The UFC’s return to Utah this fall has a main event – and it’s ‘Poatan’ to the podium again. But, Alex Pereira was not kidding when he said he was “taking all opportunities” after UFC 303 PPV headliner! Out of nowhere, the Brazilian defends his undisputed gold against…Khalil Rountree. He randomly puts his title on the line against a peer not even in the Top 5 in the UFC 307 headliner, Salt Lake City in October. 5.
Alex Pereira already had two calendar appearances in 2024. He ran through prodigal ex-champ Jamahal Hill in the UFC 300 milestone main event. He had his second defense in the UFC 303 pay-per-view (PPV) headliner against ex-champ Jiri Prochazka. Later he once again wanted to rise to the 265-pound limit. However, CEO Dana White was not interested in such bracket change. Taking to X, he thus announced the matter, and the UFC officials announced the matchup later, late Friday.
No. 2-ranked title contender Magomed Ankalaev is billed against No. 5-ranked Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi. The Team Teixeira MMA & Fitness champ was highly disinterested in Ankalaev but Khalil Rountree stepped in out of the blue. Hill has voiced resolve to rematch him again. Even Jan Blachowicz has come out of the woodworks to call dibs as the only fighter Pereira didn’t knock out. ‘The War Horse’ pairing makes little to no sense.
Fair or not, Rountree’s name is what the champ draws. The 34-year-old TUF: Season 23 alum is on a five-fight winning streak with four stoppages. He also touts an R3 stoppage of former title challenger Anthony Smith in December. He also has three post-fight bonuses in that streak. While peculiarly mismatched, the title fight can be an exciting one. As such, the matter has gone quite viral.
Fight fans react to surprise UFC 307 light heavyweight title fight
Alex ‘Poatan’ Pereira will headline the UFC 307 pay-per-view (PPV) event, on Saturday., at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. His opponent, Khalil Rountree Jr. hasn’t been at the top of the title contenders’ lists for a while now. Rountree was to fight Hill at UFC 303 but pulled out of his June 29 co-main bout. Per girlfriend, Muay Thai fighter/TV presenter/model Mia Kang, he had tested positive for the banned substance dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).
Fans react to the matter (Source: X/es.agfight.com)In an MMA pertinent NAC-monthly meeting this July end, the potential disciplinary steps against Rountree dropped down to just a 2-month suspension. What would be the message here: get roided and overcorrect to title opportunities? Or is this punishment for Pereira for having heavy ‘heavyweight’ aspirations? Was missing out on the 2024 ESPY for Best UFC Fighter Award not enough?
Here’s what fans think of No. 8-ranked Khalil Rountree atop the UFC 307 PPV fight card.
Wow Khalil getting a title shot, I didn’t expect that! That could be a sick fight
— X (@fau1in) August 16, 2024
Big fan of Khalil but he’s done literally nothing to deserve a title shot.
— Aj (@AjDuxche) August 16, 2024
They won’t have pereira in there with a wrestler lol 🤣🤣 Dana hoping for that 3rd Izzy v Pereira fight
— Wallethead (@wallethead89) August 16, 2024
How does he get the shot but not Ankalaev 😭
— pizza (@pizza_tweett) August 16, 2024
Respectfully didn’t Roundtree just get popped for testing dirty? I know it was a supplement company mix up but it seems weird that he would get the next shot right after that. Not to mention Roundtree is 8th ranked.
— “ben” (@Ben_Ben_13) August 16, 2024
How are people finding energy to complain about an undeserved shot when this has violence written all over it 😂
— MS (@UFC_Obsessed) August 16, 2024
Dana trying to continue to build Pereira’s star power because in what world does Roundtree deserve a title shot before Ankalaev?
— Jeremy (@DatDudeJeremy) August 16, 2024
This is gonna be violent. Rountree is being disrespected too much he has a real chance of winning
— Thomas Grape (@grapethomas7) August 16, 2024
Pereira has jumped to the No. 2 spot in UFC Pound-for-pound listings as a 205lber elitist. When the sportsbook lines open up, oddsmakers should not find it tough to have him as a massive betting favorite given his recent resume. Many fans and pundits think top brass is saving the golden goose against stiffer challenges.
Hence, reasonable or not, they think this is a move to save Pereira’s titleholder legacy. However, a few others think this will be a violent affair. All in all, the matter is stirring up quite a storm.
The full UFC 307 card
The return to Utah is stacked in a big way and all the big names. Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira (11-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC) vs. Khalil Rountree as the top bill on the main card starting at 10 p.m. ET might be surprising. Rountree has upset kickboxing standouts like Gokhan Saki before. But the surprise announcement is still yet to become digestible. However, the rest of the lineup and pairings are as good as they come.
Overall, UFC 307 is shaping up rather nicely (Source: bleacherreport.com/heavy.com/X/IMAGO)Raquel Pennington will face former titleholder Julianna Pena at UFC 307 in a UFC women’s bantamweight title fight. The 35-year-old ‘Rocky’ rocks the ride on a five-fight winning streak. She’ll share the card with wife, Tecia Pennington.
Next up, genetic beast and prime performer Kayla Harrison, who thought Pennington was out for a while, also fights on the card. As does “King of Rio” Jose Aldo. To cap it off, Stephen Thompson and Joaquin Buckley face off in what is sure to be a tactile range control strike-fest. Here’s the known lineup (*subject to change; ESPN+ 6 p.m. ET Prelims | 10 p.m. ET Main Card).
- Movsar Evloev vs. Aljamain Sterling
- Aldo vs. Mario Bautista
- Roman Dolidze vs. Kevin Holland
- Carla Esparza vs. Tecia Pennington
- Iasmin Lucindo vs. Marina Rodriguez
- Cesar Almeida vs. Ihor Potieria
