. That's what's important on that journey of. Of man. I wish I knew. Right. I wish I could have known in that moment what you had been through or the journey you were on, because I would have tried to do something to help motivate you, especially knowing that mindset that you were operating with at that time. Right. As a young man that was trying to truly turn his life around. So now looking back and thinking back to that, where you're just kind of passing through, it feels like an opportunity missed because not everybody's going to be you. That gets it right and grows to be who you are today. So I think you now, in this position, when you're in a different gym, you got to make sure that you're super aware of the surroundings, because maybe a word with a guy.
- [55:20]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah, right. Could be everything in the world to him. Yeah, for sure. No, that's deep. And that, like, I'm definitely going to take that into consideration. And, like, not even consideration. Just keep that in my brain present. Yeah, keep it. Yeah, for sure, man. Because that's. It's like that moment is cemented in my memory bank.
- [55:41]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [55:41]
Daniel Cormier
You know what? I Mean, I remember I was wearing yellow Muay Thai shorts. You know what I mean?
- [55:45]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [55:46]
Daniel Cormier
And then I was like, that's the day that, you know, that I sparred with Daniel Cormier. And I remember exactly how it felt. But, like, that's a part of my story. So the same thing can be.
- [55:54]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
You can do that for someone and that's an amazing thing. On the Ultimate Fight, he had a very, very emotional moment. Discussing your father. That was a big stage to really open up.
- [56:05]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah.
- [56:06]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Is that a part of that balance? Right. Being able to be emotional on such a big stage? Because at that point, the Ultimate Fighter was the biggest thing you had ever done in your entire life.
- [56:17]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah.
- [56:17]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Even though you played in bands, even though you'd done music, you'd never done it at that level. Was that hard to do? Or does the emotion just kind of guide you at times and you do it on that stage?
- [56:29]
Daniel Cormier
I had no choice. Like, I had no choice in the Ultimate Fighter. I mean, there's everything. They're filming non stop, you know what I mean? I even tried to. I tried to get away from the cameras and go outside and, you know, and have my moment, but, you know, so there was really no escaping it. But I never. I never regret it. You know, I think that, man, my mom always used to tell me, like, you know, don't it. Well, like, when people say, you know, like, boys, don't cry, don't cry. She's like, don't ever believe that. You know, she's just like, humans cry, Human beings, male, you know, it doesn't matter skin color, nothing. Everybody cries. And when you feel it's coming up and you're gonna cry, then, like, you know, let it out and. And then be done with it. You know, he's like, let it out and be done with it. Like, don't cry for pity, but like, if it's coming up and you feel so strongly about something, let it out. It doesn't change who you are as a person. So, like, I was just like, okay, cool. So obviously in a sport like this, we know we want to hold on to our stuff and we want to be as stern as possible. I'm not saying cry about everything, but like, for me at that time, I just. I couldn't hold it back. It's. It was my dad's birthday and I was so trapped in, you know, being on the show and stuff that I forgot it. I didn't even. It didn't even cross my mind. And so when I had the moment, it just hit Me, you know what I mean? And that was it for me.
- [58:02]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
The moment you realized you were in the ufc, from that dream of your brother watching and going, this is our avenue. This is our way. Right. Obviously your brother isn't in the ufc. Right. While you guys might have started that journey together, your journey veered off and went to the heights of the sport when you realize I'm a UFC fighter. From the scared 19 year old boy that's sitting in that van heart about to stop. What did that feel like?
- [58:37]
Daniel Cormier
At the time when I first got signed to the ufc, I felt like, oh, I'm the man.
- [58:41]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [58:42]
Daniel Cormier
You know, I. Little did I know dc, but I thought I was the man. I. I was still nervous to be there, but I thought like, this is my dream come true. You know, I thought that I had reached the pinnacle and I think I took a lot. I think I got into the UFC with only four fights.
- [59:05]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [59:05]
Daniel Cormier
You know what I mean?
- [59:06]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
You're a baby.
- [59:07]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah, super baby. Only four professional fights and then like seven amateur fights. So anyway, I get there and I'm like, I'm the UFC now.
- [59:16]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [59:17]
Daniel Cormier
You know, I'm in the UFC now. And little did I know, like, I was like, I know you're in the UFC now. Wake up. Yeah, get to work. Like, you know, I. It took me a long time to like, get smacked in the face and realize, like, you can also not be here tomorrow.
- [59:36]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah, yeah, sure. Because it didn't start great.
- [59:40]
Daniel Cormier
No, man. Like, it started like this, you know, up and down, our big fight. Go Kanzaki, Johnny Walker. You know, it's like, like, but it's because I really wasn't like, I, I wasn't really locked in, I wasn't really like fully grateful or I was just in the mixture. Like, I was right in the middle of, like, I guess transitioning, you know, like just becoming more mature, becoming, you know what I mean? Grown. The grown man, you know, like life experience, everything. Because I was 24, 25.
- [60:14]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah, you're a baby.
- [60:15]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah.
- [60:15]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
But since 2021 though, you kind of got it going in the right direction. Right. You're six and one. The only loss, a world heavyweight title fight where many believe that going into the fourth round you were winning. Right?
- [60:29]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah.
- [60:30]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Can you go back to that and think, like, what you were thinking going into that round? Like, man, I'm beating Alex Pereira, especially with the way that he was viewed at the time and how people gawked at you getting a title fight, you're like, wait a minute. Not only did I get this fight. I'm winning this fight. Walk me through what you were thinking going into that fourth round and what it was like to share the cage of Pereira.
- [60:57]
Daniel Cormier
Every single round of that fight. I was thinking, how amazing is this? Every time I got. Every time I got punched, every exchange, I was in my mind thinking, like, how amazing is this? The exchanges and what was happening. I can't really tell you much about what I was plotting in this and that, but I just remember, like, how amazing is this that I'm the main event right now in Salt Lake City against Alex Pereira. Like I said I was going to be, like I asked for, and, like. And it's happening now. Knowing, too, that I had full belief in myself that I could win this fight, you know? So, like, I'm just. I was in it. I was locked in, like, how amazing is this? And then even coming into the fourth round, third. The half of the third round was pretty bad. That's when he really started to sting me.
- [61:48]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [61:48]
Daniel Cormier
You know what I mean? I really started to, like, get dizzy and fatigued. Like, not cardio fatigue, but, like.
- [61:54]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
But you know, when you start taking.
- [61:55]
Daniel Cormier
Damage, Taking damage, your body just says, dude, preserve yourself. You know what I'm saying? And I remember going into the fourth, I was just. I was thinking 15 or 10 minutes left, and I was like, I could do anything for 10 minutes.
- [62:21]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [62:21]
Daniel Cormier
And so essentially, the story that I like to tell is that I just. I treated the fourth round like the fifth, and I just let it all out in the fourth.
- [62:33]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [62:34]
Daniel Cormier
And that's not what I should have done. What I should have done has. Was know that I'm up two, possibly three.
- [62:42]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [62:43]
Daniel Cormier
Cool off in the first, cool off in the fourth, and then take it to him in the fifth. That would have been a little bit. You know what I mean? But I hadn't had that experience yet. It was. I was so pumped up. I was so fighting for the title. I know I can beat this guy. You know what I mean? I was just. I was all heart, that fight, you know, it was.
- [62:59]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
It was.
- [62:59]
Daniel Cormier
It was all heart.
- [63:00]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
It was all hard, but it was. It was very. It was very. It was honestly kind of scary, right? It was honestly kind of scary because, like, you said, you started stinging you, you had the cuts, your nose was messed up, and then it seemed like you took more damage later when you were like, I'm going to let it all hang out. I know you won't quit. I know you'll never quit. Right. But that had to be hard. For the people that love you to watch that. Yeah. And then you had to go to them after the fight and they have to see you in that state and that, that has to suck a little bit because I got knocked out once and when I went to the back, I was with my children and they were crying, bro. And that's hard to deal with. And it makes you kind of think, it made me kind of think, man, I, I put my kids through this. Did you have that moment after? Like, it was awesome for me, but that had to be hard for the people that love me to watch. Hey, your mom doesn't watch fights. Thank God. She never watched.
- [63:55]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah, she didn't watch that one, right. Yeah. You know what? I didn't, I didn't really have to think about that too much because I got to experience it right there. I mean my, my strength and conditioning coach, Lorenzo, my wife, my brother, my sister in law, they were the ones that went to the hospital with me.
- [64:17]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [64:17]
Daniel Cormier
You know, I got rushed to the hospital right after that fight and they were in the hospital with me till 5am and I just saw it on their faces, you know what I mean?
- [64:26]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
For sure, bro.
- [64:27]
Daniel Cormier
You didn't even have to have that, you know, we didn't even have to have that combo. I think the, for the most part, you know, like, they, from a deep place, I could feel that they were pain like, that they were hurt, but they were still just like, I'm proud, proud of you. You know, but it was with like a, it was, but damn. But, but to even look at your face right now, you know, it pains me but like, I'm proud of you.
- [64:52]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
You know, I, I know you, right? And I've interviewed you and I've talked to you and even I was like, I don't love this, but I gotta tell you, when I walked out of the hotel on Sunday morning to go home, I left at 5am I was kind of shaking my head and I was smiling like what Khalil really did, like fight. Like, I, I, I left that place in Utah with a sense of, Khalil fought his ass off and he did a great job. And even though he didn't win, it doesn't feel like he lost. Yeah, but that was the overwhelming sentiment for most. Could you feel that fan appreciation even in defeat, that it might have been even greater than some of the fights that you've won?
- [65:36]
Daniel Cormier
The fans helped me so much in that fight. DC like in, in many, in many different ways. I think that the fans helped me, helped me process that loss, the reaction from the fans really helped me process that loss and helped me to grow from it, to have some more, like, belief, you know? Like, it was, it was. Had I not had that reaction, man, I think, you know, I would have had a, definitely a different type of fire lit because I wouldn't, I wouldn't give up. I'd still keep going for the, for the belt. But I think that it just, it gave me a big appreciation for the fans and like, I think all of the, the new fans and the past ones for. You know what I mean? For supporting me in a loss like that and really building me up in a loss like that because, yeah, I mean, it motivated me more, you know, it made me want to keep fighting more, you know, I mean, just. Yeah, keep going for it. Because now, like, there's just so many more fans behind me now.
- [66:41]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [66:41]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah. There's something special about folks who come.
- [66:44]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Through without being asked. Like your co worker surprising you with your favorite coffee just because.
- [66:49]
Daniel Cormier
Or your friend handing you the aux.
- [66:50]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Cord the moment you get in the car.
- [66:52]
Daniel Cormier
No debate, no fight, just positive vibes. That kind of love.
- [66:56]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
It just hits different.
- [66:57]
Daniel Cormier
And that's exactly the energy.
- [66:59]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
AT&T is on with their new guarantee. If there's a network interruption, AT&T will.
- [67:03]
Daniel Cormier
Proactively credit you for a full day of service.
- [67:06]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
No calls, no emails, no jumping through hoops.
- [67:09]
Daniel Cormier
It's just handled. It's like the universe saying, I got you. Except this time it's not the stars aligning, it's your network.
- [67:16]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
And let's be real, that connection is everything.
- [67:18]
Daniel Cormier
Whether you're holding down the group chat.
- [67:20]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Checking in with your parents, scrolling TikTok. Your network's gotta come through.
- [67:24]
Daniel Cormier
And if there's a problem, AT&T is on the case. No stress, no drama, just real backup when it counts. Credit for fiber downtime lasting 20 minutes.
- [67:32]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Or more or wireless downtime lasting 60.
- [67:35]
Daniel Cormier
Minutes or more caused by a single.
- [67:36]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Incident impacting 10 or more towers.
- [67:38]
Daniel Cormier
Restrictions and exclusions apply. Learn more@att.com guarantee for full details at&t connecting changes everything.
- [67:50]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
What's up, everybody? Daniel Jeremiah here.
- [67:52]
Daniel Cormier
And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the Sticks, we take you inside the game, from scouting reports and player development to team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. Every week we study the tape, talk to decision makers, and share the insights.
- [68:08]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
You won't find anywhere else.
- [68:09]
Daniel Cormier
It's the kind of conversation that connects the dots. From college football prospects to the NFL stars of tomorrow. We break down the draft, analyze matchups.
- [68:18]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
And evaluate how teams put it all together on game day.
- [68:21]
Daniel Cormier
Plus, we dig into coaching strategies, roster construction, and the trends that shape the league year after year. Whether you're a die hard fan or just love understanding the game on a deeper level, we give you the full picture.
- [68:33]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
If you want insight that goes beyond.
- [68:35]
Daniel Cormier
The box score, this podcast is for you. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Six podcast.
- [68:40]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
On the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [68:48]
Daniel Cormier
Hey, this is Matt Jones and I'm Drew Franklin, and this is NFL Cover Zero. We think NFL coverage should be informative and entertaining. And twice a week, that is exactly what you're going to get. We're just here to try to give you an NFL perspective a little bit different. Did you see the Colts pretzel? That was my other big takeaway from that game. What was that? Looks like something that should not be sold. Oh, my. So that was my other big Colts takeaway. They sold that. Yes. Might want to go back to the Colts stadium. Yeah, I might want to go back to the drawing board on that. Yeah.
- [69:18]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
I thought the shape we had with pretzels was working pretty well. It's worked for generations.
- [69:23]
Daniel Cormier
We're just here trying to enjoy it. We hope you all will join us throughout the year. And let's go. I hope I'm as youthful as Pete Carroll is at his age. He's a young 73. He is a young 73. He is spry. I wouldn't fight him. I would listen NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. I'm Marcus Grant. And I'm Michael F. Florio, and together we host the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast.
- [69:58]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Ready to dominate your fantasy league this season?
- [70:00]
Daniel Cormier
Then you need the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast, your ultimate source for player news, draft tips and winning strategies.
- [70:07]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Whether you're a rookie manager or a.
- [70:09]
Daniel Cormier
Fantasy vet, we've got the insight to help you crush your opponents.
- [70:13]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [70:22]
Daniel Cormier
Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit toyota.com NFL now to learn more.
- [70:27]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Then you go to Baku.
- [70:28]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah.
- [70:29]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
And you beat Jamal Hill.
- [70:30]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah.
- [70:31]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Was that fight a little easier than you expected? Because, boy, when we watched that, I got a group message with my friends. They were like, khalil just dogged this dude out. It didn't seem like he had anything for you. Were you surprised that that fight played out in the way that it did, or do you believe now you've elevated to a point that if you're not one of the absolute best in the world, they can't really compete with you?
- [70:59]
Daniel Cormier
That's a tough one to answer. I don't really remember what I expected of that fight. I. I guess I can say that I. I had a little bit of an expectation of it being. Of it being a little harder.
- [71:19]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [71:19]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah, I did. I did think that, like.
- [71:21]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Okay, because you watched him.
- [71:23]
Daniel Cormier
I went into this fight prepared, you know, like, I wasn't overlooking this guy at all. Former champion.
- [71:30]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Because you guys have been scheduled to fight before also.
- [71:32]
Daniel Cormier
Exactly. With reach, you know, with punching power, with decent head movement. So I knew. I knew what I was up against, and I. When I went into that fight, I just. I just did what I needed to do.
- [71:51]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [71:51]
Daniel Cormier
To win the fight, like, that was my. That was my. My take on. On everything. And my approach is that the only thing that mattered to me was to win that fight.
- [72:01]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [72:02]
Daniel Cormier
So there was. There was no need to really chase him down or go overly crazy. I could just pick him apart.
- [72:11]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
And you did. And for me, you competed at such a high level right after the Pereira fight. One, how are you able to bounce back so quickly? And two, how are you able to not have any residuals from that fight? Because I remember when I did get knocked out, when I walked to the octagon, I'm like. Until I got into the fight, I was like, man, I got to make sure I don't get hit with this. I got to be careful because of what happened prior. And then when the door locks, you fight. Right. But when you go through what you went through with the. The confidence issues, how do you make sure that that's all locked away and you don't deal with any of those second thoughts? Because, dude, you operated like you had never went through the Pereira fight. And the taking. The damage that you took.
- [73:01]
Daniel Cormier
Hmm. Everything that the world experiences when watching me fight in the cage, live, everything that I am in the. In that cage is just a. It's a product of training.
- [73:19]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [73:19]
Daniel Cormier
It really is. The preparation. And it's my job to show up that night and be 100% confident in my abilities. And the only way that I can be 100% confident in my abilities is to put in the. Like, really put in the work during the training and be truthful to myself when I ask the question, like, did I do enough to.
- [73:44]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [73:45]
Daniel Cormier
You know what I mean? Did I actually do enough, and did I push myself to the limit every day? And did I. Did I put intention behind every movement? And you know what I mean? Did I properly prepare for this moment right now while the world's watching? And if the answer is yes, then I'm okay.
- [74:02]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Khalil, you have put yourself in situations where every moment is intentional, where every spot is a big spot and the world is watching. And now we're on the verge of another one. UFC320. You're fighting Yuri Prochka. He is one of the most unorthodox guys you've ever seen in the Octagon. Him and Jamal Hill had a very fun fight also, but he didn't dominate Jamal in the way that you did. What are your thoughts heading into the fight with Prochazka, another former champion and a guy that is a very difficult guy to prepare for in his own regard.
- [74:38]
Daniel Cormier
Prochazka is dangerous because of many different things. His strength, his physique, his what people like to call weird and unorthodox type of style. It's a dangerous fight for me, and I'm. And I say that because I'm the one stepping in there.
- [75:07]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [75:09]
Daniel Cormier
And I'm prepared.
- [75:10]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Khalil, Yuri's only loss twice in 10 years, and that's only the Pereira. Would that. What would it mean to you to be. You know, Yuri's lost in 10 years to Pereira and Khalil Rountree, because that's a feather in the cap, right? To beat a guy like that, that doesn't suffer defeat. Would that. What would that mean to you to add that, and would that, or at least in your opinion, be enough to warrant another opportunity at a championship?
- [75:44]
Daniel Cormier
I think that it would. It would really solidify my number in the top five.
- [75:51]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah. You know.
- [75:54]
Daniel Cormier
Beating him gives me that number. Like, respectfully.
- [75:59]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [75:59]
Daniel Cormier
His only two losses.
- [76:01]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
That's crazy, right? In 10 years. But you guys don't lose. That's the thing about the best guys in the world, right. You don't really lose. But in a decade, no one's beating Prochazka. But.
- [76:10]
Daniel Cormier
Says a lot. Yeah, says a lot.
- [76:13]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
But your intention is to go beat him and say, now it's Khalil and Pereira, but you aren't. You aren't ready to say, I deserve a title shot after that.
- [76:23]
Daniel Cormier
I don't like to say that I deserve anything. You know what I mean? Like, and maybe that's just my own, like, you know, self sabotage or, I don't know. I don't know. What to call it, but, like, I don't. I don't naturally just think about, like, what I deserve. I do dream of a second fight immediately after with Pereira, but.
- [76:47]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
But Pereira isn't the champion as we speak today.
- [76:49]
Daniel Cormier
As. Yeah, yeah, as. As we speak today. True. But I guess the only way that I really would like that fight again is if he was the champion.
- [77:03]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [77:04]
Daniel Cormier
Because at the end of the day, that's my focus. That's my goal. That, you know, like, the belt is what matters to me, and who holds it is just, you know, we're all kind of placeholders.
- [77:19]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Uncle Live. Having the belt make it more likely that if you win against your prohasker, that you fight for the championship, because, again, you have. You have the fan support, you have the audience. Right. And that matters in today's ufc.
- [77:34]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah, it really does. I didn't really give it too much thought, but I don't see why it wouldn't make sense.
- [77:41]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [77:42]
Daniel Cormier
For me to win this fight and then go into a title fight, whoever, you know, whoever it is that. That goes home with the belt that night. Yeah, I. I could see how that would make sense to. To make that happen.
- [77:55]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
You are a tremendous Muay Thai fighter. I remember when you first came back from Thailand, me and Rogan were like, who in the hell are we watching?
- [78:02]
Daniel Cormier
It's so crazy.
- [78:03]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
It was crazy, like, the differences that you made. But you brought in Jonathan Haggerty. Did you bring in. Why would you bring in a. Do you bring in a unbelievable Muay Thai striker? Like, what does he mean to this camp and why, When. Honestly, I believe that in the ufc, your Muay Thai is as high level as anybody we have in there.
- [78:23]
Daniel Cormier
DC, first and foremost, thank you for saying that. I have. I think you said incredible Muay Thai. That means a lot to me because I think my Muay Thai is trash, really, in comparison to, like, guys that I admire and that I watch and I like, like the real Muay Thai. So thank you. And then as far as Hagerty goes, Hagerty and I, we. We share the same coach, Christian Knowles. And so while Christian is here with me for. For a training camp, Jonathan also has a fight coming up in. In Japan in November. So Chris, you know, being the coach that he is, being like, the team that we are, it's like, okay, Hagerty, like, I'm in training camp right now. You've got to get your training camp started, so you've got to come to Vegas, because this is where we are.
- [79:19]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [79:21]
Daniel Cormier
And so we have you know, we're not sparring.
- [79:26]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
You guys don't spar.
- [79:27]
Daniel Cormier
No, no, no. I mean, Hagerty fights at 135, but.
- [79:30]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
You can still spar him a little.
- [79:31]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah, we could, but, you know, it's. It's not really anything that's moving around.
- [79:36]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Or moving around sparring.
- [79:38]
Daniel Cormier
We, we both. We train together, but it's not something that, like, I specifically brought in, you know, Hagerty for this camp.
- [79:49]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [79:49]
Daniel Cormier
Just how we, how we regulate and how I kind of run the team and stuff is like, Christian's here. You know, my, My. My guy Lam is here. Who does all of our content, like the teams in Vegas. Bro, do you. You gotta fight coming up. Okay. You gotta come to Vegas and then, you know, we'll go to Thailand after or whatever.
- [80:07]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah. Do you build your fight camp within the fight camp at Syndicate? Like, do you have, like, I had fight camp within the camp, so I had my own partners. I had my, like, other coaches. Do you build that inside of the camp in syndicate?
- [80:21]
Daniel Cormier
Yeah, yeah, Syndicate. I started training with John 10 years ago. Yeah, I love John. He's always been a great guy to me, great mentor and. And friend and coach. So he's always. Syndicate has always been my home gym, so long as I'm in Vegas. And John allows me to bring training partners in and I make sure everything I run through him and kind of have him analyze what. What's going on, game plan, strategize, and it seems to work. It's been working for us.
- [80:53]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Isn't it great to have a coach that has no ego? All he wants is the best for the athlete.
- [80:57]
Daniel Cormier
He really does, man. Yeah, yeah. And he. He coaches everybody, you know, very, very differently and very specifically. It's. It's. It's nice to. And he's been in the game for so long, and, yeah, he's friends with guys like you, and, you know, he's just been around. He's been in the game for a long time. He's been dedicated to, you know, syndicate and making MMA grow in Vegas. And he. Yeah, it's. It's so cool, man. But, yeah, we bring guys in. If I need extra bodies, extra coaches, whatever, whatever keeps camp.
- [81:30]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
I couldn't imagine sparring with you kicking me the way you kick now. It's crazy. You would need some extra bodies. Khalil, as we start to run and head home, you said one of your main goals in life is to inspire. To inspire that kid that's 19 that's going through some of the things that you might have gone through in your life kids that are in that same place. Right. There are so many distractions for kids today. Video games to drugs, to everything. What does it mean to you to be that person that can inspire the next generation, especially being one that lived that life. Right. 19 I was in college, right. I was already, I was chasing NCAA championships. But there was a Khalil Roundtree and there's a Khalil Roundtree out there right now. What do you tell that kid, you.
- [82:19]
Daniel Cormier
Know, without saying directly to the kid, like, do this because I really don't have, you know, a specific answer, but I have like a way of going about things. A lot of the times D.C. that young kid that I talk about or that young kid, 8, 9, 10, 11 years old, even in the teenagers, I think about it because there's still that part of me that, that exists like in my mind, in my spirit. You get what I mean?
- [82:49]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Still there.
- [82:49]
Daniel Cormier
He's still there.
- [82:50]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yep.
- [82:50]
Daniel Cormier
So it's kind of like, it's almost like Inception because a part of what I'm doing also is for that kid, that, that, for that little me, you know what I mean? For that, for the, for the four year old who, you know, who didn't know what it's like to have, you know, a father's embrace or a father to give you encouraging words, blah, blah, blah. A lot of times I speak to that kid, sometimes it's the 19 year old kid where I'm like, hey, get your together. Really, like what are you doing with your life? You're, you're, you know, like, think about it. You're, you're wasting away or doing this. Like, come on, life happens in 10 years. You're going to be, you know, 30 years old and you're going to wish that you would have done something differently. And sometimes it's like, you know, the, the 35 year old me or you know, I'm just like. So I look at it as like for one, don't be afraid to be yourself, but also like work to be. Work to be someone who like you wish you had. You, you get what I mean? Like, I try to be the father that I never had. I tried to be the, the, the role model that I never had. I tried to be the friend that I never had, you know, like to myself and to others. And it seems to kind of work for me, you know, like I'm, I'm intentional about like I said the things that I say or the things, how I treat people. I, if I leave the Building. I'm like, okay, Is everything okay? You know, like, did I, you know, did I? Was I respectful? This and that. Like, those things really make sense. They make a difference. Live authentically, Be yourself. Carve your. Like, carve your own path. You know what I mean? Like, yeah, we're doing everything we can to help inspire and all this stuff, but we all have the ability to carve our own paths and to be our own own sense of inspiration. You get what I mean? Like, it comes from work, it comes from, you know, dedication and discipline. But if there's something that you want in life, it's. People say it all the time. It's absolutely possible. But your actions and intentions, everything has to line it you. I can't be the champion if I'm like, yo, do you see after this, we go into the bar and like, yeah, for sure. You know what I mean? Or like, hey, you know, instead of training today, I'm gonna do this. Like, that's just not really helping you on your path. So start to make decisions that point you in the direction of your vision. We all have a vision. Hit me up.
- [85:31]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
You know, I always try to ask guys this when it's all said and done, right? When you look back on everything, the music, the struggles, the weight loss journey, what do you hope people get from the Khalil Rountree story? Because it ends for all of us right when you're done. What do you think people want? What do you want people to take from what they saw in Khalil Romtree Jr.
- [86:00]
Daniel Cormier
I want them to. I want them to create their dream life. You know, like, if there was, like, if you could package it up and someone said, like, I've been following you. I have been inspired by your story. I used to be this, and now I'm this. And my life is in a complete different place. That's all I want. You know what I mean? Like, when you're stuck, you don't really know where you're at. You don't know what you want to do with your life, but you kind of have. You have a dream and you want to get there. Just, I just want to be the example of, like, it's possible. It's absolutely possible. Less than, you know, 15 years ago, I was living in an apartment at 20 years old with my mom and my brother and my sister and my niece in a one bedroom apartment with no money to even pay the rent. That was only $800 and, like, just broke with nothing. But my brother and I were like, yo, this Fighting thing's kind of cool. Let's try it out. Then we go to a gym, we join a gym and allow ourselves to, like, be in it, you know, like, oh, we're learning, we're picking up. Should we do this? Yeah, let's get. Let's give it a shot. Okay. But we got to do our all. We gotta be dedicated. And then it's like that constant dedication to one thing and. And then along the lines, like, meeting people and just being dedicated to, like, we are going to get ourselves out of wherever we are today. However, we need to do it in a legal way, in a safe way, in a healthy way. We're going to get ourselves out of this one bedroom apartment, and we are going to just make something out of our lives.
- [87:42]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [87:42]
Daniel Cormier
And here I am today. And here we are today. And that's what I want, like, my kind of testimony to be for anybody who feels stuck, you know, like, stuck in the mud. Get out of the mud. There's ways I don't have the answers, but I have the experience of, like, I've done it, and I know that is the truth.
- [88:01]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [88:02]
Daniel Cormier
You get what I mean?
- [88:03]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [88:03]
Daniel Cormier
That's, like, the best way that I could put it.
- [88:04]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
It's awesome. Clue. I have one, two, two quick things. It's Monday after UFC 320. Right. You have fought your Prohaska and you've lost a fight. What are we telling people? What are we telling our supporters if it didn't go our way and it's Monday after the fight, or is that such a.
- [88:33]
Daniel Cormier
As of now? As of now, it's not even possible.
- [88:39]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah, I like that.
- [88:41]
Daniel Cormier
As of now, it's not possible. I don't even choose to, like, make it a reality. Yeah. So what I would say is, call me on Monday.
- [88:55]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
It's Monday after the fight, and you just beat Yuri Prochazka. What are we telling our supporters? Are we screaming from the mountaintop? I'm fighting for the belt next, and I'm gonna be the champ. Are we, Khalil Romtree Jr. We're operating with grace, and we're gonna see where everything falls.
- [89:16]
Daniel Cormier
My heart's leaning more towards the second option because there's still a lot more work that needs to be done after Yuri Prochazka. And I think no matter what, I kind of plan to go a little silent after this fight.
- [89:39]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Why? You will be. You'll be hot as you've ever been. You'll be. Your kerosene will be set to you. You win this fight, everybody will Be calling for you to fight for the belt. You can't disappear.
- [89:51]
Daniel Cormier
Won't disappear.
- [89:52]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Why do you want to go silent?
- [89:55]
Daniel Cormier
Because there's work to do.
- [89:56]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [89:57]
Daniel Cormier
There's work to do. Talk to me when I'm the champion.
- [90:00]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [90:01]
Daniel Cormier
You know, like, if just. There's work to do, dc, like, I gotta get the belt. And I know, like, people want to talk and, you know, and this and that. Like, but I have a dream. The dream is to be the champion. Not to talk to people, not to do these interviews, not to, like, my dream is to be the champion.
- [90:21]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [90:22]
Daniel Cormier
And, like, if you can respect that, then, like, then you can respect that. Like, after this fight, like, I'm chilling, you know, I'm enjoying what it's like to have of a holiday for once. And, like. You know what I mean? Like. Like, this will be. Like, I know that I'm not gonna fight for the rest of the year, so, like, this is my time for me.
- [90:42]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Yeah.
- [90:42]
Daniel Cormier
You know what I'm saying? Like, for me, man, I. I love the people, I love the support, but, like, there's 700 fighters on the roster, too. You know what I'm saying? Like, they can share that. The fans, they have a lot of fight cards, a lot of other title fights, a lot of, you know, I. Anticipation is good, but, like, as far as I go, like, I've been training my ass off getting ready to fight, you know, this. This dangerous guy, my. My life, my career, everything's on the line.
- [91:15]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
I think afterward, like, I think it'll suit you, too, because I think when guys are getting more. They. They weren't as present. Whenever you take a little break at times, it makes people long for you and want to see you, and I believe that it might be good for you, but I think that you get the job done. People will be calling to see you back in a title chance. Hey, man, thank you so much for joining me. You are the man, bro. Like, honestly.
- [91:41]
Daniel Cormier
Thank you, dude. Thank you.
- [91:43]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
It's inspiring, what you have been through. I used that in the opening. I said inspiring. This man is inspiring. I hope that you got something from Khalil Roundtree, because I absolutely did. He fights at UFC 320 next week. But just sitting here truly does propel me forward, and I'm a guy that doesn't struggle for inspiration. When I can take it from someone like this, it just makes me better in everything that I do in my life. So thanks to Khalil Romtree for joining me on the Daniel Cormier show, and thank you guys for always watching and supporting. Till next time. Like, and subscribe and tell your friends that we're doing stuff like this and we're sitting down with people like the Great Khalil Rountree Jr. Till next time. Peace.
- [92:29]
Daniel Cormier
Hey, this Matt Jones. I'm Drew Franklin and this is NFL Cover Zero. We're just here to try to give you an NFL perspective a little bit different. Did you see the Colts pretzel? That was my other big takeaway from that game. What was that? Oh, my. We think NFL coverage should be informative and entertaining. And twice a week, that is exactly what you're going to get. Listen NFL Cover 0 with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast or wherever you get your podcast.
- [93:02]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Hey everybody. Daniel Jeremiah here and I'm Bucky Brooks on Move to six.
- [93:06]
Daniel Cormier
We take you inside the game, from.
- [93:08]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Breaking down college prospects and NFL rookies.
- [93:11]
Daniel Cormier
To evaluating team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters.
- [93:16]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
We study the tape, talk to decision.
- [93:19]
Daniel Cormier
Makers, and give you a perspective you.
- [93:21]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Won'T find anywhere else.
- [93:22]
Daniel Cormier
It's everything you need to understand the why behind what happens on Sunday. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Sticks podcast.
- [93:30]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
On the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [93:35]
Daniel Cormier
Let's start with a quick puzzle. The answer is Ken Jennings appearance on the puzzler with A.J. jacobs. The question is, what is the most entertaining listening experience in podcast land Jeopardy Truthers believe in? I guess they would be conspiracy theorists. That's right. They give you the answers and you still blew it. The Puzzler listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Dan. He's Ty.
- [94:08]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Hello.
- [94:08]
Daniel Cormier
And we're the solid verbal college football Podcast. Tune in for previews, recaps, bits you won't hear anywhere else, and all the.
- [94:17]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Emotional support you need as a college football fan.
- [94:20]
Daniel Cormier
Join us all season long as we ride the roller coaster of this ridiculous sport. Listen to the solid verbal college football podcasts on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. We don't just love college football, Ty. We live it.
- [94:37]
Khalil Rountree Jr.
This is an iHeart podcast.