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Tag: Alex Pereira

  • Sean Strickland Set To Join Alex Pereira’s Camp For UFC 307 Title Defense

    Sean Strickland Set To Join Alex Pereira’s Camp For UFC 307 Title Defense

    UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira will have the help of an ex-opponent ahead of his return in Salt Lake City.

    Pereira has had a bumper 2024 thus far, firmly putting himself in Fighter of the Year contention by recording consecutive successful title defenses in major main events at UFC 300 and UFC 303.

    “Poatan” leapt to the promotion’s rescue on both occasions, first when other avenues for the milestone April pay-per-view didn’t come to fruition and then when Conor McGregor pulled out of International Fight Week on late notice.

    The Brazilian boosted his stock at the expense of Jamahal Hill and Jiří Procházka, both of whom fell to the same violent fate to ensure Pereira’s continued reign on the throne at 205 pounds.

    And Pereira is far from done with his high level of activity. He’s set to to return at the Utah-held UFC 307 event on October 5, a PPV he’ll headline against a surprise challenger in the #8-ranked Khalil Rountree.

    To prepare, “Poatan” is seeking help from a man who has not exactly seen eye to eye with Rountree in recent years…

    Pereira Seeks Aid Of Former Opponent Strickland For UFC 307 Defense

    Much is often said about the challenges of fighting in the conditions brought with it by Salt Lake City’s elevation. As a result, fighters usually head out early to acclimatize.

    That’s currently the case for Pereira, whose latest YouTube video detailed his early training sessions in the “Beehive State” after arriving with his team a few weeks out from UFC 307. Among those with him is head coach Glover Teixeira, fellow UFC 307 fighter César Almeida, and his sister Aline Pereira.

    That group will also soon be joined by much different character in former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland. Since “Poatan” knocked the American out back in 2022, the pair have formed a friendship and even trained together.

    Pereira revealed during his video that Strickland is set to arrive in Salt Lake City to aid in his preparations this week.

    While “Tarzan” has never shared the cage with Rountree, the pair do appear to have some animosity stemming from Strickland’s reaction to “War Horse’s” emotional post-fight speech at the Apex back in 2022.

  • ‘Pereira Shoots On Khalil’ – Rountree’s Coach Makes Bold Prediction Ahead Of UFC 307 Title Fight

    ‘Pereira Shoots On Khalil’ – Rountree’s Coach Makes Bold Prediction Ahead Of UFC 307 Title Fight

    With UFC 306 done and dusted, fans look forward to witnessing the return of Alex Pereira. The UFC light heavyweight kingpin bagged the title in November 2023 and has already defended it twice against Jamahal Hill at UFC 300 and Jiří Procházka at UFC 303.

    Although the consensus was that Magomed Ankalaev should be next in line for the light heavyweight belt, the UFC has handed Khalil Rountree a shot at “Poatan”. Ankalaev, on the other hand, will look to solidify his claim to the title by beating Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 308.

    Rountree and Pereira are known for their striking prowess, but the former’s coach believes that the champion may resort to wrestling at UFC 307…

    Khalil Rountree’s Coach Explains Why Alex Pereira Is More Likely To Shoot For A Takedown At UFC 307

    John Wood, Syndicate MMA’s head coach, recently discussed Rountree’s title fight on the official ESPN MMA YouTube channel. Like “The War Horse”, he admitted that shooting takedowns is not part of their strategy.

    Wood agreed with interviewer Brett Okamoto that the UFC 307 main event will most likely be a stand-up battle, with both fighters focusing on landing knockout blows rather than combinations. However, he also revealed his gut feeling that Pereira will shoot a takedown on Rountree.

    “In a nutshell, yes. I believe, honestly, my gut, I think Pereira shoots on Khalil. I think he’s the one that breaks game first and shoots on Khalil to try to get that takedown. Um, because that’s actually something he’s done. I mean we ain’t shooting over here I can tell you that.”

    While Rountree has yet to shoot for a takedown in his entire UFC career, Pereira once relied on wrestling when he took down Israel Adesanya at UFC 281. Based on this, Wood predicts that “Poatan” might try to take Rountree down if he feels threatened on the feet.

    Another point that the coach emphasized is that the fight is unlikely to last five rounds. The light heavyweights possess dangerous knockout power and only need one shot to end the bout.

    It is worth noting that Wood also coaches Merab Dvalishvili who just won the UFC bantamweight title against Sean O’Malley at UFC 306. The Syndicate MMA team must be high on confidence which could benefit Rountree before arguably the biggest fight of his career.

  • Former Opponent Backs ‘More Violent’ Khalil Rountree To Upset Alex Pereira At UFC 307

    Former Opponent Backs ‘More Violent’ Khalil Rountree To Upset Alex Pereira At UFC 307

    A retired fighter who boasts a win over Khalil Rountree wouldn’t be surprised if he unseats Alex Pereira from the UFC light heavyweight throne.

    Pereira, who also previously held gold on MMA’s biggest stage at middleweight, has ruled over the 205-pound division since capturing the then-vacant title in November 2023.

    He stopped Jiří Procházka on that occasion and has since repeated the feat in their International Fight Week rematch, in addition to also defending the belt against Jamahal Hill at UFC 300.

    “Poatan’s” high activity won’t be coming to a halt as he gears up for his third title defense of 2024 at the UFC 307 pay-per-view in Salt Lake City, Utah early next month. To the surprise of many, his next challenger will be the #8-ranked Rountree, who most recently extended his winning run to five by knocking out Anthony Smith last December.

    “The War Horse” has been branded undeserving by some in the community and will unsurprisingly enter his first PPV main event as a sizable underdog. But someone with experience sharing the cage with him insists he can’t be counted out…

    Tyson Pedro Predicts Rountree To Beat Pereira In Utah

    During a recent interview with the Kairouz Bros, former UFC light heavyweight prospect Tyson Pedro was asked to give his prediction for the next title fight in the division he formerly competed in.

    The Australian made an emphatic Octagon debut as an undefeated fighter back in November 2016, submitting Rountree in the first round at a Melbourne-held UFC Fight Night.

    While he’ll be willing “The War Horse” on to become champ due to his past victory over him, Pedro legitimately believes that the 32-year-old’s edge in “mentality” could pave the way for a surprise title crowning in the “Beehive State.”

    “Is he fighting Alex? … That’s a mad fight,” Pedro said. “That’s a hard one (to predict). I think Khalil’s more aggressive and violent in his approach, as of recently. if you see his (fights), it feels like he wants to kill the people now. … I don’t know if I can go against — you know what, I’m gonna go Khalil because of mentality.

    “I think Pereira’s on a bit of (a high) and he’s just chilling. Once you get content — that’s the only reason I’m saying it. But I’ll go Khalil on that,” Pedro continued. “And also, I want him to win so then I can say I beeat him. Technically I’m the champ! MMA math!”

    Pereira and Rountree’s title clash will top a stacked lineup in Salt Lake City to kick off October. In addition to another championship bout between Raquel Pennington and Julianna Peña, the likes of Kayla Harrison, José Aldo, Kevin Holland, and Stephen Thompson will all return to the cage.

  • What’s Next After UFC 306? Full Confirmed UFC 307 Main Card For Salt Lake City On October 5

    What’s Next After UFC 306? Full Confirmed UFC 307 Main Card For Salt Lake City On October 5

    UFC 306 (Noche UFC) is in the books, meaning attention will soon turn to the mixed martial arts leader’s next pay-per-view offering.

    The promotion was in Las Vegas last week, where the unique Sphere venue played host to a number of intriguing matchups for its latest major card in the “Fight Capital of the World.” Of note were title wins for Merab Dvalishvili and Valentina Shevchenko, as well as the biggest victory to date for surging fan favorite Diego Lopes.

    While the aftermath of the September 14 card is currently the talk of the town, it won’t be long until focus sways to the next PPV, and from the bantamweight title picture to the 205-pound championship conversation.

    At UFC 307, set for the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah on October 5, reigning light heavyweight kingpin Alex Pereira will compete for the third time this year, once again in defense of the gold. Following knockouts of Jamahal Hill and Jiří Procházka, “Poatan” will next face a surprise challenger in the #8-ranked Khalil Rountree.

    There will also be title stakes in the co-headliner, as bantamweight queen Raquel Pennington returns for her first defense. “Rocky” is set to meet the challenge of a former champion and fellow TUF 18 competitor in Julianna Peña.

    Sterling, Harrison, Holland Set The Stage For Title Headliners At UFC 307

    Before Pereira and Pennington defend their belts in the “Beehive State,” a number of other high-profile names will take to the Octagon looking to make the most of their position on the major card.

    That includes former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling, who is looking to keep his ball rolling at 145 pounds following a successful divisional debut opposite Calvin Kattar earlier this year. To keep his pursuit of two-weight glory alive, “Funk Master” must blemish the perfect record of #6-ranked contender Movsar Evloev.

    Prior to that, another notable name will look to stake her claim for a shot at championship glory on MMA’s biggest stage as two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time PFL title winner Kayla Harrison makes her sophomore Octagon appearance. After submitting Holly Holm on debut at UFC 300, the former judoka will look to go two for two at the expense of Ketlen Vieira in Salt Lake City.

    And opening the main card will be the always entertaining Kevin Holland, whose second outing since returning to middleweight sees him matched up against top-10 competition in the form of Roman Dolidze.

    Those pairings have gotten the nod to feature on the main card over a number of prominent names on the prelims, including Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, José Aldo, and Carla Esparza.

    See below for the full UFC 305 card, as it stands.

    Main Card:

    • Alex Pereira (C) vs. Khalil Rountree (light heavyweight championship main event)
    • Raquel Pennington (C) vs. Julianna Peña (women’s bantamweight championship co-main event)
    • Movsar Evloev vs. Aljamain Sterling (bantamweight)
    • Ketlen Vieira vs. Kayla Harrison (women’s bantamweight)
    • Roman Dolidze vs. Kevin Holland (middleweight)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Stephen Thompson vs. Joaquin Buckley (welterweight)
    • Nate Landwehr vs. Austin Hubbard (lightweight)
    • Carla Esparza vs. Tecia Pennington (women’s strawweight)
    • José Aldo vs. Mario Bautista (bantamweight)
    • Ryan Spann vs. Ovince Saint Preux (light heavyweight)
    • Mauricio Ruffy vs. TBD (lightweight)
    • Marina Rodriguez vs. Iasmin Lucindo (women’s strawweight)
    • Court McGee vs. Tim Means (welterweight)
    • Ihor Potieria vs. Cesar Almeida (middleweight)
    Kayla Harrison & Holly Holm
    Image: Cooper Neill/UFC/Zuffa LLC
  • UFC’s Mario Bautista Predicts Fantasy Jon Jones, Alex Pereira, & Tom Aspinall Tournament (Exclusive)

    UFC’s Mario Bautista Predicts Fantasy Jon Jones, Alex Pereira, & Tom Aspinall Tournament (Exclusive)

    The next UFC heavyweight title fight would appear to be pitting arguably the greatest of all time against the best fighter we have seen in this weight class inside the Octagon.

    Despite the pedigree that both Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic bring to the table, there are two other names that the majority of fans would rather see face off with “Bones”.

    Interim champion Tom Aspinall is seen by many as the future of the division and with his speed and ability to finish fights, he’s a test that many want to see Jones face.

    Though he may have never competed at this weight, the idea of seeing light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira move up is another incredibly enticing prospect following the run that he has been on, which has turned him into one of the biggest names in the sport.

    Mario Bautista Gives His Take On How Alex Pereira, Tom Aspinall & Jon Jones Match Up

    At UFC 307, Mario Bautista is set to share the card with “Poatan” who will be defending his light heavyweight title in the main event against Khalil Rountree.

    Elsewhere on the main card, Bautista is set to take on his biggest challenge to date when he faces off with a legend of the game in Brazil’s José Aldo.

    The bantamweight contender spoke in a recent interview with MMA News about whether he thinks Pereira would be able to mix it up with the heavyweight division’s two current champions.

    He explained why, in his opinion, Aspinall would be the tougher match-up for the elite striker at 205-pounds.

    “It’s hard to say, it’s very interesting you know. He has that power and I think Jon Jones did fight at 205 too so I’d give him a shot at Jon Jones. Tom Aspinall, he can move pretty fast for how big he is so that’s the iffy one for me.”

    In a follow-up question, Bautista was asked whether this means that based on MMA math, he would also pick Aspinall to beat Jones, therefore seeing him come out on top in this little fantasy round-robin tournament.

    “I think he could. Tom Aspinall, for how big he is and how fast he moves, I don’t think Jon Jones has kind of seen anything like that so I would go with Tom on that one.”

    Read also: Gilbert Burns Addresses Future After Third Straight UFC Loss: ‘Nothing Was Good…I’ve Got To Rethink’

  • Chael Sonnen Exposes Alex Pereira’s ‘Condescending Big Brother Play’ Against Israel Adesanya By Calling Out Dricus Du Plessis

    Chael Sonnen Exposes Alex Pereira’s ‘Condescending Big Brother Play’ Against Israel Adesanya By Calling Out Dricus Du Plessis

    Dricus Du Plessis became the first fighter to submit Israel Adesanya at UFC 305. Soon after, former kingpin Alex Pereira teased his return to the middleweight division. For any of this to become reality, “Poatan” naturally needs to beat Khalil Rountree at UFC 307 first.

    Fans and Dana White have acknowledged Pereira’s plans to move down a weight class. The CEO is impressed by the UFC light heavyweight champion’s willingness to fight wherever, whenever, and whoever. He claimed that this trait makes Pereira such a massive star.

    However, Chael Sonnen believes that Pereira calling out Du Plessis is not personal but more about gaining an indirect edge over Israel Adesanya…

    Chael Sonnen Sees Alex Pereira Defeating Dricus Du Plessis As ‘Final Nail In The Coffin Of His Rivalry With Adesanya’

    In the latest episode of Good Guy / Bad Guy on the ESPN MMA YouTube channel, Daniel Cormier and Sonnen discussed how likely Pereira is to move down to middleweight. Both hosts think that Du Plessis coming up to light heavyweight for this fight makes far more sense.

    “Like, if you’re seeking a championship and you could have it at 205 pounds, 185 is beneath you and not to mention, DDP could have laughed this off and said, wait a minute, you’re telling me the guy knocked out by the guy that I just finished in the third round is threatening to come back to a division that he already ran away from. Come on down, I mean, because, no, this is never going to happen. Alex was not sincere, now he is sincerely tough and he will fight anybody but he can’t make 185 pounds.”

    The former UFC heavyweight champ highlighted that “Poatan” won’t be at his best because of the brutal weight cut for middleweight. On top of that, Du Plessis should not be overlooked as his unconventional style has done wonders until now.

    According to “The American Gangster”, Pereira’s potential return to middleweight is unrelated to UFC gold. Instead, he aims to get a win over the fighter who just beat Adesanya, arguably the most important rival of his career.

    “Make sure you don’t miss the play here. Like, Alex is tough and he will fight anybody but the play here was a final nail in the coffin of his rivalry with Adesanya. This was a big brother play. This was to be condescending. This was to say, you couldn’t deal, hey, big brother’s got your back.”

    Interestingly, alongside three wins over “The Last Stylebender” across kickboxing and MMA, Pereira has defeated Sean Strickland and Jan Blachowicz who’ve beaten Adesanya previously.

    Cormier and Sonnen also highlighted that Du Plessis’ strong wrestling and Pereira’s reduced power at middleweight could also work against the latter. For all these reasons, he should avoid moving down a weight class and continue racking up title defenses at light heavyweight where he’s been knocking out most opponents with ease.

  • Former Champ Cautions Alex Pereira: Don’t Overlook ‘Kickboxer Killer’ Khalil Rountree

    Former Champ Cautions Alex Pereira: Don’t Overlook ‘Kickboxer Killer’ Khalil Rountree

    Michael Bisping recently warned Alex Pereira, urging him not to underestimate the formidable threat that Khalil Rountree brings to their upcoming clash.

    “Poatan” is preparing for his third light heavyweight title defense in 2024, as he is set to square off against Rountree in the main event of UFC 307, scheduled for October 5 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

    Pereira has been an indomitable force since storming into the 205-pound division, kicking things off with a decisive win over Jan Blachowicz at UFC 291. His meteoric rise continued as he claimed the vacant light heavyweight title with a dominant victory over Jiri Prochazka at UFC 295.

    From there, the Brazilian striking phenom wasted no time solidifying his reign, successfully defending his belt twice in just two months. His most recent triumph came with a second-round knockout of Prochazka in their rematch at UFC 303.

    As for Rountree, many have raised concerns about the fight, citing “The War Horse’s” suspension for the consumption of the banned substance Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), which is set to end on September 18. Meanwhile, others contend that Magomed Ankalaev would have been a more deserving challenger for Pereira’s title.

    However, “The Count” believes that Rountree possesses the complete arsenal needed to threaten Pereira’s striking-centric style…

    Bisping Uncertain About Pereira’s Chances Facing Rountree

    In a recent video on his YouTube channel, Bisping weighed in on ‘Poatan’s’ callout of UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis. The UFC Hall of Famer was quick to point out that Pereira has a more immediate challenge looming in the form of Rountree, one he can’t afford to overlook.

    “He’s the light heavyweight champion of the world,” Bisping said. “Being the light heavyweight champion comes with some responsibility. Now, as I said, first and foremost, number one, he’s got people to fight already—he’s fighting Khalil Rountree. You cannot look past killer Khalil. He’s the kickboxer killer, he really is. Think about this: he beat Gokhan Saki, a very good kickboxer who transitioned to MMA, and Dustin Jacoby, another excellent Glory kickboxer who moved to MMA. Could he do the same to Alex Pereira? I don’t know—it’s a tough ask.

    Widely regarded as one of the most dangerous strikers in MMA, Pereira’s legacy as a two-division Glory Kickboxing champion strikes fear into opponents. While conventional wisdom suggests that wrestling is the blueprint to topple him, Rountree sees things differently.

    Though Rountree doesn’t dispute the wrestling strategy, he’s made it clear that he wants to keep the fight standing and deliver a striking masterclass.

  • ONE Muay Thai Champion Jonathan Haggerty Lists Best Strikers In The UFC

    ONE Muay Thai Champion Jonathan Haggerty Lists Best Strikers In The UFC

    Jonathan Haggerty recently revealed his picks for who he believes are the top strikers in the UFC.

    Over the course of UFC history, a multitude of elite strikers have etched their names into the sport’s legacy. Icons like Anderson Silva, Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipović, and José Aldo not only defined their eras but revolutionized the art of striking.

    However, the current generation of fighters has evolved alongside the ever-changing landscape of mixed martial arts, showcasing even more refined and diverse striking repertoires.

    As a reigning ONE bantamweight Muay Thai and kickboxing champion with elite striking prowess, it’s no surprise that Haggerty keeps a close eye on the sport. His expertise gives him a sharp understanding of the top fighters in the world’s premier MMA organization, making his opinions on striking particularly insightful…

    Haggerty Says Strikers Are Best Suited For UFC Championships

    During a recent interview with talkSPORT MMA, Haggerty was asked to share who he believes are the most elite strikers to ever grace the UFC Octagon. “The General” wasted no time in naming former middleweight king Israel Adesanya, former strawweight champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk, and former flyweight titleholder Valentina Shevchenko, alongside a list of other accomplished UFC champions.

    “I think the strikers are mainly all the champions,” Haggerty said. “I quite like Adesanya. Joanna Jędrzejczyk, she was great. Valentina Shevchenko, she was an amazing fighter. Alex Pereira, you know, he’s very lethal. I think being a stand-up striker, all the fights start on their feet, so we get the head start, really. I think Sean O’Malley’s there as well.”

    He also went on to say that if he had to choose one MMA champion across promotions who he’d like to challenge for the belt, it would be UFC’s bantamweight king O’Malley.

    However, “The General” did mention that he is very happy at ONE Championship, where he is preparing to defend his bantamweight Muay Thai title in a highly anticipated showdown against the current ONE flyweight kickboxing champion, Superlek, in the main event of ONE 168: Denver this weekend.

    Haggerty is riding the momentum of an impressive seven-fight win streak, with his only two setbacks in his ONE Championship career coming at the hands of the formidable Rodtang Jitmuangnon.

  • ‘Colby Covington With An Afrikaans Accent’ – MMA Fans Hammer Du Plessis After He Proposes Pereira vs. Strickland Title Eliminator

    ‘Colby Covington With An Afrikaans Accent’ – MMA Fans Hammer Du Plessis After He Proposes Pereira vs. Strickland Title Eliminator

    UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis could well have his next two title defenses already laid out in front of him if he keeps hold of the belt.

    After earning his first successful defense by submitting Israel Adesanya at UFC 305, a rematch is seemingly on the cards for his new challenge.

    Sean Strickland and Du Plessis fought to a very close split decision at UFC 297 to kick off the year where “Stillknocks” became champion.

    However, another challenger looms overhead at this time as Alex Pereira is apparently planning to move back down to middleweight for one more fight, after his light heavyweight title defense at UFC 307.

    Given the fact that Strickland and Pereira have become friends after they met inside the Octagon at UFC 276, Du Plessis suggested that they should fight each other for the number one contender status rather than challenging him one after the other.

    MMA Fans React To Dricus Du Plessis Calling The Middleweight Shots

    The fans on social media didn’t respond well to Du Plessis’ call for Strickland and Pereira to run it back, which isn’t necessarily surprising given the large and vocal fan bases of both fighters.

    Though some were complimenting the champion’s trash talk, many didn’t see why “Poatan” would possibly fight anyone but the titleholder at this stage.

    “Makes literally no sense. Alex would immediately get a title shot if he wanted being he’s the champ and has already been the MW champ before. Silly to even say this”

    “New champions always talk like they run the UFC. It’s f***** annoying.”

    “alex and a contender fight do not go together”

    “DDP just says stupid s*** and idiots eat it up. He’s Colby Covington with an Afrikaans accent.”

    https://twitter.com/tony2studs/status/1830952520522621286

    “Bro is scared af. There’s absolutely no reason alex should be fighting Sean lmao”

    “Damn dricus low key a decent s*** talker”

    “doesnt make sense considering that Pereira is a champ who already beat strickland”

    https://twitter.com/RawEggBrah/status/1831261874941317135

    Read also: Demetrious Johnson Gives Stamp Of Approval To UFC Champion

  • Alex Pereira Reiterates Plan For Middleweight Return Post-UFC 307, Magomed Ankalaev Reacts With Anger

    Alex Pereira Reiterates Plan For Middleweight Return Post-UFC 307, Magomed Ankalaev Reacts With Anger

    It would appear that UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira’s middleweight tease last month was not a spur-of-the-moment decision.

    Pereira’s first taste of title success on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage came at 185 pounds, where he unseated Israel Adesanya in late 2022. Having fallen short in his first defense, “Poatan” bid farewell to the division and ventured up to 205 pounds.

    Since then, the Brazilian has tasted nothing but success, capturing the light heavyweight gold in his sophomore outing in the division last year and recording two successful defenses at the expense of Jamahal Hill and Jiří Procházka this year.

    Pereira’s next task will be dispatching the third challenger to his current reign, with the former Glory Kickboxing champion set to headline UFC 307 in Salt Lake City against Khalil Rountree early next month.

    But defeating “The War Horse” isn’t the only thing on Pereira’s mind.

    Prior to his next matchup being announced, “Poatan” teased a surprise return to middleweight, calling out champ Dricus Du Plessis in the immediate aftermath of his victory over Adesanya at UFC 305 in Perth, Australia in August.

    Despite having business to attend to at light heavyweight for the time being, Pereira recently took to social media to reiterate that he has one eye on the South African, whom he plans on pursuing regardless of the result inside Delta Center on October 5.

    “I’m focused on my next fight and I’m going prepared but you never know what can happen, so regardless of the result I want to go down one more time to the middleweight and go for the belt,” Pereira wrote. “Hey Dricus, bring your will to fight me so you can prove that you are better than me, with your public statement it is easy to make this happen, Chama 🔥”

    Ankalaev Slams Pereira In Response To Fresh MW Ambitions: ‘You Are Weak!’

    One man who was quick to take aim at Pereira for his callout of Du Plessis last month was Magomed Ankalaev, the current #2-ranked light heavyweight contender.

    The Dagestani has been calling for his shot ever since the champ’s quick knockout of Hill at UFC 300. But after being passed up in favor of “BJP” this past July and the lower-ranked Rountree this fall, many have questioned the promotion’s apparent reluctance to grant Ankalaev a shot.

    And although it appears that a victory over Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi late next month would make his claim undeniable, Pereira’s newfound ambitions of a second middleweight reign could present yet another hurdle.

    That fact has unsurprisingly frustrated Ankalaev, who took to X shortly after Pereira’s post to brand him “weak” for continuing to avoid him.

    “You are so weak @AlexPereiraUFC you only pick on the guys who are in lower division than you and you think you can beat them people are not stupid there is a reason why you are fighting Khalil and not me,” Ankalaev wrote.

    For now, both Pereira and Ankalaev have opponents to deal with in October. Should the latter emerge victorious, calls for him to be placed opposite “Poatan” next time out will no doubt only increase.

  • Former Khalil Rountree Training Partner Predicts First-Round Knockout For ‘Guy Of The Moment’ Alex Pereira

    Former Khalil Rountree Training Partner Predicts First-Round Knockout For ‘Guy Of The Moment’ Alex Pereira

    The main event of UFC 307 is sure to be an exciting contest while it lasts as knockout artists compete for the light heavyweight title in Salt Lake City.

    Many were surprised to see Khalil Rountree get the next shot at Alex Pereira’s title but in some ways, the match-up speaks for itself.

    A lot is going to be made from now up to October 5 about Rountree’s comments regarding his willingness to stand and strike with the former GLORY kickboxer.

    Despite rating his skills as a fighter and his conduct as a person, a former training partner of his isn’t sure that he can hang in there against “Poatan”.

    Carlos Prates Can’t See How Khalil Rountree Will Compete With Alex Pereira On The Feet

    In a recent interview with Sherdog.com, breakout welterweight Carlos Prates gave his thoughts on the main event clash at 205 pounds.

    As someone who has spent some time in the company of Rountree, he was able to give an educated prediction for this fight.

    Prates, like many, simply doesn’t believe that Rountree will be able to have success when striking with Pereira, even if he has been very effective on the feet.

    The 170-pounder picked out Magomed Ankalaev, who many expected would be next for the title shot, as the only fighter that might be able to cause Pereira some problems, likely due to his grappling game.

    “To be honest, I train before with Khalil Rountree. He’s a nice guy, he’s a good fighter but I don’t think he can fight with ‘Poatan’. ‘Poatan’ is a different level of striking. I also see an interview of Khalil, he saying he have no plans to try take down so I think he, the first round, ‘Poatan’ gonna knock him out and that’s it. In light heavyweight, maybe Ankalaev can fight good against him but that’s it. Other guys, I don’t think they win the fight against ‘Poatan’. now ‘Poatan’ is the guy of the moment, the guy of the UFC right now.”

    Read also: Khalil Rountree Receives Lighter Sentence After Self-Reporting PED Usage

  • Khalil Rountree Says He Would Fire His Coaches If They Insisted He Grapple Alex Pereira

    Khalil Rountree Says He Would Fire His Coaches If They Insisted He Grapple Alex Pereira

    Khalil Rountree has made it pretty clear that if he’s going to leave UFC 307 on October 5 with the light heavyweight title, and he’s going to do it with his striking skills.

    The title challenger is a very skilled and dangerous stand-up fighter who has finished four of the five wins on his current streak.

    However, standing with most opponents and standing with Alex Pereira are two extremely different prospects.

    The current 205-pound champion and former GLORY kickboxing legend is one of the best strikers that we have seen inside the Octagon, meaning that if there’s a best path to victory against him, it’s to avoid the striking range altogether.

    Rountree wouldn’t even consider this as a potential backup plan because it’s not who he is as a fighter.

    Khalil Rountree Says Coaches Asking Him To Grapple Would Show Lack Of Confidence

    In a recent interview with former middleweight champion Michael Bisping on his YouTube channel, “The Count” posed a question to Rountree about his strategy for this fight.

    Bisping asked what his thoughts would be if his coach were to come to the title challenger and suggest that for this fight, they implement a grappling-focused game plan because it’s the weaker part of Pereira’s game.

    Rountree responded by saying that even just this idea would make him have serious doubts in his coaches because of how much time they have spent working on his striking.

    Whilst he may be able to grapple when he needs to, this would mean completely going against what it is that he does best. which would show a lack of faith in his ability to get the job done.

    “If it were my coach, I’d say maybe I need to look for another coach man. Yeah I mean, it doesn’t make sense, I’m not a wrestler. Yes, I’m a mixed martial artist, I’m able to do a lot of different things.

    “My grappling’s good, my wrestling’s decent but that’s just not me, that’s not my instinct and so like why would I put myself in harm’s way to try to secure this victory when that’s just not me, that’s just not my style.

    “So it would just show me that if my coach were telling me, ‘Hey this is the way’, I’d be like man, who are you coaching because this has never been the game plan so why at the height of my career would we switch everything that we’ve ever done to secure some victory? Like where is your belief in what I do? So it would make me question my coaches if anything.”

    Read also: Khalil Rountree Receives Lighter Sentence After Self-Reporting PED Usage

  • ‘I’m Not A Wrestler!’ – Khalil Rountree Has No Plans To Shoot His First UFC Takedown Against Alex Pereira

    ‘I’m Not A Wrestler!’ – Khalil Rountree Has No Plans To Shoot His First UFC Takedown Against Alex Pereira

    Khalil Rountree is riding an impressive five-fight win streak in the UFC, earning him a title shot against the light heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira. Four of these wins came via knockout; from the looks of it, he aims to win at UFC 307 similarly.

    Interestingly, Rountree has never attempted a takedown in his UFC career, which began as early as 2016. He’s trained in Thailand to hone his skills in Muay Thai which unsurprisingly is his favorite mixed martial art.

    “The War Horse” has frequently showcased explosive striking and fans are naturally curious to see how it will fare against “Poatan”. Here’s how the light heavyweight championship contender plans to get it done at UFC 307 without amending his fighting style…

    Khalil Rountree Explains Why He Won’t Grapple Against Alex Pereira At UFC 307

    Rountree discussed his next fight on the Believe You Me podcast hosted by Michael Bisping, recently. Despite Israel Adesanya having success on the ground against “Poatan”, the contender will rely on his striking to get the victory.

    Rountree stated that he’s achieved everything in his MMA career through his striking prowess. As a result, he doesn’t want to change his core fighting style ahead of arguably the most important fight of his career.

    “It doesn’t make sense. I’m not a wrestler! Like, yes, I’m a mixed martial artist, I’m able to do a lot of, you know, different things. My grappling’s good, you know, my wrestling’s decent. But that’s just not me. It’s not my instinct, you know. And, so like, why would I put myself in harm’s way to try to secure this victory when that’s just not me!”

    When asked how he would react if his coaches suggested him to wrestle Pereira, here’s what Rountree had to say:

    “If my coach were telling me, hey, this is the way, I’ll be like, man, then, like, who are you coaching? Because, this has never been the game plan. Why at the height of my career would we switch everything we’ve ever done, you know what I Mean, to try to like secure a victory? Like where’s your belief in what I do?”

    Rountree further discussed what went wrong when Pereira’s former opponents like Jiří Procházka and Jan Błachowicz stepped into the Octagon. He believes that the UFC light heavyweight champion simply had an answer for all their tactics, and one can’t blame the strategies used by these former light heavyweight contenders.

    All in all, fans can look forward to a classic striking match between Rountree, a Muay Thai expert, and Pereira, a heavily accomplished kickboxer, at UFC 307.

  • Khalil Rountree Receives Lighter Sentence After Self-Reporting PED Usage

    Khalil Rountree Receives Lighter Sentence After Self-Reporting PED Usage

    Khalil Rountree can now breathe a sigh of relief, having recently received a reduced penalty for self-reporting his use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs).

    “The War Horse” withdrew from his scheduled bout against Jamahal Hill in the co-main event of UFC 303 on June 29, after disclosing that he had tested positive for a banned substance known as Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a type of steroid hormone.

    Rountree explained that he had been using a customized supplement and that the provider had mistakenly delivered a tainted product containing the prohibited substance.

    However, according to a recent report by MMA journalist John Morgan, the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) announced on Thursday that Rountree’s ongoing sanction, which began on May 4, has been reduced to four and a half months.

    Alongside the suspension, which wraps up on September 18, “The War Horse” has been ordered to pay prosecution fees amounting to $157. The NAC highlighted that Rountree’s proactive self-reporting played a crucial role in mitigating his penalty.

    With the reduced suspension, Rountree is now cleared to participate in his eagerly awaited title bout against reigning light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, slated to headline UFC 307 on October 5 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

    Rountree is coming off a third-round knockout victory over former title challenger Anthony Smith at a Fight Night event in December 2023. He is currently riding a five-fight win streak, including finishes over Chris Daukaus, Karl Roberson, and Modestas Bukauskas.

  • Glover Teixeira Gives His Verdict On Alex Pereira Weight Class Move

    Glover Teixeira Gives His Verdict On Alex Pereira Weight Class Move

    UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira hasn’t been able to miss as of late and this wave of momentum doesn’t appear to be slowing down.

    From headlining UFC 300 to stepping in as the replacement main event for UFC 303, “Poatan” has become a leading figure in MMA but there’s potentially one more thing he can do to take his star level up another notch.

    Pereira isn’t short on challengers in the light heavyweight division but the prospect of seeing him move up to heavyweight to put his power to the test against the biggest and baddest men on the roster, would be must-see.

    It certainly seems to be on the table in the near future, which is crazy when you consider that he entered the promotion as a middleweight contender.

    First, he will be defending his title against Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307 but the champion was never intending to be in MMA for a long time.

    Pereira has effortlessly made the jump to 205 pounds and his coach, who knows a thing or two about winning titles, believes he can do the same at heavyweight when the time is right.

    Glover Teixeira Says Alex Pereira Fighting At Heavyweight Would Be ‘No Problem’

    Glover Teixeira never intended to be a coach but said that being in Pereira’s corner was something that naturally happened over time.

    The former light heavyweight champion has become very close with the former GLORY kickboxer and during that time, he’s been so impressed with how great of a student Pereira is.

    Having spent so much time alongside him, Teixeira knew that moving up the weights was only a matter of time.

    In a recent interview with RG.org, he spoke about how he warned Pereira that middleweight would only last him so long and how the prospect of seeing his fighter at heavyweight is something he looks forward to, rather than worries about.

    “We talked about it since the beginning. I said to him, ‘You’re going to get bigger because of the wrestling training, and eventually you’re going to have to move up,’

    “I think I feel comfortable now with 205 [pounds], happy with the weight cuts,” Teixeira said. “But also I’ll be happy if he moves up. I think he has the potential to beat anyone at heavyweight. The guy is a beast, man. His strength is like a heavyweight, he hits like a heavyweight. So it’ll be no problem.”

    Read also: Jiří Procházka Reiterates Plan To Move Down To Middleweight Following Dricus Du Plessis’ Title Defense

  • Jiří Procházka Reiterates Plan To Move Down To Middleweight Following Dricus Du Plessis’ Title Defense

    Jiří Procházka Reiterates Plan To Move Down To Middleweight Following Dricus Du Plessis’ Title Defense

    There is a realistic possibility that we could be seeing Jiří Procházka competing in a new weight class next time out.

    Just as he did some time after UFC 303, Procházka continued to tease a drop down in weight in a new video on his YouTube channel.

    In the video, the Czech star mentions feeling ready to fight again now, but he is currently waiting for the right conditions to go into a matchup sharp in mind, body, and spirit.

    The interviewer then asks Procházka about the weight he plans to return at. The former light heavyweight champion states that if Dricus Du Plessis were to win at UFC 305, he would look at the possibility of moving down to middleweight. The South African retained the middleweight championship earlier this month at UFC 305, submitting Israel Adesanya.

    “I’ll clear things up a bit there and take the belt,” Procházka said. “But I feel good and strong in the light heavyweight division, even though the guys there are a bit heavier, almost all of them. So I have to say that I have no problem physically and strength-wise, or in any way, with clearing them out.

    “But it would certainly be a challenge for me to go for the belt in the (middleweight) division and then move (back) up. But I’ll really let it flow and see how it unfolds.”

    Jiří Procházka Eyeing Move Down To Middleweight To Challenge Dricus Du Plessis

    Procházka is coming off an unsuccessful challenge of Alex Pereira for the UFC light heavyweight championship at UFC 303 in June. The result marked the second time in about seven months that the two clashed over the championship.

    Pereira recently teased his own move down to middleweight to challenge Du Plessis and try to become a simultaneous two-division champion, having already held the 185-pound gold before his move up to 205 pounds.

    Procházka was also asked about rumors of a potential fight with another former light heavyweight champion in Jamahal Hill. “Sweet Dreams” fell in his own challenge of “Poatan” at UFC 300 — the same card that saw Procházka finish Aleksandar Rakić.

    The Czechia native poured cold water on such rumors during this interview.

    “There hasn’t been any negotiation or discussion with the manager, or anyone else yet,” Procházka said. “I just sent one message regarding Hill, just as an informational note, and I’m not sure if anything has progressed or if someone let something slip. But for now, it’s all just speculation.”

  • Alex Pereira Defends UFC Against Backlash To Khalil Rountree Title Shot: ‘The Way Ankalaev Has Been Acting…’

    Alex Pereira Defends UFC Against Backlash To Khalil Rountree Title Shot: ‘The Way Ankalaev Has Been Acting…’

    Alex Pereira has taken to playing defense on behalf of the UFC following the announcement of his next title defense.

    In the days prior to UFC 305, UFC CEO Dana White officially announced UFC 307 on Oct. 5 in Salt Lake City, with Alex Pereira defending his UFC light heavyweight championship in the main event against Khalil Rountree.

    The UFC was met with backlash over the selection of Rountree as the title challenger. “The War Horse” has won five straight and has Performance of the Night bonuses in three of his last four wins. Rountree, however, is only ranked #8, coming off back-to-back finishes of Chris Daukaus and Anthony Smith.

    Many were instead clamoring and believing that the next challenger would be Magomed Ankalaev, who will instead face Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 308 later that month. The Russian, ranked #2 at light heavyweight, is coming off a huge knockout of Johnny Walker from the start of 2024.

    The decision to pick Rountree over Ankalaev has left many feeling that the UFC and CEO Dana White still hold a grudge against him for the UFC 282 light heavyweight title fight with Jan Błachowicz that ended in a draw. That was despite many feeling Ankalaev deserved the nod that night.

    In a new YouTube video, however, Pereira claimed that while he also hoped for a fight with Ankalaev, the Dagestani does not want to fight him.

    “I always wanted to fight against Ankalaev,” Pereira said via translation. “I threw that to the organization, left it very clear, but Ankalaev didn’t want to fight against me. I don’t know the reason — if it was the location, if he just didn’t want to.

    “He isn’t the champion; he can’t pick anything. I think it’s the opportunity that shows up; he didn’t want it. He has his reasoning. I don’t know what it is,” Pereira continued. “Came to tell you guys, I’m not scared of anyone, and everyone knows my history.

    Alex Pereira Claims Magomed Ankalaev Refused To Fight Him, Promises Striking War With Khalil Rountree

    Pereira added that the way Ankalaev is acting, in his mind, could result in him not taking the fight with Rakić seriously and costing himself an eventual title shot.

    “Ankalaev is talking about Jiří (Procházka), saying he is a false fighter, that he isn’t good since he lost two times to me. Everyone knows my story, seen my fights, not just UFC but also in (GLORY) Kickboxing, what I did to my opponents. He is taking these two fights to talk bad about the guy. I think Ankalaev has to be very careful with Rakić. The way Ankalaev has been acting his last fights, no one likes it. Fight was a tie, everyone saw it.

    “I think he should watch out for Rakić. He is talking a lot about me, he is going to knock me out and all that. It’s what he says, but at the time, we’ll see if that’s what it is. But I think he should watch out with this fight. (It’s a) very dangerous fight for him; maintain focus on this fight because he is getting a tough opponent.”

    Pereira added that despite Rountree’s ranking, the UFC thinks it’s the best matchup stylistically and that he is confident they will put on an entertaining performance.

    Pereira, furthermore, pointed out his own meteoric rise to the top of the UFC as reason people should not count Rountree out.

    “I think he is a guy showing work,” Pereira said. “It is going to be a good fight for us both. We both like to strike. Not just good for us, but for who is watching. Like I said, I thought it was going to be Ankalaev, but I think the organization sees it as a guy who will give a good fight. They are doing all this for you guys, to please you guys. Same way how I wasn’t ranked. Things happen very fast; look at what you guys get whenever I fight.

    “So I think they are thinking the same thing for Khalil, giving him this opportunity. Ranking doesn’t matter. What matters is the work he has been doing, giving a show. I think it will be a good fight.”

  • Daniel Cormier Makes Conor McGregor Comparison To Justify Alex Pereira’s UFC 307 Title Defense Against Khalil Rountree: ‘Big Enough Star Yet?’

    Daniel Cormier Makes Conor McGregor Comparison To Justify Alex Pereira’s UFC 307 Title Defense Against Khalil Rountree: ‘Big Enough Star Yet?’

    Alex Pereira will return at UFC 307 to defend his UFC light heavyweight championship against Khalil Rountree. A couple of weeks later, no. 2 ranked contender Magomed Ankalaev will fight no. 5 ranked Aleksandar Rakić in a potential title eliminator.

    The announcement has left fans divided with many complaining about the no. 8 ranked fighter getting a title shot. Top UFC light heavyweight contenders like Jamahal Hill and Jan Błachowicz have questioned the matchmaking process as well.

    On the flip side, admirers of Rountree’s explosive striking are expecting him to put on a great performance against Pereira. Here’s how Daniel Cormier looks at the UFC 307 main event and why he thinks it’s the right move by the UFC…

    Daniel Cormier Explains Why He Wouldn’t Put Alex Pereira Against Magomed Ankalaev Despite Him Being The Obvious Choice

    Cormier and Ben Askren discussed Pereira vs. Rountree on the former’s official YouTube channel recently. While Askren seemed perplexed by how “The War Horse” is fighting for the title, Cormier understood the decision because of Pereira’s growing stardom.

    “Ankalaev seems so obvious a choice but not really the choice because I wouldn’t put him in there with Alex right now. Like honestly, Alex Pereira is actually selling pay-per-views and he’s making money for you as a company. I don’t know if Ankalaev can do that right now.”

    By frequently fighting in major events like UFC 300, UFC 303, and now, UFC 307, “Poatan” has quickly amassed millions of fans. However, as per DC, he’s yet to be as big a star as Conor McGregor.

    The former UFC champ further explained that McGregor’s unprecedented stardom helped his opponents make a name for themselves by beating him. Khabib Nurmagomedov and Dustin Poirier are fine examples of the same.

    “If you beat Conor McGregor, you become a pay-per-view attraction. If you beat certain guys, you kind of take their shine and you become that attraction. I don’t know if you beat Pereira, you become that attraction. I don’t know, I think he is the attraction. I don’t know, just by beating him, if he’s the big enough star yet to elevate the next guy to the point that they’re selling a whole bunch of paper.:

    Cormier believes that Pereira is yet to reach McGregor’s levels of popularity where he generates new stars, even while losing. As a result, the UFC would want to give “Poatan” favorable matchups and make him the center of attention for as long as possible. At the moment, the promotion won’t risk ending the reign of its biggest star in recent times.

    Read also: Sean O’Malley ‘Annoyed-ish’ At Noche UFC Fight Promotion After Getting Nod To Headline Over Holloway vs. Topuria, Conor McGregor

  • Chael Sonnen Feels Khalil Rountree Fight Will Fast Track Alex Pereira’s Heavyweight Move: ‘The Best Way, Get Him Beat!’

    Chael Sonnen Feels Khalil Rountree Fight Will Fast Track Alex Pereira’s Heavyweight Move: ‘The Best Way, Get Him Beat!’

    Chael Sonnen recently suggested that Alex Pereira’s upcoming clash with Khalil Rountree could be the ideal launchpad for the Brazilian’s much-anticipated leap into the UFC heavyweight division.

    “Poatan” is gearing up to defend his light heavyweight crown for the third time as he faces Rountree in the headline bout at UFC 307, slated for October 5 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

    However, numerous fans have voiced their apprehensions about the matchup, pointing to Rountree’s ongoing suspension for the unintentional intake of the banned substance Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Meanwhile, others argue that Magomed Ankalaev, currently on a 12-fight unbeaten streak, would have been a more fitting contender for the 205-pound title.

    As for Pereira, anticipation is swirling around his future, with many wondering what’s next for the striking phenom who has already claimed titles in two weight classes. He has hinted at the possibility of moving up to the heavyweight division, where he could potentially become the UFC’s first-ever three-division champion.

    However, before he can chase that historic milestone, “Poatan” must first conquer the formidable challenge posed by the heavy-hitting Rountree. Sonnen believes that the fight with “The War Horse” could be pivotal in shaping Pereira’s path forward…

    Sonnen Thinks Pereira Will Jump To Heavyweight If Rountree Hands Him A Loss

    During a recent video on his YouTube channel, Sonnen delved into the upcoming title clash between Pereira and Rountree. The former UFC middleweight title contender remarked that “The War Horse” might be the most stylistically challenging opponent Pereira has faced to date.

    “Khalil Rountree is going to roll over Alex Pereira,” Sonnen said. “So all of this talk about Khalil not deserving a [title shot], Khalil should not be in those positions—there’s only one person that needs to believe that, and that is Alex Pereira. It’s a very, very dangerous fight, and why on Earth take the risk? We think that we know, whether we do or not, but we have a consensus as to why not Ankalaev?”

    Sonnen went on to suggest that the quickest and most efficient path for “Poatan” to transition to the heavyweight division would be if he suffers a defeat at the hands of Rountree at UFC 307. Such a loss would relieve him of the obligation to defend his 205-pound title.

    “The best way to get Alex to heavyweight—because we can’t make him a heavyweight tomorrow if he’s got the 205-pound belt—is to remove the 205-pound belt from the equation. We could all agree with that, right? Anyone not fighting for a title can move weight classes right now. So, the best way to get him to heavyweight is not to clean out the division and keep doing more work and saying all the right things on social media. That is a way, but it takes a lot of time and some luck. The best way? Get him beat, get the belt off him, and he’s free to become a heavyweight.”

    Pereira has been an unstoppable force since his commanding entrance into the 205-pound division, starting with a decision victory over Jan Blachowicz at UFC 291. He went on to capture the vacant light heavyweight title in a showdown with Jiri Prochazka at UFC 295 and has since successfully defended his crown, notching two defenses within just two months. Most recently, he delivered a stunning second-round knockout against Prochazka in a rematch at UFC 303.

  • Khalil Rountree Responds To Critics Of Title Fight Against Alex Pereira: ‘Couldn’t Even Call Them True Fans If You’re Not Happy’

    Khalil Rountree Responds To Critics Of Title Fight Against Alex Pereira: ‘Couldn’t Even Call Them True Fans If You’re Not Happy’

    Khalil Rountree recently clapped back at critics who questioned his title shot against reigning UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.

    Last week, UFC CEO Dana White made waves by announcing that Rountree will challenge Pereira in the headline bout of UFC 307, set for October 5 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

    The fight announcement raised eyebrows, as “The War Horse” is still serving a suspension for the inadvertent use of the banned substance Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), which was found in one of the supplements he was using while preparing for his scheduled bout against Jamahal Hill at UFC 303 this past June.

    Rountree is still under suspension from the Nevada Athletic Commission, which extended his two-month temporary ban during a hearing last month. With the 34-year-old Californian now slated to fight in October, it’s likely he has already reached a settlement with the commission, though the official announcement is expected at a later date.

    However, many from the MMA community, including fellow fighters, have voiced disapproval of the upcoming fight, citing Rountree’s suspension and questioning his place in the UFC light heavyweight rankings. Yet, “The War Horse” remains undeterred by the critics…

    Rountree Admits Title Fight Opportunity Was Unexpected

    During a recent interview with MMAFightingonSBN, Rountree opened up about the announcement of his title fight against Pereira. The seasoned light heavyweight contender revealed that he received an unexpected call from UFC CBO Hunter Campbell, who offered him the chance to face “Poatan” in October.

    “I got a call from Hunter,” Rountree said. “I was having a bad day that day, dealing with some other stuff, and he was like, ‘Hey, I’ll make your day better; we’ve got this opportunity for you to fight Alex in October.’ It kind of came by surprise, but of course, I’m going to accept.”

    “The War Horse” also responded to the naysayers who have been downplaying his title shot, acknowledging that it’s out of his hands but making it clear that he’s not letting the negativity distract him from his goal.

    “I understand that people are upset. Whatever. It’s not my problem, for one. It’s not my problem. It’s out of my control. They give me the call, I take it. Let them deal with their own problems. Let them talk to the UFC. Whatever fans are not happy about this, I don’t know why. I couldn’t even call them true fans if you’re not happy about this matchup. But for everybody else, they’re absolutely right. It’s going to be exciting from start to finish, and I’m hyped.”

    Rountree is currently on a five-fight win streak, with four of those victories coming by knockout. His most recent triumph was a decisive win over former title challenger Anthony Smith in December 2023. He boasts a UFC record of 9-5 with one no-contest.

  • Anthony Smith Shares Theory On Alex Pereira Pondering Middleweight Return To Fight Dricus Du Plessis: ‘You Beat My Friend!’

    Anthony Smith Shares Theory On Alex Pereira Pondering Middleweight Return To Fight Dricus Du Plessis: ‘You Beat My Friend!’

    UFC light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith believes Alex Pereira’s middleweight tease could derive from a desire to “stick up” for Israel Adesanya.

    Adesanya recently returned to action in the main event of UFC 305, a pay-per-view event staged at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia. The former two-time champ headlined alongside Dricus Du Plessis, competing for the South African’s gold.

    “The Last Stylebender” was unsuccessful in his bid for another reign, falling via rear-naked choke submission in the third round. By all accounts, a rematch with Sean Strickland looks the likeliest next task for the reigning titleholder.

    But one man caused a stir with his Instagram post in the aftermath, as Pereira teased a possible return to the division he once ruled over to do battle with “Stillknocks.”

    Given that “Poatan” has previously dismissed talk of another drop to that weight and instead pondered a heavyweight venture, many were surprised by the post. One man who has long gone back and forth with the Brazilian, however, thinks he might know the reason behind it…

    Smith: Pereira’s ‘Brotherhood’ With Adesanya Motivating Possible Pursuit Of Du Plessis

    During ESPN’s UFC 305 Post Show this past weekend, the panel of Smith, Din Thomas, and Brett Okamoto reflected on the main event in Perth and looked ahead to what could be next for the champ and unsuccessful challenger.

    In terms of the victorious South African, they made note of Pereira’s social media tease. And although plenty have dismissed it as a playful post, “Lionheart” believes the reigning light heavyweight king could be serious.

    In terms of the reasons why Pereira could go back on his word not to return to 185 pounds, Smith thinks the Brazilian could want to make Du Plessis pay for beating his longtime rival.

    “Part of me kind of believes he’s a little bit serious. I don’t think he’s any bigger now than when he was at light heavyweight last time,” Smith said. “I feel like there’s a sense of Alex wanting to kind of stick up for Israel. They have this weird connection, this weird brotherhood, this unusual friendship. They’re moulded together for the rest of their careers.

    “I feel like that’s him (Pereira), ‘Alright, you beat my friend, or someone that I have history with. So now I’m coming down and I’ll take care of it.’ That’s kind of how it felt,” Smith continued. “Almost like, ‘We have this thing going on, but none of you can mess with us.’ That’s kind of how it was.”

    It remains to be seen whether the matchup will enter the realm of possibility anytime soon. Both Du Plessis and his coach have green lit a showdown with Pereira, but only if it provides the South African with the opportunity to achieve two-division glory himself.

  • Jan Błachowicz Names Only 2 Opponents He’ll Accept To Fight In UFC Return Other Than Alex Pereira

    Jan Błachowicz Names Only 2 Opponents He’ll Accept To Fight In UFC Return Other Than Alex Pereira

    Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Błachowicz has a firm view on the opposition he should be up against next time out.

    Błachowicz has been out of action ever since welcoming Alex Pereira to the division back in July 2023. The pair met in a close and competitive co-headliner at UFC 291, which went the distance and split opinion on who deserved the judges’ nod.

    It was ultimately “Poatan” who had his hand raised, and he’s since grown his star no end at 205 pounds, first by winning the vacant gold at the expense of Jiří Procházka and then by recording consecutive defenses over Jamahal Hill at UFC 300 and in a rematch with “BJP” at International Fight Week this year.

    All the while, Błachowicz has watched on as the Brazilian’s path of destruction in the division continues, with the memory of his narrow and controversial defeat remaining at the forefront.

    With that in mind, the Polish powerhouse believes he deserves a second dance with the former kickboxing star upon his return from injury later this year.

    But with “Poatan” instead preparing to face the #8-ranked Khalil Rountree in October, Błachowicz does have a couple of other names he’s willing to be matched up against…

    Błachowicz Targets Procházka, Hill For UFC Title Eliminator

    During a recent interview with MiddleEasy, Błachowicz looked ahead to his return, which comes after a shoulder injury that required surgery forced him out of a planned rematch with Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 297 this past January.

    After reiterating his desire to be the one who unseats Pereira, the 41-year-old pointed to fellow European Procházka and another former champ in Hill as the only other names he will entertain.

    “For me, what makes sense is Hill or Procházka,” Błachowicz said. “I think Jiří is in a dark place right now. I hope that he will come back and we make this fight because I think it will be a very good fight, a very exciting fight. So if not Pereira, I would like to fight against Procházka, somewhere in Europe that will be very big here — in Poland or maybe in Czech Republic. It will be a great event.

    “Of course, (Hill makes sense too),” Błachowicz continued. “For me, only Pereira, Hill, Procházka. I don’t (want) anybody else.”

    It remains to be seen what lies ahead for the Polish fighter, but it’s clear that he’s less than pleased with his potential rematch with Pereira being passed over by Rountree’s surprise shot.

    Believing the champ is being protected, Błachowicz will look to ensure that his claim to a title chance can’t be ignored by making an emphatic return later this year.

    And when it comes to securing an opportunity to regain the crown, it would appear that he has former opponent Magomed Ankalaev to contend with, depending on how the Russian’s next outing goes.

  • Alex Pereira Told Dricus Du Plessis Is The ‘Wrong Guy To Mess With’ After Post-UFC 305 Call-Out

    Alex Pereira Told Dricus Du Plessis Is The ‘Wrong Guy To Mess With’ After Post-UFC 305 Call-Out

    It has taken a long time for Dricus Du Plessis to get the respect that he believes he has always deserved, but his winning streak is becoming undeniable.

    With eight consecutive wins inside the Octagon, he has now beaten three former middleweight champions in his most recent outings.

    Finishing both Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya, along with going the distance against Sean Strickland, has shown how “Stillknocks” is very effective despite his style not being the most technically sound.

    A rematch with Strickland makes a lot of sense for his next title defense given how close their first encounter was but there is also the potential for a huge fight against the champion at the weight class above, in the near future.

    Daniel Cormier & Chael Sonnen Agree That Dricus Du Plessis Poses A Threat To Alex Pereira

    In order for Du Plessis to add yet another former middleweight champion to his record, he would need to face the current light heavyweight titleholder, Alex Pereira.

    At least on paper, many will point to how Du Plessis does tend to fight recklessly at points, which makes a clash with “Poatan” so dangerous for him.

    However, after watching what he was able to do against another elite striker in Adesanya this past weekend at UFC 305, Daniel Cormier spoke on the Good Guy / Bad Guy show on ESPN MMA about his intrigue around that potential match-up:

    “DDP already said Chael, ‘It doesn’t have to be at ’85, I’m not giving you no excuse. I’ll come to 205 and fight you.’ After watching him, I don’t know that he don’t do well against Alex because of his wrestling and his ability to strike.”

    Cormier’s co-host Chael Sonnen agreed with him on this point, stating that we’re still learning what Du Plessis is capable of at this stage.

    “Wrong guy to mess with, I mean in all fairness, whatever Alex is seeing in DDP, Alex should know that’s what we all saw in Alex two years ago. We did not understand how great he is.”

    Read also: Sean Strickland’s Coach Expands On Strategy For Dricus Du Plessis Rematch: ‘It’s Gonna Be To The Death!’

  • MMA Coach Breaks Down Potential Alex Pereira vs. Dricus Du Plessis Fight: ‘Jiří Is Very Similar To Dricus…’

    MMA Coach Breaks Down Potential Alex Pereira vs. Dricus Du Plessis Fight: ‘Jiří Is Very Similar To Dricus…’

    Following the main event of UFC 305, Alex Pereira kickstarted talks of a champion vs champion clash with a post on social media.

    Dricus Du Plessis was able to defend his middleweight title this past weekend by submitting Israel Adesanya in the fourth round.

    Though he would appear to be facing Sean Strickland in a rematch next and Pereira is booked to defend his light heavyweight crown at UFC 307, “Poatan” teased that he could move back down to 185-pounds to try and reclaim the middleweight strap.

    Du Plessis has been underrated for a lot of his UFC career but being able to add Pereira to his record but would be a massive moment for “Stillknocks”.

    Eric Nicksick Says Alex Pereira’s Counter-Striking Would Be A Big Problem For Dricus Du Plessis

    Xtreme Couture head coach Eric Nicksick gave his thoughts on how that potential fight could play out during a recent interview with Submission Radio.

    Nicksick has spent a long time breaking down Du Plessis’ unorthodox movement, timing and technique due to him being Strickland’s head coach.

    He believes that unlike Adesanya and Strickland, Pereira presents a huge problem to the middleweight champion because of his accuracy and power.

    Many have highlighted in the past how Du Plessis does leave himself open to taking damage even if his aggressive style is incredibly effective.

    This is where Nicksick believes that you can’t afford to leave any gaps for “Poatan” to capitalize on, using Pereira’s fights against the incredibly dangerous and unpredictable Jiří Procházka to illustrate his point.

    “So comparison wise, think about what Alex Pereira would do to a guy like Jiří Procházka and Jiří’s very similar to Dricus in the erratic behaviour of the way he throws his punches. I think Jiří is more of a feel fighter where he’s not putting predisposed combinations in his head off of these types of reads, he’s just kind of throwing. Whereas Dricus is throwing these things but he’s also leaving his hands behind in certain positions right, like if he’s hitting that switch cross or switch overhand, it’s like one hand’s in the pocket, the other hand’s in the pocket when he’s throwing that looping overhand.

    “That’s where I think Alex Pereira is elite. I think he sees the holes in the defense so Dricus kind of hits those a couple times and Alex catches that timing, that’s where his counter striking is so great. I think that’s where Dricus will have problems. I don’t think you can have that same type of approach as many times as he did against Izzy as he could against Alex Pereira. It’s like that using the same pickup line at the bar with the same girl over and over and over and finally she’s like, ‘Fine, here, f*** it, here’s my number’. But after a while, you’re like dude, this is not going to work but then all of a sudden it works.”

    Read also: Tom Aspinall Has High Praise For Dricus Du Plessis After UFC 305: ‘One Of The Smartest Fighters In The UFC’ 

  • Dricus Du Plessis’ Coach Offers Alternative To Alex Pereira’s Middleweight Tease: ‘I Won’t Give Him The Joy…’

    Dricus Du Plessis’ Coach Offers Alternative To Alex Pereira’s Middleweight Tease: ‘I Won’t Give Him The Joy…’

    The coach of UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis likes the idea of his man facing Alex Pereira, but not as “Poatan” has proposed.

    Du Plessis maintained his grip on the 185-pound crown at this past weekend’s UFC 305 pay-per-view in Perth, Australia, adding a first successful defense to his resume at the expense of former two-time titleholder Israel Adesanya.

    Their entertaining main event and the South African’s feat of becoming the first to submit “The Last Stylebender” remains a hot topic, but talk is also already turning to what could lie next for him.

    Judging by Dana White’s recent remarks, that would appear likely to be a rematch with Sean Strickland, the man from whom Du Plessis captured the middleweight gold this past January. But one other notable name recently put his name into the mix.

    Reigning light heavyweight and former middleweight kingpin Alex Pereira was on hand with his post-UFC 305 reaction, teasing a returning to the 185-pound division to do battle with “Stillknocks.”

    That callout got a positive response from Du Plessis’ coach. Well, sort of…

    Du Plessis’ Coach Accepts Pereira Fight — On One Condition

    During a backstage interview with Submission Radio at the RAC Arena, Du Plessis’ coach Morne Visser reflected on his man’s triumph Down Under and looked ahead to what could be next.

    In terms of Pereira’s social media post, the Team CIT head trainer green lit a clash between Du Plessis and “Poatan,” but only if it sees the South African receive an opportunity at achieving two-weight glory.

    “No, I won’t give him (Pereira) the joy to go down to 185; we’ll just go up,” Visser said. “He (Du Plessis) doesn’t want to beat him (at middleweight because) he’ll say that (they’ve) gone down, he was fatigued, and whatever. So no, we’ll go up.

    “I’m sure that the UFC will be okay with it, if that’s what he’s said, (and) I know Dricus is game. So we’ll go up, we won’t wait for him to come down,” Visser continued. “He’s fighting in October, so I really hope that the UFC gives us this blessing for December.”

    For now, Pereira will be preparing for his surprise return at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City this fall, with the Brazilian set to put his light heavyweight belt on the line against Khalil Rountree on October 5.

    What would come after a potential victory over “The War Horse” remains to be seen, but it seems that a possible middleweight return now sits alongside frequent heavyweight teases for “Poatan.”