UFC 307 takes shape in Salt Lake City in just over a whole cycle. Reigning champ Alex Pereira meets Khalil Rountree in the main event. No bets barred, the MMA clique is angsty on where the matchup goes. Can ‘Poatan’ score his third shock KO win of 2024 against Khalil Rountree Jr.? Old kickboxing rival Israel Adesanya thinks so. Moreover, he bills Pereira’s wizardry as a great boost for it.
No — Alex Pereira won’t be joining Hogwarts School of Magic any soon. Pereira’s reverence for his Pataxó Brazilian traditions ranges from his tribal war paint to headgear. Even brass followed through, gifting him custom tribal-themed Venum Shorts. However, Jiri Prochazka billed that his success came due to such shamanic boosts. Israel Adesanya, who’s faced him four times, says it’s true.
I was besting him, had him on the skates…and then he brought his spirits. You know what Jiri said about the whole JuJu thing, like that? That’s real. That’s real. So, the last time I fought in Miami, look – He beats me, and anyone who’d say oh he was scared; he’s scared. Like bro, I ain’t scared a sh*t. The guy beat me on the biggest arena on the planet Madison Square Garden, same way as the last time in Brazil…had him hurt at the end of the first, and then he gets me in the last run! It is the spirit…
Israel Adesanya during ‘The JRE MMA Show’ #164 for PowerfulJRE (@joerogan on YT)
No, it does not mean Israel Adesanya is back to form; he’s still thinking Pereira takes this win. However, even the Pataxó tribal warrior himself agrees that ‘shamanic boosts’ are just channeling tribal ancestors. But there could be some sauce after all! Izzy did KO him at UFC 287, the only time Pereira did not use his war paint, but the Nigerian-Kiwi did use his ancestral trinkets!
Israel Adesanya says Jiri Prochazka was telling the truth when he said Alex Pereira uses magic and spirits to help him win fights 😳
“You know what Jiri said about the whole juju thing? That’s real.”
🎥 @joeroganhq #UFC #MMA #UFC307 pic.twitter.com/2qaIwkUuSS
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) October 3, 2024
Josh Barnett took his hobby, Magic: the Gathering, to the next level. Jared Cannonier credited natural blooming pyrite for his second frame TKO of Jack Hermansson. So magic is booming! Even G.O.A.T. standard Jon Jones agrees with its existence. So Pereira isn’t opposed to ending it with his signature left, ‘mano a mano,’ but channeling shamanic strength for it.
Israel Adesanya makes a prediction on how Alex Pereira will win at UFC 307
Alex ‘Poatan’ Pereira and his stone-handed magic can put anyone away. Is Khalil Rountree going to suffer the same fate? Israel Adesanya spoke about his feelings on the main event of UFC 307, reminiscing about their rivalry. An old peer at GLORY Kickboxing, their multi-sport rivalry has been one for the ages. Pereira won his first three meetings — including a fifth-round TKO of the ‘Stylebender’ at UFC 281 in 2022.
Meanwhile, Adesanya reclaimed the title five months later at UFC 287 with a devastating KO. This marked Pereira’s move up to 205. Since then, ‘Poatan’ remains unstoppable. On The Adam Carolla Show, Izzy predicted Pereia would win at UFC 307 against Khalil Rountree. Then again, he also drew on his battle experiences to state how and why.
I’m going to go Pereira, and I’m going to go TKO or KO, …I don’t know what round, but I just feel like it’ll be hard for Rountree to get passed that frame…[can see] leg kicks, leg kicks [from Pereira], and he might catch Rountree as he comes in. Because Rountree is going to be attacking him. … Paper can’t fight paper, so that’s why you’ve got to fight. But it’s a good fight and I think, again, Pereira by Round 2 or Round 3.
Israel Adesanya on ‘The Adam Carolla Show’ (@TheAdamCarollaShow1)
Adesanya believes Khalil Rountree is a dangerous fighter, but Pereira’s frame, defense, and power will be overwhelming. He veers to his combat rival’s ability to reach in range and frame in pockets to execute his heavy KOs. Come Saturday’s UFC 307, it’ll be clear once and all who’s the better 205lber.
