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Khalil Rountree cleared for UFC 307 after reduced sentence for self-Reported PED violation

Khalil Rountree cleared for UFC 307 after reduced sentence for self-Reported PED violation Surging light heavyweight knockout artist, Khalil Rountree has been cleared to officially compete at UFC 307 at the beginning…

Surging light heavyweight knockout artist, Khalil Rountree has been cleared to officially compete at UFC 307 at the beginning of October, challenging undisputed champion, Alex Pereira in Salt Lake City, after he was cleared following a recent anti-doping violation.

Rountree, the current number eight ranked light heavyweight divisional contender, has been sidelined since he featured back in December of last year, landing an eventual third round knockout win over former title challenger, Anthony Smith at the UFC Apex facility.

As for Sao Paulo native, Pereira, the former middleweight gold holder and current light heavyweight kingpin, most recently landed his second consecutive defence of the 205lbs crown back in June at UFC 303, felling Jiri Prochazka with a stunning second round high-kick knockout win during International Fight Week.

And hit with an anti-doping violation earlier this summer, Rountree was notified by the CSAD that he had bene hit with a two-month retroactive suspension stemming from May, after he tested positive for banned substances, 5a-androstanediol, 5b-androstanediol and androsterone, of an exogenous origin.

Khalil Rountree clear to fight Alex Pereira at UFC 307

However, this week, Rountree was hit with a four-month retroactive suspension which expires on September 18. — and is now free to compete against former two-weight champion, Pereira at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City.

Khalil Rountree stops Anthony Smith with brutal KO win at UFC Vegas 83 highlights

“Khalil Rountree Jr. is now clear for his #UFC307 title fight after receiving a four-and-a-half month suspension that terminates on Sept. 18 and prosecution fees of $157 after previously self-reporting accidental ingestion of a banned substance,” John Morgan posted on his X account.

Khalil Rountree Jr. is now clear for his #UFC307 title fight after receiving a four-and-a-half month suspension that terminates on Sept. 18 and prosecution fees of $157 after previously self-reporting accidental ingestion of a banned substance.

— John Morgan (@JohnMorgan_MMA) August 29, 2024

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 […]

Continue Reading Khalil Rountree Says He Would Fire His Coaches If They Insisted He Grapple Alex Pereira at MMA News.

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.”

Continue Reading Khalil Rountree Says He Would Fire His Coaches If They Insisted He Grapple Alex Pereira at MMA News.

‘Just a few friends training in the garage’: Glover Teixeira trains Alex Pereira with a beer on hand

Ahead of his title fight return in two months time in the main event of UFC 307, Alex Pereira…

Ahead of his title fight return in two months time in the main event of UFC 307, Alex Pereira appears to be a joy to prepare for combat according to long-time training partner, Glover Teixeira — who admits he often trains the Brazilian while touting a beer in hand.

Pereira, a former undisputed middleweight gold holder, and the current undisputed light heavyweight champion, is slated to return in the headliner of UFC 307 at the beginning of October, returning to Salt Lake City, Utah for the second time in the space of a year.

Booked to headline the pay-per-view event, Sao Paulo knockout artist, Pereira is set to take on fellow surging knockout artist, Khalil Rountree — who is fresh from a December stoppage over former title challenger, Anthony Smith last year.

UFC champion Alex Pereira went back to his old job at a tire repair shop in Brazil today pic.twitter.com/QzIXqRPK8n

— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) August 25, 2024

Glover Teixeira breaks down Alex Pereira gameplan ahead of UFC 307

Sharing his thoughts on the matchup with Ultimate Fighter finalist, Rountree, former champion, Teixeira expects the two to share the bout on the feet for the majority of the UFC 307 main event fight.

Alex Pereira branded 'Biggest chicken in the UFC' for calling out Dricus du Plessis

“We prepare for everything,” Glover Teixeira told RG.org of Alex Pereira. “(Khalil) Rountree is a good fighter. We know who he is: tough kid, very good striker… It’s not much different than the other fights, to be honest, because anything can happen. So it’s pretty much the same training for Jamahal Hill or Jiri Prochazka.

Furthermore, according to Minas Gerais veteran, Teixeira, his compatriot Alex Pereira is a joy to train — with the Danbury, Connecticut team plying their trades out of a garage.

Boxing Champion Zhilei Zhang Trains with Alex Pereira, Claims He Can Take Heavyweight Title: ‘He has the power’

“At the end of the day, it’s just a few friends training in the garage, having fun, doing the right thing and conquering the world,” Teixeira explained. “It’s all play, man. At the end of the our lives, we’re just going to look back at the quality moments together. Sometimes, I coach with a beer in my hand.”

Chael Sonnen claims Khalil Rountree easily ‘Walks through’ Alex Pereira in UFC 307 title fight

Former two-weight title challenger, Chael Sonnen is going with the massive underdog ahead of UFC 307 in two months…

Former two-weight title challenger, Chael Sonnen is going with the massive underdog ahead of UFC 307 in two months time — picking unlikely light heavyweight title challenger, Khalil Rountree to solve the striking puzzle of Alex Pereira and capture the crown in Salt Lake City.

Rountree, the current number eight ranked light heavyweight challenger, returns in October in the headliner of UFC 307, taking on former two-division champion, Pereira, in his first championship charge under the banner of the promotion.

Sidelined through an anti-doping violation, Rountree, a finalist on The Ultimate Fighter, most recently improved his impressive winning run to five straight fights with an impressive third round knockout win over former title chaser, Anthony Smith.

As for Alex Pereira, the Sao Paulo knockout artist headlined UFC 303 back in June, landing his second successful defense of the 205lbs crown already this year, laying out former champion, Jiri Prochazka with a spectacular second round high-kick knockout win.

Chael Sonnen picks Khalil Rountree to topple Alex Pereira

And despite opening as a considerable betting underdog to beat Brazilian favorite, Alex Pereira later this year in the main event of UFC 307, Rountree has received the backing on former title challenger, Sonnen to “walk through” the champion with ease.

“First off, let me give you the hot take of the day: Khalil Rountree is going to walk through (Alex) Pereira,” Chael Sonnen said on Good Guy/Bad Guy. “That is the worst matchup I could think of. This is Smackdown invading Raw, and let me explain. When you think of who’s going to go fight for a title on pay-per-view, we think of other guys who have won a whole bunch of fights on pay-per-view. Well, Khalil was from Smackdown. He came from the other show.”

“…I will tell you this because I don’t know how familiar you are or the rest of the fans are with Khalil, but he does his absolute best work when he’s being attacked by a kickboxer,” Sonnen explained. “It’s not Khalil swarming somebody or taking them down or submitting them. He is a counter fighter, and he loves when you punch or kick at him first.”

Daniel Cormier Makes Conor McGregor Comparison To Justify Alex Pereira’s UFC 307 Title Defence 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 Raki? in a potential title eliminator. The announcement has left fans divided with many complaining about the no. 8 ranked fighter […]

Continue Reading Daniel Cormier Makes Conor McGregor Comparison To Justify Alex Pereira’s UFC 307 Title Defence Against Khalil Rountree: ‘Big Enough Star Yet?’ at MMA News.

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 B?achowicz 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.

Continue Reading Daniel Cormier Makes Conor McGregor Comparison To Justify Alex Pereira’s UFC 307 Title Defence Against Khalil Rountree: ‘Big Enough Star Yet?’ at MMA News.

Jan Blachowicz wants Ji?í Procházka Next: “I think it will be a very good fight”

Jan Blachowicz thinks a fight with Ji?í Procházka makes the most sense. Blachowicz has been on the shelf ever…

Jan Blachowicz thinks a fight with Ji?í Procházka makes the most sense.

Blachowicz has been on the shelf ever since a July 2023 loss to Alex Pereira in the current light heavyweight champion’s divisional debut. After undergoing a pair of should surgeries, the Polish powerhouse is healed up and is hoping to make his return to the Octagon before 2024 comes to a close.

As for who he could find himself competing against, Blachowicz believes there’s only one man who fits the bill. Well, maybe two.

“For me, what makes sense is Hill or Procházka,” Blachowicz told MiddleEasy. “I think Ji?í 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],” Blachowicz continued. “For me, only Pereira, Hill, Procházka. I don’t (want) anybody else” (h/t MMA News).

Jan Blachowicz criticizes Khalil Rountree’s title shot

Despite the long layoff, Blachowicz still holds things down as the No. 4 ranked contender in the light heavyweight division with only Jamahal Hill, Magomed Ankalaev, and Ji?í Procházka sitting above him. Realistically, any one of those fights would make sense.

However, we can’t imagine many people clamoring for a rematch against Ankalaev after their lackluster title tilt in 2022 resulted in a draw.

Meanwhile, Alex Pereira is gearing up for his third defense of the light heavyweight title after smashing his way through both Hill and Procházka earlier this year. In a surprising twist, ‘Poatan’ will meet No. 8 ranked contender Khalil Rountree in the UFC 307 main event on October 5 in Salt Lake City.

Blachowicz, like many, was none-too-pleased to hear about Rountree’s opportunity to skip the line.

“With all due respect to Khalil but there are at least two higher ranked contenders who are ready to fight Poatan,” Blachowicz wrote on X. “He doesn’t need special protection.”