Alex Pereira has often been the savior of the UFC this year, as he headlined both UFC 300 and UFC 303. Thus, he became the promotion’s biggest active star and a big draw. This time out he looks to defend his title against Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307. Win or lose, when ‘Poatan’ enters the fight night, he’d be making another record.
Kevin Holland (26-11) also fights this week, at UFC 307. He opens up the feature main card (ESPN+ PPV 10:00 A.M.) against Roman Dolidze. The American fighter from Team Travis Lutter BJJ is on track for most fights since October 2021 [11]! He fought four times in 2022, twice in 2023, and will fight thrice this year. Right behind ‘Trailblazer’ trails Alex Pereira with 10 fights!
‘Poatan’ has won titles in two weight classes, headlined multiple marquee events, and remains a reliable fighter for the promotion. At the time of his first title steps at 205lbs, he had more title fights [5] than normal ones! Once an alcoholic out of Sao Paulo, he is now a top bill for non-domestic streamers as well as domestic ones at ESPN platforms.
After #UFC307, Alex Pereira and Kevin Holland will become two of the most active fighters in the UFC today 😳
UNREAL 🤯 (h/t @mma_orbit) pic.twitter.com/Q9Wom9ttoB
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) September 30, 2024
Pereira is also a recent No. 2 addition in UFC Pound-for-pound listings and has defeated 5 former champs. Whatever way his UFC 307 pay-per-view (PPV) assignment ends, the Brazilian would tie for another record to his name. While there are still persistent doubts about whether he can go through Khalil Rountree, Pereira, and team are ready for it.
Alex Pereira’s coach is confident he can do anything
Alex ‘Poatan’ Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree in Saturday’s UFC 307 main event in Salt Lake City has been drawing much attention. Pereira’s kickboxing past and KO power are a big bank in this fight. But if he can’t have his signature heavy-handed KO in the first few rounds, the noise around it all might play into Rountree Jr’s favor. For an underdog, that would be a big thing.
While lacking in power, the Southpaw fighter is the faster striker with an explosive but on-point Muay Thai style. However, ‘Poatan’ and his fans are confident enough, brushing the danger of acclimating to it all aside.
In fact, Pereira has expressed his desire to drop back down to middleweight – where he was once champ. He’s also still aspiring of a heavyweight move. Former champion and mentor Glover Teixeira thinks these are just part of his unmatched aura.
To be honest, I’m confident that he can do anything he wants, …He can fight at heavyweight and destroy the heavyweights there because the strength, the ability to read the opponents, …and in and out, and the power. He’s more powerful than any heavyweight I’ve trained with.
Glover Teixeira to The Schmo (@theschmo312) for the @theschmozone Podcast
Teixeira was in contention for the light heavyweight title against current heavyweight champion Jon Jones at UFC 172 in 2014. Although he lost unanimously, he says Jones’ power is nothing like Pereira’s. He does not put any limitations past the fighter, let alone another division change or winning against Rountree.
