Modestas Bukauskas: 'It's do or die' vs. Khalil Rountree at UFC Fight Night 191

LAS VEGAS – Modestas Bukauskas will not hold back in his upcoming UFC bout.

The light heavyweight fighter is determined to leave it all in the cage against Khalil Rountree at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 191 at the UFC Apex. Bukauskas (11-4 MMA, 1-2 UFC) is coming off a controversial split decision loss to Michal Oleksiejczuk in March, which many thought he had won.

The 27-year-old Bukauskas finds himself on a two-fight losing skid, and he’s going to give it his all to get back in the win column against Rountree (8-5-1 MMA, 4-5-1 UFC).

“To me, it’s do or die,” Bukauskas explained. “It’s kill or be killed. I’m really embracing the true gladiator mentality. I have to go out there and do the job.

“For me it’s really just about embracing the whole environment. Every time I feel good energy, positive vibes, it’s just like, ‘You know what? Forget all that pressure. Forget all that and put yourself out there properly.’ That’s the way I want to fight and be able to bring the best out of myself and get that win.”

Bukauskas knows he’s got a tough task in front of him. He’s been watching Rountree for a long time now.

“It’s almost a situation where your idols become your rivals,” Bukauskas said. “I remember watching him on ‘The Ultimate Fighter,’ and I was like 21 or something. Me and my dad had our thing, our little ritual of watching ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ every week, and it’s like our father-son time. And yeah, we were watching Khalil.

“He’s very dangerous and very explosive. He was one of those guys that was really good. Now for him to be standing across the cage in front of me it’s like a wild moment to be fighting someone of that caliber. He’s very explosive and very powerful. It’s going to be an explosive matchup.”