UFC 307 Results: Alex Pereira Pounds Khalil Rountree With Punishing KO
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - OCTOBER 05: Brazilian fighter Alex Pereira gets ready to take on Khalil Rountree Jr. in the UFC light heavyweight title match at UFC 307, held at the Delta Center on October 05, 2024, in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Alex Pereira delivered an outstanding and intense performance in the main event of UFC 307.
The UFC light heavyweight champion achieved a brutal TKO victory in the fourth round against Khalil Rountree Jr., showcasing a smart and dominant display throughout the match. Despite the loss, Rountree demonstrated that he is a formidable striker and put forth a strong effort.
In the end, he faced off against a champion who excelled even more in the stand-up game. Because of the hard work from both fighters, the main event received Fight of the Night bonuses.
Here’s a glimpse of the completed result:
In the second round, Rountree landed a knockdown after Pereira's head kick went awry. The challenger then connected with a powerful right punch, briefly sending the champion to the canvas.
As the round was coming to a close, Pereira appeared more bewildered than actually injured, which was encouraging for Rountree. However, things took a turn when Pereira intensified his attack in the third round.
He started to effectively land his trademark calf kicks, which created opportunities for a strong jab and well-aimed teep kicks. As the third round came to a close, Rountree appeared to be struggling, and it was evident that he needed to make some changes to turn things around before entering the fourth round.
He wasn't able to keep up because Pereira's control of the fight reached a new height, and he pummeled Rountree with powerful strikes until a couple of blows to the body brought him down for the win. This match marked Pereira's third title defense in the light heavyweight division, and his overall record in the UFC now stands at 9-1. Some analysts argued that Pereira should have faced the top contender Magomed Ankalaev in this bout instead of Rountree.
That idea has some validity. Nevertheless, Ankalaev is set to face a significant opponent, Aleksandr Rakic, later this month. If he comes out on top, which many anticipate he will, he's likely to earn the next opportunity to challenge Pereira, according to Dana White.
Whenever that match is scheduled, it will be hard to live up to the excitement of the UFC 307 main event, which was one of the highlights of Pereira's career. Even if Rountree loses, his reputation will still benefit from the experience.
