I weighed 21 STONE, smoked every day and was on the verge of suicide before I discovered MMA. Now I'm fighting for UFC gold

KHALIL ROUNTREE JR is on the verge of becoming UFC champion – just over a decade and a half after he made the life-changing decision to try mixed martial arts.

Early Sunday morning, Rountree Jr. will attempt to become the new ruler of the promotion's stacked light heavyweight division.

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Standing between the Ultimate Fighter Season 23 contestant and the belt wrapped around his waist is the dominant champion Alex Pereira.

The pair will collide in the main event of UFC 307 in Salt Lake City, where Rountree Jr. can take the most unintended path to UFC gold.

Unlike many others in the UFC, Rountree Jr. didn't grow up wanting to be an MMA fighter.

In fact, he only started playing the sport when he realized he was at a crossroads in his life and his life Health.

After years of abusing his body with junk food, cigarettes and pills, Rountree Jr. weighed a staggering weight 21 STONE and no meaning in his life at the tender age of 19.

He was “on the verge of suicide” before discovering MMA and using it as a vehicle to change his life and leave something incredible behind SEVEN STONE.

And the 34-year-old is still coming to terms with how far he has come in life, let alone sport, ahead of the biggest moment of his career.

In an exclusive interview with SunSport, Rountree Jr said of his incredible journey: “It’s definitely crazy.”

“MMA gave me a place. Like a place, a home, where I can be. But I think, you know, even then, I’ve grown since then.”

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“And now it’s about continuing the journey. I went through these struggles and now I’m here.”

“And I've been here and it's really just about staying here and keeping the dream alive. Do you understand what I mean?

“Not just walking through the door, but doing something with it. So yeah, man, what a ride. What a ride, for sure.”

Rountree Jr. – whose father was murdered when he was a toddler – hopes a victory in the mountains of Salt Lake City will serve as inspiration for teenagers battling their own demons.

He said: “I want to leave as much impact and inspiration as possible so I’m not just doing this out of selfishness.”

“I want to use my platform and be a champion so I can give back to the people who have supported me and give back to my community.”

“We’ve seen it with several champions and I just think something like this has always been a dream for me.”

“That was one of the reasons I wanted to become champion, so I could make a difference.”

Winning the UFC gold medal would be the conclusion of a Hollywood-like story for Rountree Jr., who reflects on the magnitude of the situation he finds himself in this weekend.

So it's incredibly fitting that the man standing between him and immortality is a rising superstar with devastating punches Performance suitable for a Wonder Supervillain.

“It's a little bit of both,” he said when asked if he had allowed himself to reflect on the magnitude of Pereira's dethroning.

“The way I look at it is that I always thought it was possible to win against Alex. It was always possible for me.”

“And now we are approaching that time. And yes, it’s almost like a dream come true.”

“I mean, it's cool. Like I'm allowed to take on this challenge, you know?

“I'm going to face the bogeyman, and I'm ready for it, you know. I've always seen it that way. I’ve always seen that.”

“I am ready for this challenge and now we are here.”

What a ride

Khalil Rountree Jr. on his journey

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Dethroning Pereira as king of the light heavyweights has proven difficult so far, just ask former champions Jamahal Hill and Jiri Prochazka.

The 205-pound Brazilian powerhouse's performance isn't laughed at by Rountree Jr., who said, “I look at it and respect it.”

“And I think that’s what’s telling me to be ready the challenge. Because I think, “Wow, it seems like a difficult task.”

“And I like that. That's what we're here for, right?

“We are here to challenge ourselves and really test ourselves.

“So when I see the title reign and the things he went through, I definitely respect that.”

“And now it’s time to challenge it. Stylistically, I’ve always said from the beginning that I think it’s a great combination.”

“I think it’s definitely a duel for the fans. Especially if we both go in there and do what we do best. And everyone knows what that is.”

“It's a great duel. I think it’s a fight for the fans and I’m really preparing for that.”

Rountree Jr. knows it won't be an easy task to end Pereira's title reign, but is confident he can pull off one of the biggest upsets of the year.

“It ends with me victorious and new,” he said when asked how his first UFC title fight ended. “I mean, that’s the goal.

“That’s what I’ve worked for and that’s what I’m focused on.”

“So yeah, it ends with me victorious and walking home smiling with the belt around my shoulder and never taking it off.”

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