alex pereira

UFC 307 Results & Highlights: Alex Pereira TKOs Khalil Rountree

UFC 307 took place tonight from the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights! In the main event, Alex Pereira put his light heavyweight title on the line against Khalil Rountree. While in the co-main event, Raquel Pennington looked to defend her women’s bantamweight title against former […]

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UFC 307 took place tonight from the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights!

In the main event, Alex Pereira put his light heavyweight title on the line against Khalil Rountree. While in the co-main event, Raquel Pennington looked to defend her women’s bantamweight title against former champ Julianna Peña.

UFC 307 Results: Main Card

Light Heavyweight Championship: Alex Pereira def. Khalil Rountree via TKO: R4, 4.32

Women’s Bantamweight Championship: Julianna Peña def. Raquel Pennington via split decision (48-47×2, 47-48)

Bantamweight: Mario Bautista def. José Aldo via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29)

Middleweight: Roman Dolidze def. Kevin Holland via TKO (injury stoppage): R1, 5.00

Women’s Bantamweight: Kayla Harrison def. Ketlen Vieira via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 29-28)

Preliminary Card

Welterweight: Joaquin Buckley def. Stephen Thompson via KO: R3, 2.17

Women’s Strawweight: Iasmin Lucindo def. Marina Rodriguez via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29)

Lightweight: Alexander Hernandez def. Austin Hubbard via split decision (29-28×2, 27-30)

Middleweight: César Almeida def. Ihor Potieria via unanimous decision (30-27×3)

Early Preliminary Card

Light Heavyweight: Ryan Spann def. Ovince Saint Preux via submission: R1, 1.35

Women’s Strawweight: Tecia Pennington def. Carla Esparza via unanimous decision (29-28×2, 30-27)

Welterweight: Court McGee def. Tim Means via submission: R1, 3.19

Preliminary Card Highlights

Court McGee def. Tim Means

Court McGee earned the first finish of UFC 307 with a rear-naked choke submission of Tim Means in the first round of their welterweight bout.

Ryan Spann def. Ovince Saint Preux

In this light heavyweight bout, Ryan Spann submitted Ovince Saint Preux with a guillotine choke early in the first round.

Joaquin Buckley def. Stephen Thompson

Joaquin Buckley kept his undefeated welterweight record in tact with a KO of Stephen Thompson in the third round.

Main Card Highlights

Kayla Harrison def. Ketlen Vieira

In this women’s bantamweight bout, Kayla Harrison earned her second UFC win with a unanimous decision against Ketlen Vieira.

Roman Dolidze def. Kevin Holland

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.

Mario Bautista def. José Aldo

In this bantamweight bout, Mario Bautista got it done via split decision against José Aldo.

Julianna Peña def. Raquel Pennington

In the co-main event, Julianna Peña earned a split decision win against Raquel Pennington to reclaim the women’s bantamweight crown.

Alex Pereira def. Khalil Rountree

In the main event, Alex Pereira retained his light heavyweight title with a TKO of Khalil Rountree.

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Former UFC Champ Highlights ‘Weirdest Thing’ About Fighting Alex Pereira

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 […]

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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 Ji?í Procházka…

Daniel Cormier Gives Khalil Rountree The Edge Over Jamahal Hill And Ji?í Procházka 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. Ji?í Procházka 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?”

READ MORE: UFC 307: Bold Prediction From Alex Pereira’s Training Partner For Main Event

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Alex Pereira’s Meteoric UFC Ascent Impresses Boxing Icon Teddy Atlas

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 didn’t unfold as expected, with a submission loss, he flew under the radar for nearly five years, […]

Continue Reading Alex Pereira’s Meteoric UFC Ascent Impresses Boxing Icon Teddy Atlas at MMA News.

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 didn’t 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 after—the dynamic results, the sensational extreme results that come after it. That is all you need to promote a superstar.”

“Poatan” is set to defend his 205-pound title for the third time this year, facing Khalil Rountree Jr. in the highly anticipated main event of UFC 307 this Saturday at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

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 Pereira’s Unorthodox ‘Hammer’ Leg Kicks

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Daniel Cormier: Alex Pereira’s Rapid Development Could Change the Game at UFC 307

There aren’t 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 […]

Continue Reading Daniel Cormier: Alex Pereira’s Rapid Development Could Change the Game at UFC 307 at MMA News.

There aren’t 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.

“Poatan,” as he’s known, believes that he’s developing even faster than his competition because he still has so much to learn.

Daniel Cormier Says Alex Pereira Believes He’s Catching Up Quickly

On the final episode of ESPN MMA’s Good Guy / Bad Guy before UFC 307, Daniel Cormier shared insights from his conversations with Pereira during fight week.

“DC” explained that while Pereira was still essentially an amateur when he arrived in the UFC, Pereira feels like he’s covering a lot of ground between fights.

Cormier described how Pereira is able to improve more than most elite fighters during his training camps, despite already being the top 205-pound fighter in the world.

“We keep saying he’s an amateur, he recognizes that but also says, ‘If I’m the best in the world now, imagine what I can be.’ Isn’t that a crazy thought? He was an amateur and became the world champ. Our improvements are usually incremental—like footwork adjustments—but he’s getting better in wrestling, cardio, and the clinch. He’s literally improving leaps and bounds every time, and he’s already the world champion.”

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UFC 307: Khalil Rountree’s Unexpected Path to a Title Fight

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. “The War Horse” is set to challenge reigning UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira in his first-ever title opportunity this Saturday at the Delta Center in […]

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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.

“The War Horse” 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 June—a 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.’s suspension to 4.5 months, acknowledging his decision to self-report the violation.

This reduction allowed “The War Horse” 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.

“It was a big surprise to me,” Rountree Jr. said. “I definitely didn’t 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 time… It was a complete surprise, so the way it happened was so unexpected. I didn’t realize that the phone call for a title fight was as close as it was.”

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.

“The fight that I was booked for before, I thought could possibly be the title eliminator, but after everything happened, I really didn’t know what was next. I didn’t know if I’d be waiting nine months to a year to fight. I didn’t 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.”

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.

Continue Reading UFC 307: Khalil Rountree’s Unexpected Path to a Title Fight at MMA News.

UFC 307: Alex Pereira Explains why the UFC passed on Magomed Ankalaev in place of Khalil Rountree

Poatan’ Alex Pereira, the current UFC light heavyweight world champion, will look to defend his crown at UFC 307…

Poatan’ Alex Pereira, the current UFC light heavyweight world champion, will look to defend his crown at UFC 307 against the top ten-ranked Khalil Rountree instead of the higher-ranked top contender Magomed Ankalaev. Speaking in an interview with the UFC’s Daniel Cormier, the Brazilian striker explained it all.

Brail’s Alex Pereira was a former two-division world champion in kickboxing before transitioning to MMA. Since then, he has earned UFC gold in both the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions. ‘Poatan’ is well known to fans due to his stunning knockouts, whether it be by head kick or left hook. He holds the UFC light heavyweight crown and will look to defend it on October 5 against Khalil Rountree.

Khalil Rountree

The US-born Khalil Rountree got the nod as the top contender for UFC 307 against Pereira, despite coming off of a PED suspension. However, he was on an impressive string of wins including a stunning KO against former top contender Anthony Smith. He will enter the fight with his signature Muay Thai base style of striking.

Magomed Ankalaev

The Russian Magomed Ankalaev is top-ranked in the UFC’s light heavyweight division and fought for the vacant UFC Light Heavyweight Championship against Jan Blachowicz. Since then, he has picked up a knockout win against Johnny Walker and will soon face Aleksandar Raki? at UFC 308. But going from the top contender to just another fighter in the division, despite not losing, opened the doors to many questions from some fans and Ankalaev himself.

UFC 307

The Brazilian-born ‘Poatan‘ Alex Pereira sat down in an interview with UFC personality, Daniel Cormier and addressed why the UFC would pass over Magomed Ankalaev. He said:

“The UFC presented this fight [against Rountree]. I cannot say I don’t know why the UFC didn’t put this guy [Ankaleev] in the fight because I do know. It’s because he’s boring. He puts on boring fights, so he’s not the first pick of the UFC.” [Ht Sportskeeda]