“No (expletive) idea (why the UFC booked Pereira vs. Rountree), you tell me because I am confused, what the (expletive), you know?” These were the furious words of former 205lbs champion Jan Blachowicz, expressing his frustration with the UFC’s decision to match reigning champion Alex Pereira against then-ranked #8 contender, ‘Nak Muay’ Khalil Rountree Jr., for the Brazilian’s third title defense at UFC 307.
The match came on the heels of Rountree Jr. serving a short suspension for a failed drug test, which sparked controversy and divided the MMA community. Critics accused the UFC of protecting Alex Pereira by booking him against a lower-ranked contender like the California export, but ‘The War Horse’ proved to be one of ‘Poatan’s toughest challenges, second only to Israel Adesanya. Rountree, a Muay Thai specialist, pushed Pereira beyond three rounds and even managed to drop him with a powerful strike.
However, Alex Pereira responded with a devastating cut above Khalil Rountree Jr.’s eye, ultimately leading to a doctor stoppage. The Brazilian’s seemingly easy fight became one of his toughest career tests, captivating fans. UFC megastar Conor McGregor, who witnessed the fight, later hailed UFC 307’s main event as “the real fighting in the UFC,” acknowledging the resilience and determination of both fighters. Now, as ‘Poatan’ prepares for his fourth title defense in under 12 months, he will face Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313, set for March 8 at the T-Mobile Arena.
Ahead of the fight, Alex Pereira reflected on his grueling battle with ‘The War Horse’ in the UFC 313 countdown video, recalling, “I was moving around well at the beginning of the fight. He’s a southpaw, so I had to feel out the fight. I landed some clean shots. In the second round, I missed a kick, and he landed a punch—it was a flash knockdown. When I got back up, I was feeling fine and kept fighting. I started to be more aggressive in the third round, landing more powerful shots and standing in front of him.”
“The last round was the most exciting one. My reflexes were still great, and I started connecting shots while he couldn’t find his target anymore. I actually thought, ‘Man, this guy won’t go down.’ I was landing some really heavy shots—my hand was hurting.”
At the time, Khalil Rountree Jr. was on a five-fight win streak, with three of those victories coming by Muay Thai knockouts. He came out aggressive against Alex Pereira from the very first round. However, as the fight progressed, his stamina began to drain, allowing the Brazilian to seize control. Despite the loss, ‘The War Horse’s performance earned him respect from both the UFC and its fans. After a brief hiatus, Khalil Rountree Jr. is now preparing to face Jamahal Hill at the upcoming UFC Kansas event. Though he suffered a setback in his previous bout, the California export silenced his critics and emerged stronger, with no regrets about his courageous effort.
Khalil Rountree Jr. spoke out on blood left by Alex Pereira after the defeat
Sometimes, proving critics wrong is more satisfying than securing a win, and that’s certainly the case for Khalil Rountree Jr. At UFC 307 last year, ‘The War Horse’ endured a brutal defeat at the hands of Alex Pereira, suffering a significant cut above his eye. This defeat was one of the most challenging setbacks in ‘The War Horse’s career, even more so than his previous injury struggles. Although he didn’t extend his five-fight win streak, his performance earned him the respect of Dana White, who praised him, saying, “Khalil Rountree fights that badass fight against [Alex] Pereira, and the morons rank him No. 8. Literally this week, I have a meeting to try to fix the rankings.”
That night, Khalil Rountree Jr.’s career trajectory shifted, thrusting him into the spotlight. In December, he opened up to Fighting Energy Films on YouTube about his fight with Alex Pereira, sharing, “When I was in the cage and he was walking out, the only thing I can really remember is just being happy. Even the moment when I got finished in the fourth round, I just felt so happy throughout that whole fight. It felt like I was where I belonged.”
Despite the loss, ‘The War Horse’ remains optimistic about his performance in that fight. What’s your perspective on the Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. clash at UFC 307? How did you see that fight unfold? Do you believe ‘Poatan’ can replicate his success against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313? Share your thoughts below.
The post “This Guy Won’t Go Down” – Alex Pereira Confesses on Khalil Rountree Giving Him a Hard Time at UFC 307 Fight appeared first on EssentiallySports.