Khalil Rountree Biography: Wife, Age, Net Worth, Height, Parents, Career, Record

Khalil Ibn Rountree Jr., nicknamed “The War Horse,” is an American mixed martial artist in the UFC Light Heavyweight division.

Known for his Muay Thai striking, he ranks #4 as of June 24, 2025, with seven knockouts and 14 knockdowns, both among the highest in division history.

His career highlights include a title challenge against Alex Pereira at UFC 307 and a decisive win over former champion Jamahal Hill.

Profile

• Full Name: Khalil Ibn Rountree Jr.
• Stage Name: The War Horse
• Born: 26, February 1990
• Age: 35 years old
• Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Professional Mixed Martial Artist
• Height: 1.85m
• Parents: Khalil Rountree Sr., Mrs. Rountree
• Siblings: Unknown
• Spouse: Mia Kang (m. 2024)
• Children: None
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $1 million to $2 million

Early Life and Education

Khalil Ibn Rountree Jr. was born on February 26, 1990, in Los Angeles, California, to Khalil Rountree Sr. and an unnamed mother.

At age two, he faced tragedy when his father, a security professional who worked with Muhammad Ali and as tour manager for Boyz II Men, was killed in an attempted robbery.

This loss shaped Rountree’s early years, leading him to become introverted and view the world as a “dark place.”

Details about his education are limited, but he began training in mixed martial arts in 2010 for weight loss, which sparked his fighting career.

His ethnicity is African American, and his religious beliefs are not publicly disclosed.

Career

Rountree started his MMA journey as an amateur in 2011, compiling a 6-1 record under Tuff-N-Uff and King of the Cage banners, primarily as a middleweight.

He turned professional in 2014 with Resurrection Fighting Alliance (RFA), debuting with a unanimous decision win over Livingston Lukow at RFA 15.

He went 4-0 in RFA, securing knockouts against Blake Troop and Justin Polendey, and a decision win over Cameron Olson.

In 2016, Rountree joined The Ultimate Fighter 23 for the Light Heavyweight title, reaching the semifinals but losing via submission to Cory Hendricks.

His UFC debut at the TUF 23 Finale against Andrew Sanchez resulted in a unanimous decision loss.

Early UFC struggles included a submission loss to Tyson Pedro in 2016 and a decision loss to Michał Oleksiejczuk in 2017.

However, Rountree found his stride with back-to-back first-round knockouts against Daniel Jolly and Paul Craig in 2017, followed by a Performance of the Night knockout over Gökhan Saki at UFC 226 in 2018.

Rountree’s career faced setbacks with knockout losses to Johnny Walker (2018) and Ion Cuțelaba (2019), and a planned fight with Sam Alvey in 2020 was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

After contemplating retirement, he signed a UFC contract extension in October 2020 and embarked on a five-fight win streak, including knockouts over Marcin Prachnio (2021), Modestas Bukauskas (2021), Karl Roberson (2022), Chris Daukaus (2023), and Anthony Smith (2023), each earning Performance of the Night bonuses.

His unanimous decision win over Dustin Jacoby in 2022 further solidified his resurgence.

On October 5, 2024, Rountree challenged Alex Pereira for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship at UFC 307, winning the first two rounds but losing via fourth-round TKO, earning his first Fight of the Night award.

He rebounded with a dominant unanimous decision victory over former champion Jamahal Hill on June 21, 2025, at UFC on ABC 8, using leg kicks and two third-round knockdowns to secure a 50-45 scoreline.

Rountree is scheduled to face former champion Jiří Procházka at UFC 320 on October 4, 2025, aiming to climb closer to another title shot.

His record stands at 14-6 with 1 no-contest, with nine knockouts and four decision wins.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @khalilrountree
• Facebook Handle: Khalil Rountree Jr.
• Twitter Handle: @khalilrountree

Personal Life

Khalil Rountree Jr. married model Mia Kang on January 1, 2024, following a period of dating that drew public attention due to their contrasting yet complementary careers in sports and fashion.

As of June 2025, the couple has not welcomed any children, and there are no public records or confirmations regarding Rountree’s past relationships or girlfriends, as he has generally kept his romantic life private before his marriage.

The couple resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, where Rountree continues to focus on his mixed martial arts career while Kang balances her modeling work and wellness advocacy, establishing themselves as a supportive and private pair in the public eye.

Net Worth

Khalil Rountree Jr.’s net worth is estimated between $1 million and $2 million, primarily derived from his UFC career.

He reportedly earns a base salary of about $55,000 per fight, supplemented by $50,000 bonuses for Performance of the Night and Fight of the Night.