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Khalil Rountree calls for title fight with Alex Pereira after UFC Vegas 83 win: ‘It just makes sense’

Off the back of last night’s standout win over former title challenger, Anthony Smith at UFC Vegas 83, surging…

Off the back of last night’s standout win over former title challenger, Anthony Smith at UFC Vegas 83, surging light heavyweight contender, Khalil Rountree claims a championship showdown with division kingpin, Alex Pereira “makes sense” for him next.

Rountree, the current number eleven ranked light heavyweight contender – who is likely set to crack the division’s top 10 next week, turned in his fifth consecutive victory at UFC Vegas 83 overnight in a co-main event slot, laying waste to short-notice replacement, Smith with a thunderous third round TKO at the UFC Apex facility.

Alex Pereira called out by Khalil Rountree for UFC title fight

Turning in his fourth victory via knockout in his five most recent fights, The Ultimate Fighter alum, Rountree claimed a bout with Sao Paulo knockout artist, former middleweight champion-turned light heavyweight gold holder, Pereira makes total sense to him next.

“Say they [the UFC] put me at number ten and not number eight, where Anthony (Smith) was – so from nine up, in my opinion, and i think in the fans’ opinion, the most exciting fight would be me versus (Alex) Pereira,” Khalil Rountree told assembled media after UFC Vegas 83. “That’s just what I’ve seen from comments. After Alex’s win, I got flooded, people tagging me, and I think it makes sense.”

“Two dynamic, powerful strikers, I don’t plan to shoot any takedowns,” Khalil Rountree explained. “I don’t think I’ve ever shot for a takedown in my career. I don’t think he’s necessarily going to shoot for any takedowns, because the guy’s a warrior. So, then you have two explosive, dynamic [strikers] in my mind, it just makes sense.”

Winning vacant light heavyweight spoils in the headliner of UFC 295 back in November, former middleweight kingpin, Pereira stopped former champion, Jiri Prochazka with a blistering second round knockout win at Madison Square Garden.

Would you like to see Khalil Rountree fight Alex Pereira next?

Belal Muhammad slated to serve as backup to Leon Edwards – Colby Covington title fight at uFC 296

Streaking welterweight contender, Belal Muhammad has confirmed he will serve as the official backup fighter to next weekend’s undisputed…

Streaking welterweight contender, Belal Muhammad has confirmed he will serve as the official backup fighter to next weekend’s undisputed title fight between former foe, Leon Edwards, and Colby Covington – ahead of the pair’s slated clash at UFC 296 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Muhammad, the current number two ranked division contender, has been sidelined since he landed a one-sided unanimous decision win over former title chaser, Gilbert Burns at UFC 288 back in May, extending his undefeated streak to a stunning 10 consecutive boots.

Headlining UFC 297 next weekend in his second attempted title defense, Birmingham native, Edwards makes his return to ‘Sin City’ – taking on former interim champion, Covington in a long-awaited clash between the duo.

Edwards, the undisputed welterweight champion, headlined UFC 286 back in March of this year in London, turning in a majority decision win over three-time foe and former pound-for-pound number one, Kamaru Usman in the pair’s rubber match trilogy bout.

As for Covington, the Clovis native has been sidelined since he headlined a pay-per-view event against arch-rival and former training partner, former two-time title challenger, Jorge Masvidal back in March of last year – turning in a one-sided judging win over the Floridan veteran.

Belal Muhammad set to serve as backup fighter at UFC 296

And electing to utilize a backup fighter option at UFC 296 next weekend, Illinois native, Muhammad is set to claim that slot, with the surging contender on hand to replace either Edwards or Covington if required at the final flagship event of the year.

“For me, I was training this whole time regardless just in case something happened,” Belal Muhammad told MMA Junkie. “The last two main events on the pay-per-views both got canceled, but since my last fight with Gilbert Burns, I took that one on short-notice and I was like, ‘I never want to get out of shape like this again.’ Because I was so bad before that fight and it was the hardest fight cut ever.”

“So I knew I had to be a professional from then on,” Belal Muhammad explained. “Never getting big like that again.”

Report – Ex-Champion Henry Cejudo set to fight Merab Dvalishvili in clash at UFC 298 in Anaheim

Former undisputed flyweight and bantamweight champion, Henry Cejudo is set for his return to the Octagon at a UFC…

Former undisputed flyweight and bantamweight champion, Henry Cejudo is set for his return to the Octagon at a UFC 298 pay-per-view card on February 17. from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California – taking on surging Georgian contender, Merab Dvalishvili in a potential title-elimonator.

Cejudo, the current number three ranked bantamweight contender, snapped his three-year retirement from mixed martial arts back in August against Dvalishvili’s training partner and then-champion, Aljamain Sterling – suffering a split decision loss to the Uniondale native in the pair’s championship clash.

Henry Cejudo confirms Merab Dvalishvili fight at UFC 298

And as for Tbilisi native, Dvalishvili, the streaking contender currently holds the number two rank in the division, landing a one-sided unanimous decision win over former champion, Petr Yan in the pair’s main event clash at UFC Las Vegas back in March. Olympic gold medal winner, Henry Cejudo confirmed the pairing between himself and Merab Dvalishvili on his official YouTube channel.

16-3 as a professional, Los Angeles-born veteran, Cejudo had landed a successful bantamweight title defense against former two-time divisional champion, Dominick Cruz at UFC 249 back in 2020 – stopping the ex-titleholder with a series of late strikes, before stunningly calling time on his illustrious professional career.

As for Dvalishvili, the 16-4 contender added Russian former champion, Yan to an undefeated streak spanning nine fights with his unanimous decision shutout win back in March of this year.

UFC 298 takes place on February 17. from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, with an undisputed featherweight title fight between champion, Alexander Volkanovski, and challenger, Ilia Topuria set to take main event honors.

Who wins at UFC 298 in Anaheim: Henry Cejudo or Merab Dvalishvili?

Khalil Rountree stops Anthony Smith with brutal uppercut KO – UFC Vegas 83 Highlights

Surging light heavyweight contender, Khalil Rountree has turned in the most high-profile win of his mixed martial arts career…

Surging light heavyweight contender, Khalil Rountree has turned in the most high-profile win of his mixed martial arts career to date, landing an eventual third round knockout win over former title challenger, Anthony Smith — as part of a now extended five-fight winning streak in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 83.

Rountree, the current number eleven ranked light heavyweight contender, landed his fight consecutive victory and fourth knockout stoppage in his five most recent fights, handing Smith a stoppage defeat with a perfectly-placed third round uppercut shot and follow-up left hand.

Adding to prior wins over the likes of Modestas Bukauskas, Dustin Jacoby, and a stoppage of Chris Daukaus, Rountree — an alum of The Ultimate Fighter, managed to bloody veteran Nebraska native, Smith in the first round around his right eye with a slew of well-placed strikes.

And having wobbled the former light heavyweight title challenger in the second round, Rountree then landed a third round stoppage over Smith, forcing him staggering backwards and eventually to the Octagon canvas courtesy of a right uppercut which came before a left hook shot.

Below, catch the highlights from Khalil Rountree’s win over Anthony Smith at UFC Vegas 83

Islam Makhachev axes rematch fight with Charles Oliveira, plans Justin Gaethje title clash at UFC 299 in Miami

Earmarked to fight former foe and prior undisputed lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira in a championship rematch in his return…

Earmarked to fight former foe and prior undisputed lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira in a championship rematch in his return to the Octagon, current gold holder, Islam Makhachev has suggested a pairing with former interim titleholder, Justin Gaethje instead, eyeing a comeback at UFC 299 in March in Miami, Florida.

Makhachev, the current undisputed lightweight champion and current pound-for-pound number one ranked fighter, most recently headlined UFC 294 back in October in Abu Dhabi, UAE, landing a one-sided rematch win over Alexander Volkanovski, stopping the Australian with a brutal first round high-kick knockout.

Initially scheduled to feature in a main event bout against Sao Paulo favorite, Oliveira in a championship rematch, Makhachev saw the pairing shelved after the Brazilian suffered a nasty laceration above his right eyebrow ahead of the clash.

Islam Makhachev eyes Justin Gaethje fight at UFC 299

And receiving a recent call out from UFC Austin main event winner, Arman Tsarukyan in a championship rematch, Makhachev has ruled out a fight with the Armenian or Oliveira next, instead mentioning a return at UFC 299 in Miami, in a clash against Arizona native, Gaethje.“To be honest, I’ve already told I’m not that interested in rematches,” Islam Makhachev told Ushatayka. “Because if you want to win someone in a good way, you have to add new names.”

“There is (Justin) Gaethje, who I would say deserved a fight,” Islam Makhachev continued. “I think it would be more interesting to fight him. I think in March, maybe – most likely, yes, at the number event [UFC 299].”

Gaethje, a former interim lightweight champion and current symbolic BMF championship holder, headlined UFC 291 back in July most recently, landing a spectacular second round high-kick knockout win over fellow former interim gold holder, Dustin Poirier in the pair’s long-awaited rematch.

Who wins in a potential fight at UFC 299 in Miami: Islam Makhachev or Justin Gaethje?

Joe Rogan doubts successful UFC return for Conor McGregor amid injury: ‘No one has come back from that’

Expected to make his return to the Octagon in the early goings of next year, former two-weight UFC champion,…

Expected to make his return to the Octagon in the early goings of next year, former two-weight UFC champion, Conor McGregor’s highly-anticipated comeback to fighting may not be as successful as he has predicted according to color-commentator, Joe Rogan, who stressed how history has shown us a triumphant return is unlikely.

McGregor, a former undisputed lightweight and featherweight champion under the banner of the UFC, has been sidelined from the Octagon since he fractured his left tibia and fibula in a first round doctor’s stoppage TKO to Dustin Poirier in the pair’s trilogy rubber match back in 2021.

And expected to make his comeback in the form of a welterweight return against one-time lightweight title challenger, MIchael Chandler potentially at UFC 300 in April of next year, Conor McGregor has taken his training camp to the Middle East in recent months – with sparring footage of him dropping down a teammate emerging this weekend.

Joe Rogan unsure of successful comeback for Conor McGregor

However, with fans clamouring for a return from the Dubliner – who claims he will defeat Chandler in his comeback to the sport, UFC color-commenator, Rogan doubts the 35-year-old will return to his highest level of ability amid his gruesome injury.

“No one comes back from that,” Joe Rogan said on his podcast. “No one has ever come back from that catastrophic leg break. Not a single athlete has come back from it and performed at the same level. Anderson Silva’s the only guy who came back and fought multiple times, and he was not the same guy.”

Without a victory since competing at 170 pounds back in January 2020, McGregor turned in a dominant 40-second high-kick and follow-up TKO victory over former title challenger and Hall of Fame inductee, Donald Cerrone in the pair’s headlining clash.

Do you think Conor McGregor can make a triumphant return to the Octagon?