The UFC returns to Mountain Time for UFC 307, and ceremonial media vlogs are out. ‘Countdown’ for Saturday’s UFC 307 title doubleheader is a special segment looking at feature fighters. In the headliner, light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira puts his 205lbs strap to test again. ‘Poatan’ met up with divisional peer Anthony Smith for pre-fight fighter check-in during the ‘Countdown’ spot shots.
Anthony ‘Lionheart’ Smith sat down with the fighter for his ‘Lionheart Lounge.’ The 36-year-old works active analyst desk duties for post-fight ESPN panels and was recently on hand for UFC Paris. Smith and Pereira have long scuffled on social media, with the Brazilian making callouts. After his unprecedented rise to fame, Smith even poked holes in his lack of ground game. However, the duo put the matter to an end.
Ah, thanks for doing this…I don’t think a lot of people are expecting you to have a sit-down conversation with me, I’d imagine…Aside from the competitive rivalry – Or whatever it was before, I gotta lot of respect for you. I’m a big fan of your game, love watching your fights. Best of luck in Salt Lake City.
Anthony ‘Lionheart’ Smith for ‘Lionheart Lounge’ at Gypsy Soul Tattoo parlor, UT, for ESPNMMA (@ESPNMMA)
Alex Pereira faces unlikely #8 ranked contender Khalil Rountree at UFC 307. Rountree vowing no takedowns in his game plan against Pereira has made retractors sure that this matchup was a pure plant for Pereira to maintain his strike-heavy success. Before Pereira blew out prodigal champ Jamahal Hill in his maiden defense, Smith had similarly doubled down on his strike-heavy attire posing certain success points. Now, though, he has other versions in mind.
Alex Pereira and Anthony Smith squash the beef 🤝
🎥 @espnmma #UFC #MMA #UFC307 pic.twitter.com/tIYQ2sfejd
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) September 30, 2024
Anthony Smith faced and lost to Rountree a while back, at UFC Fight Night: Song vs. Gutierrez. However, the measured blow came in the third round. Mending fences, Smith has also told Inside Fighting’s Jesse Rowe that he thinks Pereira would win against a very “hittable” Rountree. All in all, the duo is on the up and up; however, Pereira is getting ready for the challenge ahead.
Alex Pereira trains at mountaintop to match aggravating Khalil Rountree at UFC 307
Another fight week is back and with it the ceremonial lineup of Fight Week ‘Embedded’ Vlogs. The 205lbs champ Pereira (11-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC) goes up against challenger Rountree soon. The ‘Countdown’ segment for UFC 307 pay-per-view saw a more empathetic Pereira Training with Nina Marie-Daniele, and even giving back to his favela in Brazil. But now, he dons his more dangerous figure.
UFC 307 ‘Embedded,’ Vlog No. 1 sees Pereira on the backpedal and ‘Poatan’ on the forefront aiming. The fighter has already ceremoniously shaved his head and started training. While Team Teixeira MMA & Fitness star starts the vlog training indoors, he ends it in the mountains.
Pereira, along with coaches Glover Teixeira and others made a hike to the rocky side of things, midday Saturday. The fighter tires out faster than the coach. Later, he douses his infamous “Chama!” and gets to pad work with coach Plinio Cruz and Cesar Almeida. Watch the whole video, below:
There’s always that little glimmer of hope that an opponent might just be able to end Alex ‘Poatan’ Pereira’s domination. But Rountree Jr. isn’t the usual staple of fighters. On a massive winning streak of his own, he’s a calculated tactile striker like Pereira and has had success with kickboxers before.
Although a +350 underdog, some expect Rountree to be able to cause an upset and be the ‘Poatan’ to Pereira. Hence, the Brazilian wants a better output on a bigger tank when and if it comes to a lengthy scrap between strikers. Now fighting at lower range, out of Danbury, Connecticut, a high-altitude training is meant to help with just that.
