Khalil Rountree Jr.: Merab Dvalishvili sparred five rounds on UFC 320 fight day
UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili is built differently.
Dvalishvili (21-4 MMA, 14-2 UFC) defended his title for the third time this year by defeating Cory Sandhagen by unanimous decision last Saturday at UFC 320.
Khalil Rountree Jr., who shares the same head coach as Dvalishvili, was left speechless as he watched “The Machine” prepare on fight day.
“I promise you this is a 100% true story,” Rountree Jr. said on “The JAXXON PODCAST.” “At noon on fight day, Saturday, October 4, Merab fought five rounds in the cage – live on the day of his fight, because that’s exactly who he is. Five full rounds live at noon, not even half a day before he had to be in the arena putting on the biggest fight of his career. That’s just him. You can’t make it up.
“So being around that, it’s just a different experience. Most guys will sit in the hotel room or try to collect their thoughts, or maybe even take a bike ride on the assault bike to burn off some energy. I’ve never seen anyone in my life train five full rounds on the day they have to fight and go another five full rounds with Cory Sandhagen. Yeah, it’s a different breed.”
Former title challenger Rountree Jr. competed the same night, but fell short when he was finished by Jiri Prochazka. Rountree won the first two rounds before being eliminated in the third round.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Khalil Rountree Jr.: Merab Dvalishvili fought on UFC 320 fight day
