Casual UFC fans, the ones who buy tickets and actually pay for their pay-per-view (PPV) streams, love highlight-reel finishes — particularly knockouts. And as we saw against Jamahal Hill (UFC 300) and Jiri Prochazka (UFC 303), reigning light heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira, is one of the best in the business when it comes to switching off the lights.
Perhaps that’s why matchmakers are working overtime to protect the “golden goose.”
The promotion drew criticism for booking Pereira against No. 8-ranked contender Khalil Rountree Jr., bypassing No. 2-ranked Magomed Ankalaev (who now fights No. 5-ranked Aleksandar Rakic). The “War Horse” showdown at UFC 307 also leaves former champ Jan Blachowicz without an opponent for his end-of-year return.
“No f*cking idea, I don’t know, you tell me because I am confused,” Blachowicz told Middle Easy. “What the f*ck, you know? Why did they book Ankalaev with Rakic, why? Why don’t they ask me about this? Maybe I’d be ready a little bit earlier. Nobody asked me. I just don’t understand. Like I said on the internet, I feel like it’s special protection for Pereira.”
Pereira scraped past the No. 4-ranked Blachowicz when they first went to war at UFC 291 last summer. The 41 year-old Pole has remained sidelined in the months that followed as a result of shoulder surgery but hopes to blast his way back into the 205-pound title picture upon his inevitable return.
“I believe that I won this fight against [Pereira] and maybe they don’t want to make this fight again because they know this time he’s going to lose 100 percent,” Blachowicz continued. “Maybe that’s also why they don’t want to give Ankalaev to him because Ankalaev is also very strong. Maybe they want to make another nice win for him, another knockout win. I just don’t understand it.”
UFC 307 takes place on Oct. 5 in Salt Lake City.