On October 5th 2024, UFC Light Heavyweight champion [#1] Alex ‘Poatan’ Pereira will be defending his title against a 15-fight UFC veteran, [#8] Khalil Rountree Jr. Rountree had a somewhat rocky start to his UFC career; however he is currently on five-fight win streak with four finishes. While Khalil is an underdog in this fight, with the current odds having Pereira as -500 favorite, Rountree’s Muay Thai skills and power make him a dangerous opponent to even such a decorated striker as Poatan. It will be an uphill battle for Khalil, but I am hoping to see an entertaining stand-up fight while it lasts.
I think Khalil Rountree is a great Muay Thai fighter and wonderful mental health advocate and inspirational person. During a press conference, he opened up about how he had struggled with being depressed and overweight in the past. This hits hard to home for a lot of people in the United States and worldwide. He’s a very relatable individual to so many of us out there. With mental health illnesses still having a stigma, it’s impressive to see a public figure being so open and emotional on live TV, regarding his life struggles with depression and obesity.
In regards to obesity, it is becoming extremely problematic in this country; it’s important to discuss the subject. The only way that we can help one another is to share our stories about our own struggles with others. A large number of the United States population suffers from both obesity and mental health issues.
The Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) first introduced the state of obesity report in 2004. Currently, 20 years later, the rates of obesity are on an incline in all age groups within the United States. Throughout the nation, 41.9 percent of adults are obese. In addition, 20 percent of children ages 2-19 are also obese. Since this report came out, the adult obesity rate has risen by 37 percent and the youth rate steadily inclined by 42 percent. By first acknowledging that there is an issue with obesity within the American people of the United States, that’s the start of helping to assist in the decrease of obesity rates.
With technology rapidly advancing, children are living a more sedentary lifestyle and lack necessary physical activity. A large number opt to play on their electronics quite frequently. Prior to having so much access to mobile technology, children used to spend more time outdoors being physically active.
Nowadays, the American diet in our country is so poor that it follows suit from parent to child. Then, poor eating habits are formed. Individuals who are obese often become depressed. This creates a comorbidity for them. Having a comorbidity means that longevity rates decrease in the person. With depression comes an increase in the possibility of becoming suicidal or being engaged in risky behaviors.
Now, especially after the pandemic children at young ages are attempting to commit suicide. This is due to an incline in depression among many in our country. School shootings are a constant reminder of the young adults in our country who are untreated for mental health care. There are a lot of children, as well as adults, who are untreated for mental illnesses. However, many of the school shooters happen to be young adults who are living with some form of mental illness. Unfortunately, they’re destroying their own lives and the lives of others, by not being treated.
Our own experiences and awareness is the only thing that we have to share with one another. The increase in people who advocate for mental health awareness will potentially encourage others to share their stories. This can create a domino effect which can more quickly help our society. With more public figures sharing their own struggles in life, such as mental illnesses, we can spread the word that it’s okay to be who we are. It’s okay to acknowledge that an individual has an illness. It is all right that they need to work on treating their specific illnesses. Persons living with mental health issues need to know how to cope with their issues. This in turn will bring them to live a healthier lifestyle. They need to understand their symptoms, the treatment needed, how to be compliant with care and medication if necessary.
Getting back to Khalil Rountree, he is a real man to share his story in front of millions of viewers during a press conference after a bout of his. It was distasteful for Sean Strickland to ridicule Khalil for discussing his previous struggles with depression as well as obesity. Rountree had always dreamed of being a UFC champion. I hope he makes that dream come true next weekend. Mr. Rountree is truly an inspirational gentleman!
MMA & Boxing Columnist | Business Development Consultant
I have been a fan and avid viewer of all combat sports for decades. I was once a Judoka, which is what eventually piqued my interest in Mixed Martial Arts. I have been a spectator of the UFC since 2001. For 25 years I’ve worked in healthcare, and now am trying to make something that was a hobby, into a full-time endeavor.