Tag: ufc light heavyweight

Former Champ Cautions Alex Pereira: Don’t Overlook ‘Kickboxer Killer’ Khalil Rountree

Michael Bisping recently warned Alex Pereira, urging him not to underestimate the formidable threat that Khalil Rountree brings to their upcoming clash. “Poatan” is preparing for his third light heavyweight title defense in 2024, as he is set to square off against Rountree in the main event of UFC 307, scheduled for October 5 at […]

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Michael Bisping recently warned Alex Pereira, urging him not to underestimate the formidable threat that Khalil Rountree brings to their upcoming clash.

“Poatan” is preparing for his third light heavyweight title defense in 2024, as he is set to square off against Rountree in the main event of UFC 307, scheduled for October 5 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Pereira has been an indomitable force since storming into the 205-pound division, kicking things off with a decisive win over Jan Blachowicz at UFC 291. His meteoric rise continued as he claimed the vacant light heavyweight title with a dominant victory over Jiri Prochazka at UFC 295.

From there, the Brazilian striking phenom wasted no time solidifying his reign, successfully defending his belt twice in just two months. His most recent triumph came with a second-round knockout of Prochazka in their rematch at UFC 303.

As for Rountree, many have raised concerns about the fight, citing “The War Horse’s” suspension for the consumption of the banned substance Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), which is set to end on September 18. Meanwhile, others contend that Magomed Ankalaev would have been a more deserving challenger for Pereira’s title.

However, “The Count” believes that Rountree possesses the complete arsenal needed to threaten Pereira’s striking-centric style…

Bisping Uncertain About Pereira’s Chances Facing Rountree

In a recent video on his YouTube channel, Bisping weighed in on ‘Poatan’s’ callout of UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis. The UFC Hall of Famer was quick to point out that Pereira has a more immediate challenge looming in the form of Rountree, one he can’t afford to overlook.

“He’s the light heavyweight champion of the world,” Bisping said. “Being the light heavyweight champion comes with some responsibility. Now, as I said, first and foremost, number one, he’s got people to fight already—he’s fighting Khalil Rountree. You cannot look past killer Khalil. He’s the kickboxer killer, he really is. Think about this: he beat Gokhan Saki, a very good kickboxer who transitioned to MMA, and Dustin Jacoby, another excellent Glory kickboxer who moved to MMA. Could he do the same to Alex Pereira? I don’t know—it’s a tough ask.

Widely regarded as one of the most dangerous strikers in MMA, Pereira’s legacy as a two-division Glory Kickboxing champion strikes fear into opponents. While conventional wisdom suggests that wrestling is the blueprint to topple him, Rountree sees things differently.

Though Rountree doesn’t dispute the wrestling strategy, he’s made it clear that he wants to keep the fight standing and deliver a striking masterclass.

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Daniel Cormier On State Of The UFC LHW Division Now Compared To Five Years Ago: ‘How Long Can Alex Pereira Reign…’

UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier has underscored the remarkable transformation within the UFC light heavyweight division, emphasizing the stark contrast between its current state and that of just half a decade ago. For years, the UFC light heavyweight belt was held by some of the sport’s most iconic figures, such as Jon Jones, Chuck […]

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UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier has underscored the remarkable transformation within the UFC light heavyweight division, emphasizing the stark contrast between its current state and that of just half a decade ago.

For years, the UFC light heavyweight belt was held by some of the sport’s most iconic figures, such as Jon Jones, Chuck Liddell, and Cormier. However, none of them experienced the rapid ascent within the division like the reigning champion, Alex Pereira.

“Poatan” successfully defended his title twice in as many months, most recently delivering a stunning second-round head kick knockout against former rival Jiri Prochazka in the main event of UFC 303 last weekend.

In just 13 professional MMA bouts and nine UFC appearances, Pereira has crafted an extraordinary legacy. He became the ninth fighter in UFC history to hold championships in two divisions. Remarkably, he is the first to capture titles in both the light heavyweight and middleweight divisions within a mere two-year span.

With years of fighting experience and his own status as a two-division UFC champion, Cormier possesses an intimate understanding of the fighters and the current dynamics of the 205-pound division.

“DC” observes that the landscape has dramatically shifted in the past five years, especially due to Pereira’s dominance and exceptional striking prowess…

Cormier Highlights Dramatic Change in Current LHW Fighting Styles

During a recent episode of ESPN’s Good Guy / Bad Guy with Chael Sonnen, Cormier delved into the current state of the light heavyweight division, with “Poatan” reigning as champion and his challengers on the horizon.

They discussed Magomed Ankalaev’s recent challenge to Pereira, where the undefeated Dagestani intriguingly promised not to rely on wrestling in their potential title fight.

“DC” pointed out that five or six years ago, the top fighters in the division primarily had wrestling or grappling backgrounds. In contrast, the present-day contenders are increasingly reliant on striking skills.

“Look at this weight  class right now, Chael, I see no wrestlers.” Cormier said. “I don’t see any wrestlers all the way to #10. #6 guy in the world is Nikita Krylov.”

The former Olympian further assessed the prospects of dethroning Pereira, considering the challengers’ fighting styles.

“If nobody wrestles this guy, Chael, how long can Alex Pereira reign at top of the division? Because it feels if you’re forced to stand with him and strike with him, you really have no chance.”

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Khalil Rountree Receives Lighter Sentence After Self-Reporting PED Usage

Khalil Rountree can now breathe a sigh of relief, having recently received a reduced penalty for self-reporting his use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). “The War Horse” withdrew from his scheduled bout against Jamahal Hill in the co-main event of UFC 303 on June 29, after disclosing that he had tested positive for a banned substance […]

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Khalil Rountree can now breathe a sigh of relief, having recently received a reduced penalty for self-reporting his use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs).

“The War Horse” withdrew from his scheduled bout against Jamahal Hill in the co-main event of UFC 303 on June 29, after disclosing that he had tested positive for a banned substance known as Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a type of steroid hormone.

Rountree explained that he had been using a customized supplement and that the provider had mistakenly delivered a tainted product containing the prohibited substance.

However, according to a recent report by MMA journalist John Morgan, the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) announced on Thursday that Rountree’s ongoing sanction, which began on May 4, has been reduced to four and a half months.

Alongside the suspension, which wraps up on September 18, “The War Horse” has been ordered to pay prosecution fees amounting to $157. The NAC highlighted that Rountree’s proactive self-reporting played a crucial role in mitigating his penalty.

With the reduced suspension, Rountree is now cleared to participate in his eagerly awaited title bout against reigning light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, slated to headline UFC 307 on October 5 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Rountree is coming off a third-round knockout victory over former title challenger Anthony Smith at a Fight Night event in December 2023. He is currently riding a five-fight win streak, including finishes over Chris Daukaus, Karl Roberson, and Modestas Bukauskas.

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Israel Adesanya, Alex Pereira Among UFC Fighters Touted To Destroy Jake Paul In Boxing Match: ‘Too Quick, Too Slick, Too Fast, Too Technical’

Michael Bisping contends that beyond the formidable Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya, a host of UFC fighters possess the prowess to beat down Jake Paul in the boxing ring. It appears that the age-old rivalry between MMA and boxing continues to burn brightly, with “The Problem Child” fanning the flames. Following his sixth-round TKO victory […]

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Michael Bisping contends that beyond the formidable Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya, a host of UFC fighters possess the prowess to beat down Jake Paul in the boxing ring.

It appears that the age-old rivalry between MMA and boxing continues to burn brightly, with “The Problem Child” fanning the flames. Following his sixth-round TKO victory over former UFC fighter Mike Perry in their cruiserweight boxing bout last weekend, Paul made some incendiary remarks that have ruffled feathers in the MMA community.

The YouTuber-turned-boxer has consistently expressed a keen interest in facing UFC fighters, with Conor McGregor frequently being mentioned as a desired opponent. However, this past Saturday, he surprised everyone by calling out a new challenger: the reigning UFC light heavyweight champion.

Despite “Poatan” being hailed as one of the most lethal strikers in the UFC today, Paul boldly declared during the post-event press conference that he would “decapitate and dethrone” the Brazilian in a potential boxing match. This audacious claim incensed former UFC middleweight champion Bisping…

Bisping Lists UFC Fighters Who Would Dominate Paul In Squared Circle

In a recent video on his YouTube channel, Bisping weighed in on Paul’s callout of Pereira for a boxing match. “The Count” dissected “Poatan’s” impressive victories over renowned former champions like Adesanya, Jan Blachowicz, Jiri Prochazka, and Jamahal Hill. He confidently asserted that Pereira would undoubtedly outclass “The Problem Child” in the boxing ring.

“That is the craziest, most grandiose statement I have ever heard in my life,” Bisping said. “Alex Pereira is gigantic. Alex Pereira is way bigger than Jake Paul… Alex Pereira is a monster. Alex Pereira is not a blown-up lightweight; he’s a champion of two weight divisions and he’s beaten five former champions.

The UFC Hall of Famer added that all the fighters Pereira has defeated are equally capable of dismantling Paul in a boxing match, and they would do so in a resoundingly dominant fashion.

“All those people that I just mentioned would absolutely wipe the floor with Jake Paul. Jamahal Hill would brutalize him. Jiri Prochazka would marmalize him. Israel Adesanya would embarrass him from start to finish. Too quick, too slick, too fast, too technical.”

Paul has previously fought former UFC fighters Anderson Silva, Tyron Woodley (twice), Nate Diaz, and Ben Askren, though all were notably beyond their prime.

Although the likelihood of a Pereira vs. Paul boxing match is slim due to the UFC’s stringent contracts, the Brazilian fighter appeared enthusiastic about the potential showdown in his brief video exchange with Paul.

Continue Reading Israel Adesanya, Alex Pereira Among UFC Fighters Touted To Destroy Jake Paul In Boxing Match: ‘Too Quick, Too Slick, Too Fast, Too Technical’ at MMA News.