‘It’s sketchy taking supplements’… Former UFC champion weighs in on Khalil Rountree’s withdrawal from UFC 303 (2024)

Former middleweight king Robert Whittaker explains how Khalil Rountree Jr’s withdrawal from UFC 303 can be put down to ‘the nature of the beast’.

With 32 fights as a professional mixed martial artist and almost 12 years in the UFC, former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker is bringing his experience in the fight game to a rather unusual developing situation: Khalil Rountree Jr’s withdrawal from UFC 303.

Khalil Rountree Jr out of UFC 303 after banned substance consumption

The #8 ranked light heavyweight in the world announced on social media over the weekend that his fight against Jamahal Hill at UFC 303 has been canceled after he accidentally consumed a banned substance.

Rountree explained that whilst using a “personalized tailored supplement service,” the supplies inadvertently blended the order with DHEA, a banned substance, and it was only after consumption that ‘The War Horse’ was made aware.

Despite directly bringing the situation to the attention of the Anti-Doping Compliance board, Rountree stated that he was now under temporary suspension pending an investigation and that he’s withdrawn from the fight against Hill.

Robert Whittaker weighs in on Rountree Jr’s withdrawal from UFC 303

Speaking on the latest episode of the fantastic MMArcade podcast, the former UFC middleweight champion shared his take on the situation surrounding Khalil Rountree Jr and his withdrawal from the upcoming PPV card.

“I think this is just the nature of the beast,” argued Whittaker, stating that no matter the substance or situation surrounding supplement consumption, all UFC fighters are in the same boat and know to follow the same rules:

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“He’s not the only one that can’t take banned supplements, regardless of what your workaround is or what happened, you can’t take them – every single one of us on the roster understands that.”

“We understand that it’s sketchy taking supplements and that you cannot take certain things, and then you get these guys that pop hot because they went to a tailored supplement place; just get your Musashi off the shelf like everyone else.”

‘The Reaper’ explained that he feels sympathetic towards Rountree Jr for how the withdrawal has played out, noting that issues like this, whether accidental or otherwise, can have enormous and long-reaching consequences for a fighter’s career.

“If he’s honestly in the clear with all good intentions, and he was misinformed through some third party, I feel for him because they’ve just taken a huge chunk out of his career, a huge chunk of his reputation.”

“They’ve really tarnished his career now, but once you pop hot, for better or worse, that’s it dude.”

Yet despite Rountree Jr appearing to have the support of the MMA community in this matter, many are forgetting that the issue doesn’t just impact ‘The War Horse’, but Jamahal Hill too.

The former light heavyweight champion has not only lost the opportunity for another lucrative payday following his saving of UFC 300’s main event, but also the chance to bounce back into title contention against a surging contender.

“Once you pop hot, your reputation is under the drain, and you can’t get that back… [But] I was so ready to see that fight, they’ll fill it – trust me for a Conor card they’ll fill it.”

Whittaker shared that the UFC will likely “make something happen” to keep Jamahal Hill on that UFC 303 card in June, with two names being thrown out; Jiri Prochazka and Jan Blachowicz.

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Robert Whittaker will return to action one week before UFC 303

Whittaker himself will step back into the octagon just seven days before UFC 303 goes down on June 29, as he takes on undefeated phenom Khamzat Chimaev from the Kingdom Arena in Saudi Arabia.

Speaking to former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson via his official YouTube channel, the Australian explained that when thinking about his upcoming opponent, “I think impressed is the wrong word.”

“I think he’s a good fighter, and I think he’s got a great headspace for the craft, and he knows what he does well, and he goes out there with undoubted confidence in what he can do. And that makes a very dangerous recipe.”

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“But it also something that, if it gets shaken, then you don’t know which way the cards are going to fall. So, I’m looking forward to testing that, to see how big the hype is.”

“I think it’s going be a hard fight [and] I want to take that same mentality into this fight, and look to take him to war, and just earn this win,” he stated, later adding that a win should secure him a title shot.

Whittaker vs Chimaev goes down on June 22 and hopefully, Jamahal Hill can keep his place on the UFC 303 card as the promotion looks to find a replacement opponent.

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