Returning to the Octagon at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City for his third title defense of 2024, ‘Poatan’ scored yet another highlight-reel knockout, though it didn’t come without a bit of adversity.
Squaring off with heavy-hitting contender Khalil Rountree, Pereira showed his opponent the proper respect throughout the first three rounds and even found himself on the wrong side of a few stinging shots and a near knockdown. However, it was just a matter of time before the Pereira took over. That moment came in the fourth round as he began to batter and bloody ‘The War Horse’ with a series of methodical strikes.
With 30 seconds to go in the penultimate round, Pereira unleashed a flurry of strikes against the fence that finally sent Rountree crashing to the canvas. With his face already busted up and his lead leg compromised from a slew of calf kicks, referee Marc Goddard had finally seen enough, calling for the TKO stoppage.
Official Result: Alex Pereira def. Khalil Rountree via TKO (strikes) at 4:34 of Round 4.
Check out highlights from Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree at UFC 307:
Khalil Rountree brought a challenge, but Alex Pereira managed to bring out another legendary performance — comeback style this time — 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 […]
Khalil Rountree brought a challenge, but Alex Pereira managed to bring out another legendary performance — comeback style this time — 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 — 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 deal… big congrats to Roundtree perfect first 2 rounds…. 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 Ji?í Procházka at UFC 295. He then defended the title this year against Jamahal Hill and Procházka 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.
Alex Pereira added another nice bullet point to his ever-growing resume with a fourth-round TKO win over Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307. It won’t take long…
Alex Pereira added another nice bullet point to his ever-growing resume with a fourth-round TKO win over Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307. It won’t take long…
Alex Pereira remained the UFC’s undisputed light heavyweight champion with a fourth-round TKO win over Khalil Rountree Jr. in the UFC 307 main event from the…
Alex Pereira remained the UFC’s undisputed light heavyweight champion with a fourth-round TKO win over Khalil Rountree Jr. in the UFC 307 main event from the…
Alex Pereira expects Khalil Rountree to feel the pressure as he enters the Octagon for his first title opportunity….
Alex Pereira expects Khalil Rountree to feel the pressure as he enters the Octagon for his first title opportunity.
In a few short hours, ‘The War Horse’ will attempt to shock the world when he enters the main event spotlight at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City. There, Rountree will square off with reigning and defending light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira in a headliner that will surely have everyone on the edge of their seat.
While Pereira has been here plenty of times before, already competing in his sixth UFC title fight, it will be Rountree’s first chance to take home gold via an opportunity he never saw coming.
“I was under suspension for a self-reported, taking a banned substance that was given to me,” Rountree said on Demetrious Johnson’s podcast. So, I was dealing with that and kind of talking back and forth with the athletic commission, like, ‘Guys. What’s it looking like? Give me an idea, you know.’ The last time I spoke to the athletic commission the number that I heard was nine months, so [that meant] I won’t be able to fight until February.
“So, I’m like, ‘OK, whatever, swallow that, do whatever I gotta do with it,’ and I just continued to train. Then, on a random Wednesday, I get a phone call from UFC, [they said], ‘Hey, how’s your day going?’ I’m like, ‘Terrible’, because I was actually having probably the worst day. [Then they responded], ‘Well I got some good news for you, you’re fighting Alex [Pereira], October 5th for the title [in] Salt Lake City,’ and I just lost my mind, I was like, ‘No way.”
With a win over Pereira, Rountree can add to a growing legacy of stunning upsets in The Crossroads of the West. Justin Gaethje’s second-round knockout of Dustin Poirier and Leon Edwards’ kick heard ’round the world both happened in Salt Lake City. Is Rountree primed to deliver another stunner in SLC?
Alex Pereira Suggests Pressure of the Moment may be too much for Rountree to handle
Perhaps, but ‘Poatan’ thinks the pressure of the moment will be undeniable and could very well lead to Rountree’s undoing.
Alex Pereira says Khalil Rountree will “feel the pressure” tomorrow night at #UFC307
“He’s a really dangerous guy, he’s coming here to win but the difference is I’ve been here many times, he’s been here [for] the first time.
“He’s a really dangerous guy, he’s coming here to win but the difference is I’ve been here many times, he’s been here [for] the first time,” Pereira said during the ceremonial weigh-ins on Friday. “Tomorrow he’s gonna feel the pressure” (h/t Sportskeeda).
Rountree goes into UFC 307 riding a five-fight win streak, including a highlight-reel-worthy knockout against Anthony ‘Lionheart’ Smith in his last outing.
Pereira will attempt to successfully defend his light heavyweight title for the third time in 2024 after securing big wins over Jamahal Hill at UFC 300 and a second-round KO of Jiri Prochazka in their UFC 303 rematch two months later.
UFC 307 comes to Salt Lake City, Utah with Alex Pereira and Khalil Rountree Jr. closing out a show that features two title fights, Olympic gold medalist Kayla…
UFC 307 comes to Salt Lake City, Utah with Alex Pereira and Khalil Rountree Jr. closing out a show that features two title fights, Olympic gold medalist Kayla…
#UFC #MMA #UFC307pic.twitter.com/vhhTn1ZAD3
(@WonderbreadMMA) 
Alex Pereira expects Khalil Rountree to feel the pressure as he enters the Octagon for his first title opportunity….
