Conor McGregor was scheduled to fight Michael Chandler at UFC 303, but a toe injury forced him to withdraw. The UFC already had most of its pay-per-view events in 2024 booked ahead of time, so “The Mystic Mac” could not return before the end of the year like he wanted to.
Chandler, in the meantime, has finally moved on from McGregor and will be facing Charles Oliveira at UFC 309. Winning the matchup can help the former get a title shot in the UFC lightweight division or he could fight his original opponent again with even higher stakes.
The real talk of the town, though, is Alex Pereira who’s defended his UFC light heavyweight belt thrice in 2024. Here’s what McGregor thinks of a superfight between “Poatan” and Jon Jones.
Conor McGregor Calls Alex Pereira The Pound-For-Pound Best UFC Fighter And A Threatening Opponent For Jon Jones
McGregor recently appeared on The Schmo YouTube channel for a quick interview. When asked who should be the best pound-for-pound UFC fighter in the world, he vouched for the Brazilian to get the title.
Next up, “The Notorious” discussed why he thinks Pereira should move up to heavyweight. For starters, it’s a great opportunity to create history by becoming the first three-division UFC champ ever. He admitted to assuming that “Poatan” had a difficult weight cut for UFC 307 but then pointed out that it could be due to antibiotics and other health concerns.
McGregor, like countless other fans, acknowledged that Magomed Ankalaev deserves to fight Pereira at light heavyweight. However, if the UFC light heavyweight champ moves up a weight class, he should fight Jones according to the Dubliner.
McGregor reflected on Jones’ impressive but quick heavyweight debut against Ciryl Gane in March 2023. He believes that the former UFC light heavyweight champ is still untested at heavyweight and Pereira’s explosive yet patient style could be a tough puzzle to solve.
The Irishman also claimed that Jones’ size at heavyweight shouldn’t be a problem for Pereira. Although he’s only faced middleweights and light heavyweights yet, he should be able to fit in with the heavyweights naturally.
“I’d put Alex as number one [pound-for-pound]. I think he poses a lot of problems for Jon also. You know, that’s a dangerous style for Jon but it’s a decent one for him coz he’s not, you know, so big. Jon is new to the heavyweight division. Jon, he had a nice one against Ciryl Gane but he’s still untested at heavyweight. And I’m sure, in the back of his mind, he has that thought that you know, some of these guys are really big. Alex is a nice one and it’s still a dangerous one, though. Probably, even at the core of it, it’s probably even more dangerous.”
Perhaps what many didn’t expect is how competitive the first few rounds would be before Rountree’s gas tank and the damage he was taking started to catch up to him.
As a former opponent of Rountree’s, Anthony Smith was able to take a lot away from watching this fight play out this past weekend in Salt Lake City.
Anthony Smith Says That Watching Khalil Rountree At UFC 307 Made Him More Positive
Though he has recently buried the hatchet with Pereira over their previous feud, Smith still took a lot of enjoyment after seeing how well Rountree did against “Poatan”.
The challenger’s last victory before he fought for the title was against “Lionheart” where he viciously stopped him in the third round.
Smith was happy that his performance against Rountree clearly wasn’t a one-off after seeing how well he did against Pereira who is a whole different level in the striking.
āTo be very honest, there was a lot of me those first two rounds that felt really good watching Khalil, like f***, at least it aināt just me.
āI was like oh thank God. It would have really hurt my heart if Pereira had went out there and just dusted Khalil in like a round but watching him have some real serious success and land big on, you know how it is as a fighter. You kind of sit back and go, āS*** he didnāt land on me like that till the third roundā. It was cool and it made he happy for Khalil.ā
Alex Pereira defended his UFC light heavyweight belt for the third time in 2024 at UFC 307. He stopped Khalil Rountree via TKO in the fourth, further skyrocketing his popularity.
Pereira’s exciting fighting style and consistency are second to none in the UFC at the moment. With five title fight wins already, he’s solidified his legacy and fans now expect to see him in the heavyweight division or take on Magomed Ankalaev.
Kamaru Usman has all the praise in the world for “Poatan” after his UFC 307 victory. So much so, that he called the UFC light heavyweight kingpin the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world over Islam Makhachev.
Kamaru Usman Explains Why Alex Pereira Is His Pound-For-Pound Best Fighter Despite Islam Makhachev Having More Tools
On the latest episode of the Pound 4 Pound With Kamaru & Henry podcast on YouTube, Usman and Henry Cejudo debated who deserves to be the P4P best fighter after UFC 307. While “Triple C” still gave the title to Makhachev, Usman had a new opinion after “Poatan” dismantled Rountree’s game plan masterfully.
According to the former UFC welterweight champion, fighters in the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions should be judged differently. At anything over 200 pounds, having a strong ground game is a challenge because of the strength and energy required.
“I have to admit when, and this is a part of being a man, you have to admit when you feel like you’ve made an error. And in the revelation lately, what I’ve come to is, I realized I’ve been judging Alex Pereira based on what I would be judged at. There’s a lot more men that weigh, walk around on this earth close to 170 to 185 pounds.”
So, Usman no longer holds Pereira accountable for not showcasing his grappling because it is simply not prevalent enough in his weight division. He’s been decimating the top light heavyweight and middleweight contenders with ease, which is enough for “The Nigerian Nightmare” to call him the P4P best UFC fighter.
Usman broke down the UFC 307 main event and appreciated how Pereira looked calm throughout the fight. Against a dangerous southpaw like Rountree, he decided to rely on his jab instead of the left hook that usually wins him matches.
“I think he is pound-for-pound king because of the way he’s able to fight. Not the way he’s able to fight but the way he’s able to make his opponents fight and the way he’s able to dispose of his opponents. I love Islam and his abilities, I think Islam of course has more tools in the shed but for what you have to work with, Alex Pereira I believe he’s the pound-for-pound.”
The UFC welterweight acknowledged that fighters with relentless wrestling like Merab Dvalishvili have been succeeding in the UFC lately. However, he also pointed out that such a fighting style is usually present in lower weight classes, and even Magomed Ankalaev wouldn’t replicate Dvalishvili’s style at light heavyweight.
“I can’t be biased to the standard that I’m held to. The standard that Islam is held to because there’s a lot more men that weigh Islam’s size and my size than they do Alex Pereira’s size. So, with what Alex Pereira has to work with, he’s disposing of these guys that way so I have to give that to him.”
Alex Pereira is easily the biggest star in the UFC right now. Other big names in the promotion are either nearing retirement or losing fights while the Brazilian just keeps showing up every two months and knocking his opponents out.
Pereira’s UFC 307 title defense against Khalil Rountree was widely regarded as an impressive performance in MMA circles. The UFC light heavyweight kingpin survived the challenger’s best punches and offense in the first two rounds, then broke him down in the third and fourth.
Pereira boasts a wealth of experience in kickboxing but has become a top draw in MMA within just 14 pro fights. According to Daniel Cormier, if the former UFC middleweight champion keeps improving his skill set, the best might be yet to come…
Daniel Cormier And Chael Sonnen Discuss Why Alex Pereira Taking Over MMA Doesn’t Make Sense
During the latest Good Guy / Bad Guy episode on the ESPN MMA YouTube channel, UFC vets Cormier and Chael Sonnen talked about Pereira’s meteoric rise. He’s one of the top pound-for-pound athletes in the UFC, and despite not speaking English, boasts millions of fans worldwide.
Although many complain that “Poatan” is yet to be tested by a solid grappler, Cormier considers it a silver lining. He believes the Brazilian had already won six title fights with a rather finite skillset and he’s only going to improve from here.
“On Saturday, it seemed like we saw the best Pereira. But did we? We saw a great Pereira doing the thing that he does so well. But he’s an amateur. So, he’s going to get even better. So, now you got a guy that’s a world champ already, with a very limited skillset that every new skill he picks up, is going to just add to his toolbox. Like how scary is it? When we truly, the idea of what we get when Alex Pereira is complete because, right now, as I said, he just won his 10th fight. He only has 12 mixed martial arts fights in total.”
Indeed, Pereira has yet to face grapplers who can test his ground game properly. For instance, Merab Dvalishvili and Belal Muhammad shut down precise strikers like Sean O’Malley and Leon Edwards, respectively.
If “Poatan” can get past Magomed Ankalaev or heavyweights like Tom Aspinall and Jon Jones, though, he will undoubtedly become one of the scariest fighters on the planet by far.
Israel Adesanya watched closely as UFC 307 went down this past weekend, where a former foe of his was back in action.
The former two-time middleweight champion is always able to offer unparalleled analysis when Alex Pereira is stepping inside the cage.
They’ve faced each other on four occasions in various rule sets, and despite his prior losses to “Poatan,” Adesanya is the only man to beat him in the UFC.
Israel Adesanya Reacts To Alex Pereira’s Ruthless Display At UFC 307
Now that he’s not competing against him and they’re in different weight classes, Adesanya is able to join the ranks of all the fans that enjoy watching Pereira do what he does best.
Throughout his reaction, he constantly drew attention to things that Pereira is doing or thinking based on his experiences of fighting and studying “Poatan.”
Despite a strong start to the fight from the challenger, Adesanya believed that Pereira was only going to get stronger as the fight went on.
“Round two, if ‘Poatan’ gets past this or doesn’t get knock him out, I think he’ll be fine. Khalil is better early on… I think he has to. If not, ‘Poatan’ is gonna get those leg kicks going again.”
Adesanya also pointed out in-between rounds how well the champion is able to recover in tough fights, whispering about how he knows all too well about this.
“He’s a f****** demon bro. I felt it.”
The third round came to a close and the former champ made the call that Pereira was going to close out proceedings in the fourth round now that he had really found his groove in Salt Lake City.
“I can feel it, I can feel it. Now it’s gonna be ‘Chama’ time.”
Throughout the fourth round, Adesanya repeatedly called for Pereira to switch up his approach and target the body which he eventually did, ending the fight after a barrage of strikes that Rountree somehow withstood.
“Good on him, he lasted longer than I thought he would but at least someone else took him to the fourth round, shows how good Khalil is.”
“He’s got some hard fights in front of him but he’s that guy right now, he’s on… honestly, that’s how I called it but I thought it was going to be early but shout to Khalil ’cause heart. Fighting with a broke nose, f***** eye and intelligence not to blow his nose in the fight, respect and his stock goes up after this, so yeah, what a moment.”
The #2-ranked contender will instead face Aleksandar RakiÄ at UFC 308 later this month where if he wins, there surely can be no denying him.
Ali Abdelaziz Says Magomed Ankalaev Has To Be Next For Alex Pereira
In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Ankalaev’s manager Ali Abdelaziz gave his thoughts on the current title picture at 205-pounds. He believes that Pereira’s statement on remaining at light heavyweight gives him no option but to face Ankalaev if he defeats RakiÄ in Abu Dhabi.
Abdelaziz also pointed to some of his other fighters that have also had to campaign for a long time in order to get their title shots. He said that like the examples he gave, Ankalaev will make up for this long period of waiting by being champion for a significant period of time.
āIt would be embarrassing if he did this. He clearly said heās not running, it would be clearly running but listen, letās see what happens. Ankalaev needs to focus on RakiÄ but if Iām a champion and I believe Iām the best in the world, Iām going to fight anybody and listen, remember Islam Makhachev take him a long time to get there but when heās there, heās there for a long time.
Khabib, Kamaru, these guys wait for a long time to become a champion, they hang around for a while and I believe this is going to be the deal for Ankalaev.āĀ
Ahead of his latest title defense, “Poatan” was asked about other kickboxers following in the footsteps of him and Israel Adesanya and there was one name that was mentioned specifically. Artem Vakhitov was the last man to beat Pereira in kickboxing, winning a majority decision back in 2021 after the Brazilian got the nod the first time around.
Now, he’s hoping to carve out his own path in mixed martial arts.
Artem Vakhitov Says That Alex Pereira Is Too Limited To Be Considered The Best Striker In MMA Today
After suffering an injury on his MMA debut, Vakhitov has earned consecutive first-round finishes and will now fight for a spot on the UFC roster.
He faces Islem Masraf on this week’s edition of Dana White’s Contender Series where his 2-1 pro record will be overlooked due to his kickboxing background and history with the current light heavyweight champion.
Despite now having his own experiences with adapting to MMA, Vakhitov doesn’t believe that his former foe is the best striker in the sport today.
He said to Submission Radio that “Poatan” can’t be in the conversation due to his reliance on his signature strike, the left hook.
āI donāt think heās really the best striker because to have just one good punch, it doesnāt mean that heās really good striker. The real striker is someone who has a lot of combinations, very different opportunities. He just taught well one punch and delivering it but it doesnāt mean that having good distance and other stuff so I think heās not really good striker because of it.ā
When asked who he would pick as the best striker in MMA today if it isn’t Pereira, he provided one name who will headline UFC 308 later this month.
āI like the style of Max Holloway but I really couldnāt say whoās really the best one. I like who heās fighting and I believe he could be the best one.ā
Alex Pereira’s latest victorious performance didn’t do enough to convince oddsmakers that he could be competitive against the UFC’s interim heavyweight king.
Having turned away threats to his reign from Jamahal Hill and JiÅĆ ProchĆ”zka, Salt Lake City’s Delta Center played host to Pereira’s return, as he was tasked with stalling the title ambitions of Khalil Rountree.
While celebrations in the Brazilian’s camp will be ongoing, talk has unsurprisingly turned to what could lie next in his future.
Aspinall vs. Pereira Odds Have ‘Poatan’ At +300
There appears to be three options for Pereira: a continued stay at 205 pounds to defend his belt, a return to middleweight in pursuit of regaining the 185-pound title, or an attempt at history up at heavyweight.
When it comes to the last of those options ā which doesn’t seem to be on the table judging by Pereira’s post-fight remarks ā oddsmakers are evidently not fancying the light heavyweight champ’s chances.
Future odds posted by BetOnline.ag have Pereira as a significant +300 underdog in a possible bout with Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall.
Aspinall has held the interim gold since last November. He’s been unable to unify the title owing to Jon Jones’ reluctance to fight him, with “Bones” and the UFC instead favoring a rescheduled showdown with Stipe Miocic next month.
In the meantime, the Brit has successfully defended his strap against Curtis Blaydes this past summer. Should Jones retain his place on the throne and subsequently retire this year, Aspinall could find himself promoted to undisputed status.
Defending king “Poatan” was heavily favored to do so, having already turned away threats to his reign from Jamahal Hill and JiÅĆ ProchĆ”zka this year. Rountree, though, turned out to be the Brazilian’s toughest test to date.
The challenger got off to a strong start, winning the opening two rounds on all three scorecards. But after getting on the board in round three, Pereira went to work in the fourth frame.
An onslaught of strikes left Rountree’s face swollen and bloodied, and Pereira was ultimately able to close the show in what marked his first taste of the championship rounds since capturing the middleweight crown almost two years ago.
Rountree Releases First Statement On UFC 307 Title Defeat
Soon after having his title ambitions stalled in the “Beehive State,” Rountree took to social media to reflect on the result and experience.
Following his failure to unseat Pereira, “The War Horse” paid tribute to “Poatan,” thanking the Brazilian for bringing out a “new version” of him at UFC 307.
“I didnāt win the title but I grew last night. @alexpoatanpereira thanks for helping me see that Iām ready to take on the world,” Rountree wrote. “You showed amazing skill, you brought out a version of me that I needed to experience. Youāre the champ for a reason, much respect. But I now know what I am capable of.
“#saltlakecity you guys were amazing and gave me such a memorable experience. I appreciate all of the positive messages from everyone around the world. @danawhite@espn@espnmma and the entire @ufc staff, thanks for giving me a home, a place to have purpose and providing me with challenges to overcome,” Rountree continued. “Brazil š§š· you guys have a strong champion, be proud. I will take time to heal from this, Iāll be back even better, itās inevitable. Iām grateful. Never give up on yourself, always fight hard, uplift your communities and find ways to make the most out of life.”
It remains to be seen what lies ahead for Rountree, who was granted his first shot at title glory on MMA’s biggest stage from #8 in the rankings.
With that, an upset win would have marked the 34-year-old as the lowest-ranked fighter to capture gold in their division. And although that didn’t come to fruition, things initially looked promising through 10 minutes.
Alex Pereira has defended the UFC light heavyweight three times in 2024 while breaking Ronda Rousey’s record of the quickest turnarounds between three title defenses.
Although many believed Khalil Rountree to be a much easier opponent than former champs Jamahal Hill and Jiri Prochazka, “The War Horse” gave Pereira one of his toughest UFC fights. The challenger won the first two rounds and compelled the champion to make several adjustments.
Luke Thomas, like countless others, has all the praise in the world for Pereira’s UFC 307 performance. While breaking it down, he explained how “Poatan” handled Rountree and Israel Adesanya in vastly different ways…
Luke Thomas Breaks Down Alex Pereira’s UFC 307 Win Over Khalil Rountree By Comparing It To His First MMA Win Over Israel Adesanya
Thomas reacted to the UFC 307 main event on his YouTube channel recently. Right away, he shut down people claiming that the light heavyweight kingpin shouldn’t have faced trouble against the no. 8 ranked person in the division.
Then, the analyst explained how Rountree forced Pereira to change his traditional game plan that involves inside leg kicks, jabs to the body, head kicks, and most importantly, the left hook. None of these elements seemed to work against “The War Horse” in the first two rounds following which “Poatan” relied on his left jab and gradually mixed things up.
“I cannot overstate to you how difficult that is for most fighters, including most elite fighters. Most elite fighters have a game. This is what they do. And if that doesn’t work, and they’re still five, ten, 15 minutes, they have no other gear to go to. And in fact, I’m going to say this in a complimentary way, that is what ultimately happened to Khalil Rountree. He had a game and it was very very potent but once Poatan was able to like plug little holes in it and it began to leak, there was no going back.”
Thomas highlighted how hard it is for fighters, regardless of skill and experience, to ditch their game plan mid-fight. To explain this further, he compared the significant strikes stats for the UFC 307 main event to the first UFC fight between Pereira and Adesanya.
Against Rountree, the Brazilian landed 72% head strikes, 13% body strikes, and 14% leg kicks. Against Adesanya at UFC 281, he landed 46% head strikes, 29% body strikes, and 24% leg kicks. Although both fights ended similarly, the difference in Pereira’s approach is evident.
“This is proof positive. He didn’t have to work for the jab [against Adesanya] nearly as much in this one and the jab is obviously relevant to the body too, but. look at how much the jab to the top of the head was absolutely critical.”
Khalil Rountree brought a challenge, but Alex Pereira managed to bring out another legendary performance ā comeback style this time ā as he finished the challenger to retain the UFC light heavyweight championship in the main event of UFC 307.
Rountree got off to a strong start with his activity, landing singular shots and doing a good job of getting away from the fence. Pereira was doing work with leg kicks, but he found himself in some trouble in the second round. “The War Horse” rocked “Poatan” with a strong right hook and followed that up by landing a big head kick.
Rountree, however, appeared to be gassed by this point. Pereira, sensing a tired out foe, picked things back up in the third frame. The Brazilian worked his jab and landed combinations, finding openings and busting up Rountree’s nose.
Pereira’s output increased greatly in the fourth round, as he poured it on and continued to damage his challenger ā to the point his nose may have been broken.
“The War Horse” tried to survive, but with blood pouring down his rocked body, Pereira landed a combination with a pair of body shots that dropped him, bringing the fight to a stop.
Alex Pereira Puts On Battering To Finish Khalil Rountree In Fourth Round At UFC 307
Fooking movie scene!!! What a performance!!! Chama is the real dealā¦ big congrats to Roundtree perfect first 2 roundsā¦. Once chama found the distance the fight was over. #ufc307
Moving up to light heavyweight last year after his middleweight title run came to an end, Pereira captured the then-vacant championship with a win over JiÅĆ ProchĆ”zka at UFC 295. He then defended the title this year against Jamahal Hill and ProchĆ”zka at UFC 300 and 303, respectively.
Rountree, meanwhile, entered his first title challenge on a five-fight win streak. He had most recently fought in December, scoring a finish of Anthony Smith.
UFC 307 took place tonight from theĀ Delta Center in Salt Lake City, UtahĀ and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights!Ā
In the main event,Ā Alex PereiraĀ put his light heavyweight title on the line against Khalil Rountree. While in the co-main event, Raquel Pennington looked to defend her womenās bantamweight title against former champ Julianna PeƱa.Ā
UFC 307 Results: Main Card
Light Heavyweight Championship: Alex Pereira def. Khalil RountreeĀ via TKO: R4, 4.32
After Kevin Holland sustained a rib injury, the ringside doctor deemed him unfit to fight and therefore Roman Dolidze was awarded a TKO win at the end of the first round.
Alex Pereira will defend his UFC light heavyweight champion against Khalil Rountree at UFC 307 this weekend. Winning would help him break Ronda Rousey’s record and make him the UFC champion to defend their belt three times in the shortest duration.
Pereira’s rise to the top of the sport is unprecedented. He got a title shot at Israel Adesanya after just three fights in the UFC and bagged the middleweight championship by knocking out the long-time champ in the fifth.
After his only UFC loss to “The Last Stylebender”, “Poatan” has continued his impressive run in the light heavyweight division. According to Daniel Cormier, fighting the Brazilian is a huge mental challenge as well, and Rountree might be already doing better than the likes of Jamahal Hill and JiÅĆ ProchĆ”zka…
Daniel Cormier Gives Khalil Rountree The Edge Over Jamahal Hill And JiÅĆ ProchĆ”zka Ahead Of UFC 307 Title Fight Against Alex Pereira
Cormier interviewed Rountree on his YouTube channel recently. When asked about the odds heavily favoring the champion, Rountree stated that people underestimate him because he doesn’t talk trash and is usually respectful during interviews.
To this, Cormier couldn’t help but bring up how fighters act unusual before taking on Pereira. Hill used several antics to try and get into the UFC light heavyweight kingpin’s head, with DC recalling him trying to break the arrow during Pereira’s walkout at UFC 300. Following the KO loss, Hill has been called out by fans for making excuses as well.
Prochazka, who’s lost twice to Pereira, recently claimed that the Brazilian uses black magic and spirits to beat his opponents. For someone as stoic as the Czech fighter, these claims were called strange by many.
Rountree, according to Cormier, doesn’t seem to be acting unusual leading up to his UFC 307 title fight. He’s still the nice guy in interviews and isn’t feeling the pressure of facing an intimidating opponent like Pereira.
“That’s you, right? That’s you! But, the weirdest thing about Pereira and dealing with Pereira, people start to act like not themselves. So, when he was walking to the Octagon, Jamahal Hill was like reaching over the cage like come on! He’s like very animated. JiÅĆ ProchĆ”zka is just doing all kind of weird s**t. Jiri doing all kind of crazy s**t up in there. He’s doing this, he’s doing.. Jiri’s just not acting like himself, right?”
Few have experienced the kind of astronomical success in the UFC that Alex Pereira has in recent years, and his rapid ascent has left a renowned boxing trainer in awe.
Although “Poatan’s” professional MMA debut in October 2015 didnāt unfold as expected, with a submission loss, he flew under the radar for nearly five years, aside from his highly successful kickboxing career. However, everything changed when Pereira signed with the UFC in 2021, and what followed was nothing short of extraordinary.
Within a span of three years, Pereira achieved an astonishing feat, securing multiple knockout victories and competing in five title fights. He captured the UFC middleweight championship at UFC 281 and claimed the light heavyweight title at UFC 295. Furthermore, he successfully defended his 205-pound title twice in headlining bouts at marquee UFC events this year while stepping in on short notice.
Teddy Atlas believes that what truly sets “Poatan” apart is not merely his popularity, but his fierce fighting style combined with a multitude of other factors.
The New Face of the UFC
During a recent video on his YouTube channel, Atlas offered high praise for Pereira’s skyrocketing popularity in the MMA realm. The famed boxing coach noted that the reigning UFC light heavyweight champion has established himself as the figurehead of the promotion, largely due to his consistent fight schedule and his aggressive fighting style.
Atlas mentioned that what truly distinguishes Pereira, however, is that he achieved this status without engaging in disputes or excessive trash talk, distinguishing him from many of his peers.
“I think Pereira is not just good; he’s scary good,” Atlas said. “He’s becoming a face, or better yet, the ‘Monster of the Midway,’ the monster of the UFC. He could become that star, and I think he has in the UFC.
Without all the other gadgetry, without all the other bells and whistles, without the great ability to talk and wreak havoc with his words and controversy and sensationalism, he does it in the Octagon with his fists and with his legs.
He does it with his look, his aura, that look, that stare, coupled with the results that come afterāthe dynamic results, the sensational extreme results that come after it. That is all you need to promote a superstar.”
Pereira is riding high after a sensational second-round knockout victory over former champion Jiri Prochazka in their rematch at UFC 303 this past June. With this triumph, he now holds an impressive 8-1 record in the UFC.
Read More: Israel Adesanya Explains Effectiveness Of Alex Pereiraās Unorthodox āHammerā Leg Kicks
There arenāt many fighters in the history of MMA who have achieved the kind of success Alex Pereira has.
A victory over Khalil Rountree this weekend at UFC 307 would allow Pereira to break the record for the fewest days needed to defend a UFC title three times.
What makes this even more remarkable is that heading into this fight, his overall MMA record stands at just 11-2.
When Pereira entered the UFC after a legendary kickboxing career, it was clear he would be a dangerous matchup for anyone in striking exchanges. However, questions arose about how quickly he could round out his overall game with limited time in the sport.
āPoatan,ā as heās known, believes that heās developing even faster than his competition because he still has so much to learn.
Daniel Cormier Says Alex Pereira Believes Heās Catching Up Quickly
On the final episode of ESPN MMAās Good Guy / Bad Guy before UFC 307, Daniel Cormier shared insights from his conversations with Pereira during fight week.
Cormier described how Pereira is able to improve more than most elite fighters during his training camps, despite already being the top 205-poundĀ fighter in the world.
āWe keep saying heās an amateur, he recognizes that but also says, āIf Iām the best in the world now, imagine what I can be.ā Isnāt that a crazy thought? He was an amateur and became the world champ. Our improvements are usually incrementalālike footwork adjustmentsābut heās getting better in wrestling, cardio, and the clinch. Heās literally improving leaps and bounds every time, and heās already the world champion.ā
Khalil Rountree Jr. recently revealed that receiving a title shot at UFC 307 came as a surprise, particularly since he was still facing repercussions from a positive steroid test.
āThe War Horseā is set to challenge reigning UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira in his first-ever title opportunity this Saturday at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
However, the announcement of this matchup was unexpected, as Rountree Jr. was still navigating the sanctions imposed by the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) after testing positive for Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a prohibited steroid hormone, earlier in May.
The 34-year-old Californian was initially slated to face Jamahal Hill at UFC 303 in Juneāa bout that could have served as a title eliminator. However, Rountree had to withdraw due to the positive test. In an August hearing, the NAC reduced Rountree Jr.ās suspension to 4.5 months, acknowledging his decision to self-report the violation.
This reduction allowed āThe War Horseā to become eligible for UFC 307, as his ban ended on September 18.
Rountree Jr. Reveals He Envisioned a Title Shot Before It Became Reality
In a recent interview with Caged Minds Combat Sports News, Rountree Jr. expressed that he, like many others in the MMA community, did not expect a title opportunity while still serving his suspension.
āIt was a big surprise to me,ā Rountree Jr. said. āI definitely didnāt expect the call to come when it did, but when it happened, all I could say was that it was a huge surprise. I was full of excitement. It was, I guess, like the call I had imagined for a long timeā¦ It was a complete surprise, so the way it happened was so unexpected. I didnāt realize that the phone call for a title fight was as close as it was.ā
Rountree also shared that the cancellation of his fight with Hill left him uncertain about his future in the UFC and when he would next compete.
āThe fight that I was booked for before, I thought could possibly be the title eliminator, but after everything happened, I really didnāt know what was next. I didnāt know if Iād be waiting nine months to a year to fight. I didnāt know who the opponent would be. I imagined all the ranked guys getting shots before I did, but like I said, a big surprise phone call came through, and I gladly accepted.ā
Rountree Jr. last fought in December 2023, when he knocked out Anthony Smith at a Fight Night event. He is currently on a five-fight win streak, with notable victories over fighters like Chris Daukaus, Karl Roberson, and Modestas Bukauskas.
After capturing the gold in November 2023 and withstanding challenges from Jamahal Hill and JiÅĆ ProchĆ”zka this year, āPoatanā is next tasked with stalling the championship ambitions of Khalil Rountree to continue his reign atop the 205-pound mountain.
Title stakes will also be present for the co-main event, which will see Raquel Pennington make her first defense of the bantamweight belt opposite returning ex-divisional queen Julianna PeƱa.
Ahead of the event,Ā all 24 fighters successfully made weight. With that, every fight has remained intact, and all that remains on Friday night is for the athletes to face off one final time at the UFC 307 ceremonial weigh-ins!
Check out a live stream via the official UFC YouTube channel below, commencing at 6 p.m. ET.
Two titles will be on the line at the top of the card, with Alex Pereira defending his light heavyweight belt against Khalil Rountree and Raquel Pennington staking the women’s bantamweight gold opposite Julianna PeƱa.
UFC 307 takes place Saturday, October 5 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The main card begins at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT.
See above for a replay of the UFC 307Ā Weigh-In Show, and check out the full results below!
Main Card:
Light Heavyweight Championship: Alex Pereira (205lbs) vs. Khalil Rountree (205lbs)
Womenās Bantamweight Championship: Raquel Pennington (135lbs) vs. Julianna PeƱa (134.5lbs)
A lot has been made about how neither man is going to look to grapple in this fight, given their specialist styles.
Rountree hasn’t attempted a single takedown during his UFC career, and Pereira has only shot for one, which was against fellow striking specialist Israel Adesanya.
However, someone who knows the champion’s game well believes that if needed, Pereira could shock the world with his developing skill set.
Renato Valente Says Alex Pereira Could Submit Khalil Rountree At UFC 307
Renato Valente, who is a training partner of Pereira’s, believes this possibility is worth considering before the main event gets underway.
In a recent interview with The Scrap, Valente predicted that the champ could retain his belt via his first-ever submission win.
āIām really confident in that. Definitely, everyone expects a KO from Alex. Really, I can see that, dream about it. If I close my eyes, I can see it, but also, I can see Alex submitting him. I think thatās something to consider if you want to bet, you can put it there.ā
Valente went on to give his own estimation of the odds of Pereira finishing Rountree by knockout or submission.
āKO for Alex or submission, let’s say 70:30 this time. 70% chance for a KO, 30% for a submission.ā
Topping the lineup will be reigning UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira, who is tasked with getting the better of surprise challenger Khalil Rountree if heās to record a third successful title defense in 2024.
The hype for UFC 307 headlining Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree is steadily rising as the event approaches. Although it is also being called a mismatch because of rankings, the possibility of witnessing a huge upset has many fans on the edge of their seats.
Underdogs have performed significantly well against UFC champions lately. Be it Leon Edwards against Kamaru Usman, Belal Muhammad against Edwards, or Sean Strickland against Israel Adesanya, there are plenty of recent examples where viewers were shocked by how a fight played out.
To pull off an upset at UFC 307, Rountree will likely have to deal with Pereira’s leg kicks that have troubled all his past opponents. According to Max Holloway, here’s how the title challenger will avoid getting his legs compromised by the champion…
Max Holloway Claims Khalil Rountree Has The Tools To Stop Alex Pereira’s Leg Kicks At UFC 307
Holloway discussed the UFC 307 main event on his YouTube channel recently. “Blessed” believes the Brazilian to be an unstoppable force at light heavyweight and is curious to see whether the latter can break Ronda Rousey’s record for the shortest time between three UFC title defenses.
Despite understanding why “Poatan” is a huge favorite, Holloway pointed out that the UFC 307 main event could be a much closer fight than it seems. Rountree’s losses to Ion CuČelaba and Johnny Walker have naturally hurt his brand, but Holloway still considers him a threat.
“We saw Khalil Rountree. We saw his ups and downs, his losses. He did lose to some guys that he should have probably never lost to but this, this mother sucker brother, he’s an animal bro. He’s just violence bro. And these two guys is just going to be, it’s going to be a violent fight bro. The biggest question is, it’s going to be, I already know what Khalil is going to do. I tell you guys this much, Khalil Rountree is going to try and stop Alex’s leg kick with that front, like, oblique kick. I’m telling you, the one that he’s done, stomped that guy’s knee out of his socket.”
While predicting the fight to be violent, Holloway mentioned Rountree’s ability to throw dangerous oblique kicks. “The War Horse” started his ongoing five-fight win streak in the UFC by breaking Modestas Bukauskas’ knee with a perfectly executed oblique kick. The fight had to be stopped instantly as it was evident Bukauskas had a displaced knee.
The former UFC featherweight champion believes that such perfectly timed oblique kicks could be game-changing for Rountree at UFC 307. Jon Jones has popularized this controversial yet effective move over the years. The light heavyweight GOAT has bothered most of his opponents with it, including Quinton Jackson, Alexander Gustafsson, and Thiago Santos.
Will Rountree surprise Pereira with the kickboxing tools in his arsenal or “Poatan” knock out the challenger cold with ease yet again at UFC 307?
Weāre deep into UFC 307 fight week, meaning it was recently time for the fighters set to be in action on October 5 to take to the stage and answer some questions.
Setting the stage for the headliners will be another title fight, with reigning bantamweight queen Raquel Pennington looking to record a first successful defense at the expense of returning former champ Julianna PeƱa.
The main card will also see the always entertaining Kevin Holland making the walk, as he shoots for the middleweight top 10 against Roman Dolidze.
As is customary during major fight weeks, the athletes took to the stage on Thursday for the pre-fight press conference. The UFC 307 edition saw every fighter set to make the walk on the main card in two daysā time with mic in hand.
Check out a full replay of the presser below via the UFCās official YouTube channel, followed by all the highlights and faceoffs.
Adesanya is only all too familiar with the devastating impact of Pereira’s strikes, particularly his infamous leg kicks, which have earned widespread acclaim for their potency.
Adesanya understands better than most that Pereiraās crushing power isnāt confined to his fists alone. Though his nickname “Poatan” means “Stone Hands,” the Brazilian’s leg kicks are equally as destructive.
Adesanya Admits ‘It’s A Different Feeling’ When Pereira’s Leg Kicks Connect
During a recent appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, “The Last Stylebender” reflected on his UFC clashes with Pereira. Adesanya specifically revisited their encounter at UFC 281, where he lost his middleweight crown to “Poatan.” He noted that he was in control for the first two rounds, but once Pereira unleashed his brutal leg kicks, the momentum shifted.
The former two-time 185-pound champion elaborated on the mechanics behind Pereira’s striking, highlighting how he executes such devastating blows. Adesanya likened the reigning UFC light heavyweight champion’s forefoot to a hammer.
“That f**king leg kick, bro,” Adesanya said. “You know what it is. If you look at this bit of his foot [forefoot], it’s like a hammer, like the back of a hammer because that’s what he kicks you with, so he doesn’t have to turn the hip over. And when he hits you with that, even because of his bone density and long legs, when he hits you with that, you just feel it like, ‘Oo, that’s bad.’”
“It’s a different feeling because I’ve been kicked by kickboxers all my life on the thigh and on the calf as well, but when he hits you with that bit, it’s just the surface so small, it travels and transfers through your whole calf, and you’re like, ‘Oh, I can’t put weight on this.’”
“Poatan” is set to defend his championship against Khalil Rountree in the main event of UFC 307, taking place this weekend at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Pereira enters this matchup on a high, following his stunning second-round knockout of Jiri Prochazka at UFC 303 this past June.
There's no one like Poatan š¹@AlexPereiraUFC looks for his THIRD title defense in 2024!
The main event will see Alex Pereira attempt to record his third successful title defense of 2024. Following on from knockout wins over Jamahal Hill at UFC 300 and JiÅĆ ProchĆ”zka at UFC 303, “Poatan” will headline another PPV, this time against a surprise challenger in #8-ranked light heavyweight Khalil Rountree.
Co-headlining will be another titleholder in Raquel Pennington, who returns nine months on from her crowning to defend the women’s bantamweight belt against fellow TUF 18 competitor Julianna PeƱa, who has been out of action for over two years.
Ahead of Saturdayās UFC 307 event, Kyle Dimond, Ryan Jarrell, Thomas Albano, Pranav Pandey, and Aakrit Sharma have provided their picks for the five matchups set for the main card.
Below, you can check out the current leaderboard through six cards.
Thomas Albano (23-6)
Ryan Jarrell (17-12)
Kyle Dimond (15-14)
Andrew Starc (8-11)
Pranav Pandey (4-6)
Aakrit Sharma (2-3)
And with that, itās time for the teamās predictions for UFC 307.
Middleweight: Roman Dolidze vs. Kevin Holland
Images: UFC.com
Kyle Dimond: Holland up at middleweight against a grappler just seems like a recipe for disaster. Considering that Dolidze has fought up at light heavyweight, that only makes me more confident in him being able to take Holland down and hold him there. Enough said. (Prediction: Roman Dolidze)
Ryan Jarrell: This is a tricky fight to pick because I can see paths both men have to a victory here. I think Holland is the more polished striker and could be able to get the better of Dolidze on the feet. But the Georgian is a wild man and can mix things up and make it very dangerous for Holland. I expect Dolidze to have the bigger moments in this fight. I want to say he wins via TKO but Holland is tough, so the pick is Dolidze by decision. (Prediction: Roman Dolidze)
Thomas Albano: After his win over Anthony Smith, questions emerged about Roman Dolidze: will he try to go for another fight among the middleweight contender scene (after a loss to Nassourdine Imavov)? Or will he try his hand at 205 pounds again? Ultimately, he chooses the 185 route, replacing an injured Chris Curtis against Holland. “Big Mouth” has lost four of his last seven, though he enters off a win over MichaÅ Oleksiejczuk at UFC 302.
Nothing to say about this one other than striker vs. grappler ā simple as that. If this fight gets to the ground, Holland is in trouble. Even if heās improved his takedown defense game, Dolidze will be able to control the fight there. If Holland keeps the fight on the feet, then heāll be able to pick Dolidze apart. Admittedly, this is a coin flip, but I think Dolidze will have the chin and endurance to outlast Hollandās strikes ā and enough strength to take Holland to the ground. (Prediction: Roman Dolidze)
Pranav Pandey: From what I can gather, this matchup promises to be a true 50/50 affair, with both fighters showcasing their unique and dynamic styles that have consistently led them to success. Dolidze seemed a bit derailed after suffering the first back-to-back losses of his career, but “The Caucasian” rebounded spectacularly with a dominant performance against Smith at UFC 303. The Georgian packs some serious power in his hands and is equally adept in grappling.
As for Holland, he enjoys a notable reach advantage and displays impressive fluidity in his footwork, complemented by solid takedown defense. However, my only concern with “Trailblazer” is that, in his recent fights, he hasnāt appeared fully invested in competing and hasn’t looked as sharp as he once did. Despite this, you can never count Holland out. That said, I believe Dolidze will take this matchup, successfully keeping Holland at bay while leveraging his strengths. (Prediction: Roman Dolidze)
Aakrit Sharma: There are ways for both Holland and Dolidze to emerge victorious here. Dolidze can utilize his size and wrestling to shut down his opponentās offense, while Holland can rely on his speed and movement to overwhelm the Georgian on the feet. Holland has only suffered one TKO loss in his career, while Dolidze has never been finished via strikes or submission. Iām predicting the fight goes the distance and Holland wins via decision. Even if he gets taken down, āTrailblazerā has the potential to pull out a submission. (Prediction: Kevin Holland)
Consensus: 4-1 Roman Dolidze
Women’s Bantamweight: Ketlen Vieira vs. Kayla Harrison
Images: UFC.com
Kyle Dimond: I struggle to see how Vieira is able to make this fight competitive once Harrison gets hold of her. The big question ahead of her debut at UFC 300 was making bantamweight and, sure, it likely wasnāt an easy cut, but she made the weight and looked good inside the Octagon. The bantamweight division needs a big performance from her and a just as important post-fight interview. I donāt see anyone causing her too many problems in this division right now. I predict she’ll find a second-round TKO in Utah. (Prediction: Kayla Harrison)
Ryan Jarrell: The odds in this fight make it pretty hard to go against the American. We all know the insane skillset that Harrison possesses. I do think Vieira is a live underdog here, and I can see her surprising the masses and pulling off the upset. But that doesnāt mean I feel confident enough to pick her to beat the two-time Olympic gold medalist. Give me Harrison to win via second-round submission. (Prediction: Kayla Harrison)
Thomas Albano: There are plenty of people who feel Harrison should have been the one challenging for the womenās bantamweight title this weekend. But PeƱa played her cards right and it paid off. So Harrison, just in her second UFC fight, has to go against another dangerous name in the womenās 135-pound division in Vieira. The Brazilian, meanwhile, has won three of her last four, though she hasnāt fought since the summer of 2023. Vieraās most recent win came against Pannie Kianzad, and her other victories were decisions over Holm and Miesha Tate. Her only loss in this span? Raquel Pennington ā the current champ.
Stylistically, this could be a really good fight considering Vieira, with her own skillset in judo and jiu-jitsu, could try to have a grappling battle with the two-time Olympic gold medalist ā or try to use striking to counter Harrisonās game. That said, Harrison is just so good all around, putting that on display against Holm after building herself up with a pair of title wins in the PFL (and coming just short of a third). Harrison should be able to win this one and lock up a guaranteed shot against the Pennington vs. PeƱa winner. (Prediction: Kayla Harrison)
Pranav Pandey: I think this could be one of the most lopsided matchups weāll witness on Saturday night. Vieira is undeniably tough and has a solid grappling foundation, but the real question is whether she can keep someone like Harrison grounded ā and if so, for how long? In my opinion, Harrisonās sheer dominance is likely too overwhelming for the Brazilian to manage, making it an uphill battle for Vieira from the start. The two-time Olympic gold medalist will bring a fierce intensity no matter where the fight unfolds. Whether it’s on the feet, on the mat, or anywhere in between, her dynamic style is set to take control at every turn. (Prediction: Kayla Harrison)
Aakrit Sharma: Now that we know Harrison can make weight for the UFC womenās bantamweight division, I do not doubt sheāll be champion by the end of 2025, especially in Nunes’ absence. Harrison should rely on the same game plan that helped her win her UFC debut against Holly Holm, the wrestling. However, fighting at altitude following a brutal weight cut could be a problem for the Olympian and she should avoid trading shots with Vieira as the Brazilian possesses decent power and accuracy on the feet for the division.
Although Vieira boasts 93 percent takedown defense in the UFC, sheās yet to face someone as powerful and experienced as Harrison. Thanks to the constant takedown threat, Vieira might not be as comfortable and fluid on the feet as well, helping Harrison get an unexpected KO victory. (Prediction: Kayla Harrison)
Ryan Jarrell: Father Time has a pretty good track record unless your Tom Brady. But this is not football, and Bautista is a hungry, young Lion looking to make his mark against the legend in Aldo. This fight will be very competitive and Aldo will have his moments, but I believe Bautista is diverse enough to win a decision in what could be Fight of the Night. (Prediction: Mario Bautista)
Thomas Albano: Just when we thought Aldoās time in the Octagon was done, he comes back earlier this year to put on a solid performance against Martinez. Now, Aldo gets a lower-ranked contender in Bautista. Despite the Brazilianās age and brief retirement, he has won four of five fights heās had since December 2020. The only loss in that span came against current bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili. Bautista, meanwhile, is sporting a six-fight win streak that includes submissions of Brian Kelleher and Benito Lopez, as well as a decision over Ricky SimĆ³n in his most recent outing.
Pranav Pandey: Thereās no slowing down the āKing of Rio.ā After his return at UFC 301 following a hiatus, Aldo reminded everyone exactly why heās held in such legendary esteem. The Brazilian icon masterfully dismantled Martinez, showcasing his trademark distance control and fluid in-and-out striking, leaving his opponent with little room to counter. Despite entering the sunset years of his illustrious career, the former 145-pound kingpin remains fully engaged, showing no signs of losing his edge. But while itās tough for me to go against Aldo, Bautista presents a serious challenge.
The American brings a well-rounded grappling game, seamlessly blending feints with takedowns, and has been on an impressive run lately. The real question, though, is whether Bautista can apply enough pressure to disrupt Aldo’s rhythm. I believe he can. Bautistaās youth, freshness, and relentless pace, coupled with the potential impact of Utahās altitude, could very well wear Aldo down and make it difficult for him to keep up with such a high-octane style. (Prediction: Mario Bautista)
Aakrit Sharma: This is my FOTN contender for UFC 307. The Bautista that showed up in the third round against SimĆ³n was truly special. The pace, the volume, the accuracy, and the timing would trouble anyone in the UFC menās bantamweight division. Bautista is dangerous because he has several tools in his arsenal. He can kick, strike, and most importantly, hurt you with knees and elbows. For the rising American prospect, the path to victory should be to keep Aldo in the clinch and land in the pocket as much as possible. He has a great ground game and takedown defense, but itās unlikely to work against Aldo, who also boasts one of the highest takedown defense rates in UFC history.
UFC Women’s Bantamweight Title: Raquel Pennington vs. Julianna PeƱa
Images: UFC/Zuffa LLC
Kyle Dimond: This one is a really tough one to call. I think PeƱa at her best is probably better than Pennington, and I think Iād lean that way if it was over three rounds. This is one Iāve gone back and forth on and I can totally see another grinding performance from Pennington to retain the title. But, Iām gonna back PeƱa. My major concern is that she doesnāt have a win over anyone in the UFC righ tnow. However, many of Penningtonās wins havenāt been massively impressive either, so maybe that will level things out. (Prediction: Julianna PeƱa)
Ryan Jarrell: The dislike these two ladies have for one another will add to the build-up of this fight. However, I think the bout itself will be somewhat of a snooze fest. Mostly, because I believe PeƱa will dominate the wrestling and grappling exchanges and spend a lot of time in top control. I expect “The Venezuelan Vixen” to win a decision here. (Prediction: Julianna PeƱa)
Thomas Albano: Itās not the most popular choice of fight, but thereās credit that has to be given out. The unpopular manner Pennington won the womenās bantamweight championship at the start of the year does not fall all on her. And though PeƱa has not fought since UFC 277, and has complained about not receiving a trilogy fight with Amanda Nunes, sheās got another opportunity at the title now. In fairness, PeƱa did score one of MMAās greatest upsets when she finished Nunes at UFC 269. There is certainly merit to her game. Pennington, meanwhile, was pretty dominant when she won the then-vacant title at UFC 297 in a fight with Mayra Bueno Silva that went the distance ā a fight that honestly showed Bueno Silva did not belong there.
These two ladies are two of the best that the UFCās 135-pound division has to offer. Both these two also have history with one another as members of Team Tate during season 18 of The Ultimate Fighter – which PeƱa won, with Pennington falling in the semifinals. Pennington is the defending champion and is on a six-fight win streak, but I feel that PeƱa just has more power, a better well-rounded skillset, and better wins and experience in terms of competition. That may probably play out on Saturday night with āThe Venezuelan Vixenā getting the gold back. (Prediction: Julianna PeƱa)
Pranav Pandey: This matchup between Pennington and PeƱa is one that, in my view, could swing in either direction at any moment. Pennington, the reigning champion, comes in riding the wave of a five-fight win streak. Known for her relentless pace, “Rocky” brings a high-volume striking game that methodically wears down her opponents over the course of a fight. However, Penningtonās lack of knockout power often pushes her bouts to go the distance, which could be a disadvantage against someone as tough and relentless as PeƱa.
“The Venezuelan Vixen” is a durable powerhouse with an unwavering pace, constantly pressuring her adversaries with ceaseless activity. Sheās not the type to let her opponents settle into their rhythm easily, and against someone like Pennington, sheāll be looking to turn this into a gritty war. The way I see it, Pennington will undoubtedly have her moments of success, but PeƱa possesses the full arsenal needed to prevail and reclaim the championship. (Prediction: Julianna PeƱa)
Aakrit Sharma: As a womenās UFC fighter, itās hard to have a bigger flex than beating Nunes. However, the rematch being a complete shutout definitely hurt PeƱaās brand, with many questioning this title shot against Pennington. I do believe PeƱa to be tough and skilled enough to grab the belt from “Rocky,” though.
“The Venezuelan Vixen” should benefit greatly from setting the pace of the fight early on and mixing things up, as taking down the UFC womenās bantamweight champion wonāt be an easy task. Sheāll have to give the champ several things to worry about for winning on the scorecards as I donāt think either of them will be finished. My pick for this one is PeƱa winning by decision. (Prediction: Julianna PeƱa)
Consensus: 5-0 Julianna PeƱa
UFC Light Heavyweight Title: Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree
Images: UFC.com
Kyle Dimond: I like watching Rountree a lot. His striking style is tons of fun to watch. He also certainly has the power and skill to knock anyone in this division out. I would have liked to have seen the Jamahal Hill fight first, though, because frankly, Iām not sure I could back anyone to beat Pereira when their best win is Anthony Smith.
Rountree is dangerous, but when youāre talking about Pereira, youāre talking about an all-time great in kickboxing. āPoatanā could get caught if heās overly aggressive, but I think heāll pick Rountree apart before ending it in the second. (Prediction: Alex Pereira)
Ryan Jarrell: Iām excited for this fight. We all know the power that both of these guys possess. It should make for an exciting finish one way or another. As much as I like Rountree, I just donāt see him as a champion. I think the four-inch reach advantage that Pereira has will be the difference in this fight. Give me “Poatan” via second-round TKO. (Prediction: Alex Pereira)
Thomas Albano: I donāt want to come off like a Rountree hater ā he has seemed like a cool dude in the interviews that he does. And stylistically, this fight can be fun considering how these two can be creative and powerful as strikers. Having said that (and yes, I know the UFCās ranking system is skewed, but neverthelessā¦) why is the #8 contender getting a title shot? I truly feel that the UFC probably wanted Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway for this card. But with that fight moved to UFC 308, and the UFC probably wanting a better headliner than Pennington vs. PeƱa, they called up Pereira to save their butts (again).
Pereira has retained the light heavyweight title against JiÅĆ ProchĆ”zka and Jamahal Hill. Rountreeās win streak, meanwhile, has seen him go through the likes of Smith, Chris Daukaus, and Karl Roberson. This will be a calculated kickboxing-style matchup as both men look for the key opportunity to land a devastating shot on the other. Unfortunately for Rountree, Pereiraās strikes are just too powerful, and heās dominated against much stronger competition. Youāll see a frenzy if Rountree gets the win (lest anything else in the second half of 2024 UFC be crazier), but Pereira should probably take this in the first six minutes or so. (Prediction: Alex Pereira)
Pranav Pandey: From where I stand, this clash is one of the most direct and explosive matchups on the UFC 307 card. With both Pereira and Rountree being strikers, I don’t foresee any room for grappling or takedowns coming into play. Rountree has proven time and again that he can weather the storm against elite-tier kickboxers, and respond with even greater force. “The War Horse” boasts a lethal kicking arsenal, complemented by knockout power in his fists. However, ‘Poatan’ is far from an ordinary kickboxer, having carved a path through several former champions during his brief yet immensely successful tenure in the Octagon.
“Poatan’s” exceptional fight IQ and thunderous striking ability allow him to methodically dismantle his opponents. Rountree will need to close the distance early to nullify Pereira’s reach, but doing so may leave him dangerously exposed to Pereira’s counters, particularly his devastating left hook. I believe Pereiraās significant reach advantage, along with the unrelenting ferocity in his attacks, will overwhelm Rountree and make it incredibly difficult for him to land his best shots. The Brazilianās calculated pressure and ability to dictate the fightās tempo will likely cause Rountree to unravel under the onslaught. (Prediction: Alex Pereira)
Aakrit Sharma: Yes, Rountree can pull off a huge upset against Pereira if he lands a good shot. Will he, though? āPoatanā just looks unstoppable at the moment, and it seems to be a matter of time before he finds his opponent’s chin one way or another. Considering Glover Teixeira corners and trains Pereira, I actually wonāt be surprised if the UFC light heavyweight champ shoots for a takedown and showcases some of his wrestling. Considering heās already mastered striking and kickboxing, Iām sure Pereira focuses a lot on filling the holes in his game to prepare for opponents like Magomed Ankalaev.
Rountreeās a great striker and his momentum through a five-fight win streak is undeniable. āThe War Horseā can trouble the champ with leg kicks and powerful shots, but I simply donāt see anyone taking out Pereira on the feet. (Prediction: Alex Pereira)
Consensus: 5-0 Alex Pereira
Thatāll do it for our UFC 307 staff picks! What do you think? Do your picks look similar? Let us know in the comments section! Also, you can check out the full UFC 307 card below.
Main Card:
Light Heavyweight Championship: Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree
Women’s Bantamweight Championship: Raquel Pennington vs. Julianna PeƱa
Daniel Cormier is slated to be on the call for the fight that will see Alex Pereira put his UFC light heavyweight title on the line in the headliner of this Saturdayās UFC 307 pay-per-view event against Khalil Rountree.
Pereira is a -500 favorite over Rountree, whoās a +380 underdog. However, the former UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight champion warns Pereira not to overlook the challenger. Cormier also cited how crazy things happen in Utah.
āThatās a big fight, but to play the devilās advocate, in Utah, we have now seen Kamaru Usman dominating Leon Edwards, get knocked out at the very end and Edwards becoming champ,ā Cormier said on his āFunky and the Champā show (H/T to MMAJunkie.com) āWeāve also seen Dustin Poirier, who had beaten Justin Gaethje, knocked out, and Justin Gaethje become the BMF champion. So, if thereās anything to be said about Salt Lake City, upsets happen.ā
Daniel Cormier Feels That Overlooking Rountree Could Be A ‘Trap’ That Pereira Falls Into
This fight makes Cormier feel like it could be a trap for the champion, and if heās not ready, he could get caught by the dangerous challenger.
āAnd it would seem that a guy whoās ranked number eight in the world taking on the champion is a blueprint for an upset, because in those moments, the champ may overlook him. I donāt know if Pereira will do that, but those are the times ā they call them trap games in football. This feels like a trap game for Alex Pereira. And if he aināt ready, it seems like Khalil Rountree with his power can knock him out.ā
