Prediction: Khalil Rountree via Decision
Jiri’s whole game at the elite level has leaned heavily on pressure, volume, and just trusting his chin. He walks guys down, forces ugly exchanges, and usually his durability bails him out. In a five rounder, that kind of attrition style could give Rountree problems because Khalil has shown in the past that he can slow down over time. But in a three round fight, Jiri doesn’t get as much room to drag him into deep water, and that’s where the edge flips to Rountree.
Khalil’s a power striker with clean timing, and he’s added layers to his game with those brutal leg kicks and combinations. All of that is going to be on the table against Jiri, who’s not just hittable but hittable in ways that line up perfectly with what Rountree brings. Instead of Khalil being the one who has to survive an onslaught, it’s Jiri who’ll have to eat the shots and keep pressing forward and that’s not a gamble I like for him in a shorter fight.
At the end of the day, Jiri’s pressure and chin can only take him so far if he’s giving Rountree the exact openings he thrives on. Rountree’s power, timing, and ability to hammer those unchecked kicks make him the pick here.