Tag: Khalil Rountree

Video: Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree set for UFC 307. Was it the right fight to make?

What to make the UFC 307 championship booking of Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Roundtree? We discuss on “Spinning Back Clique.”

[autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag]’s next title defense is one few saw coming.

The Brazilian star is set to defend his UFC light heavyweight belt against [autotag]Khalil Rountree[/autotag] in the main event of UFC 307, which is set to go down in Salt Lake City on Oct. 5. Accompanying this 205-pound-title fight, a women’s bantamweight championship bout between [autotag]Raquel Pennington[/autotag] and [autotag]Julianna Pena[/autotag] will serve as the co-main event of the card.

So, did Rountree deserve to challenge Pereira, or should the UFC have waited and given Magomed Ankalaev the shot? Should the UFC have gone with Kayla Harrison as the next opponent for Pennington?

MMA Junkie’s Brian “Goze” Garcia, Matthew Wells, Danny Segura, and host “Gorgeous” George Garcia discuss the title fight bookings for UFC 307.

Watch their discussion in the video above, and don’t miss this week’s complete episode of “Spinning Back Clique” below on YouTube or in podcast form.

https://youtube.com/live/7LMXg2Uksr4

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Chael Sonnen: Khalil Rountree is going to ‘walk through’ Alex Pereira at UFC 307

Chael Sonnen has a bold take regarding Alex Pereira’s next title defense.

[autotag]Chael Sonnen[/autotag] has a bold take regarding [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag]’s next title defense.

Pereira (11-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC) defends his light heavyweight title against [autotag]Khalil Rountree[/autotag] (13-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) in the UFC 307 headliner Oct. 5 at Salt Lake City.

Many think Rountree is undeserving of the title shot, and see Magomed Ankalaev as the more worthy No. 1 contender. Sonnen on the other hand sees Rountree as a bad matchup for Pereira.

“First off, let me give you the hot take of the day: Khalil Rountree is going to walk through Pereira,” Sonnen said on “Good Guy/Bad Guy” alongside Daniel Cormier. “That is the worst matchup I could think of. This is ‘Smackdown’ invading ‘Raw,’ and let me explain. When we think of who’s going to go fight for a title on pay-per-view, we think of other guys who have won a whole bunch of fights on pay-per-view. Well, Khalil was from Smackdown. He came from the other show.

“He’s been fighting on the Fight Nights and at the (UFC) Apex and things like this. He’s still won (five) in a row, he stopped (four) of those sons of a guns, and one of them is a former No. 1 contender, our good friend (Anthony) ‘Lionheart’ (Smith). … I will tell you this because I don’t know how familiar you are or the rest of the fans are with Khalil, but he does his absolute best work when he’s being attacked by a kickboxer. It’s not Khalil swarming somebody or taking them down or submitting them. He is a counter fighter, and he loves when you punch or kick at him first.”

Sonnen acknowledges Pereira’s aura, comparing him to other legendary fighters that were able to intimidate their opponents prior to the fight even starting.

Sonnen doesn’t see that happening to Rountree though.

“Mike Tyson used to make guys quit in the back, Cain Velasquez would have guys wilt in the back. Anderson Silva would make guys wilt in the back as they were so scared of what was going to happen. Pereira is entering that territory,” Sonnen said. “Rountree is the wrong matchup.

“All those scary punches and kicks that Pereira does, that’s where Rountree does his finest work. This is a massive disaster for anybody that thinks the UFC is trying to protect Alex. If they’re trying to protect Alex, somebody just made a big mistake.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 307.

Dana White on Khalil Rountree getting title shot over Magomed Ankalaev: ‘Timing is everything’

Dana White addressed Khalil Rountree getting a title shot before Magomed Ankalaev.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Dana White[/autotag] addressed [autotag]Khalil Rountree[/autotag] getting a title shot before [autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag].

Many such as former champions Jamahal Hill and Jiri Prochazka were surprised to see the promotion book light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira (11-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC) vs. Rountree (13-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) in the UFC 307 headliner Oct. 5 at Salt Lake City.

Ankalaev (19-1-1 MMA, 10-1-1 UFC) was paired up with Aleksandar Rakic Oct. 26 at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi.

“(Ankalaev) wasn’t skipped over – he’s got a fight coming up,” White told MMA Junkie and other reporters. “We were laying the fights out. Now Ankalaev’s got a fight lined up – ‘Go in there, do your thing, look great, obviously you’re next.’

“We had to make this fight card, and as you go down the line you start looking at it, Khalil Rountree makes a lot of sense and you said it yourself: No way in hell that’s not a fun one. Timing is everything – 100 percent.”

Rountree has won five fights in a row, most recently a TKO of former title challenger Anthony Smith. He was scheduled to face Hill at UFC 303 in June, but withdrew after failing a drug test. Rountree served a two-month suspension after testing positive for banned substances, including androsterone, a banned steroid.

Ankalaev is unbeaten in his past 12 fights – including a split draw against Jan Blachowicz in their vacant light heavyweight title fight in December 2022. Ankalaev vows to make himself undeniable with an emphatic win over Rakic.

“I received a lot of messages today regarding the light heavyweight title fight, my job is to smash people’s face who they put in front of me, I will destroy Rakic in Abu Dhabi and I will not be denied, I don’t need nobody to feel bad for me @danawhite @Mickmaynard2.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 307.

Khalil Rountree says wrestling UFC champ Alex Pereira not in plans: ‘I have never shot one takedown’

Khalil Rountree plans on standing toe-to-toe with UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.

[autotag]Khalil Rountree[/autotag] plans on standing toe-to-toe with UFC light heavyweight champion [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag].

Rountree (13-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) challenges light heavyweight champion Pereira (11-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC) in the UFC 307 main event in Salt Lake City on Oct. 5. Nobody’s had an answer for Pereira on the feet at 205 pounds, but Rountree won’t shy away from the challenge.

“So check this out: In my career, I have never shot one takedown,” Rountree told The Schmo. “That’s not in my plans, right? I’m here to put on an amazing fight for the fans. This one, regardless of what anybody says, this is a fight for the fans.

“I think with my style, with his style, this fight is not going to disappoint. So, I’m there to do what I do, to do what my fans and everybody knows that I’m capable of, and all I can say is expect a banger, man.”

Many observers have been critical of Rountree getting a title shot, but the streaking 34-year-old has brushed off all the complaints. Rountree thinks his high finish rate makes him must-see TV.

“It doesn’t matter,” Rountree said. “The fight’s happening regardless of whatever they think or not. The fight’s happening, and it’s going to be a good one, and that’s all I can say, man. … Any time any UFC fan watches me fight, they can expect the same thing.

“I come out there, I put on the performances that I put on, it’s always exciting, it’s always violent, so they can expect that and even more. And at the end, the belt around my waist secures it all. I’m f*cking happy, man.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 307.

Jan Blachowicz baffled by Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree fight: ‘Why they don’t ask me about this?’

Jan Blachowicz believes the UFC is giving Alex Pereira preferential treatment, and he’s not OK with it.

[autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] believes the UFC is giving [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] preferential treatment.

Pereira (11-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC) defends his light heavyweight title against [autotag]Khalil Rountree[/autotag] (13-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC)  in the UFC 307 main event Oct. 5 in Salt Lake City, a fight announcement that caught many off guard.

Blachowicz (29-10-1 MMA, 12-7-1 UFC), who arguably gave Pereira his toughest test at 205 pounds when he lost a split decision at UFC 291, wants to know why he wasn’t approached as a potential opponent for “Poatan.” He also can’t understand why Magomed Ankalaev didn’t get the call and was instead booked against Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 308.

“No f*cking idea,” Blachowicz told Middle Easy. “I don’t know. You tell me because I’m confused. What the f*ck, you know? Why they book Ankalaev with Rakic? Why? Why they don’t ask me about this?

“Maybe I would be ready a little bit earlier. No one asked me. I just don’t understand. For me, it’s weird, and that don’t make any sense for me. I feel like special protection for Pereira. I don’t understand. Why?”

Blachowicz was the one who welcomed Pereira to the light heavyweight division – a fight he’s still adamant he won. He thinks the UFC is tactically picking strikers for Pereira so he can shine.

“I believe that I won this fight against him, and maybe they don’t want to make this fight again because they know that this time, he’s going to lose for 100 percent,” Blachowicz said. “Maybe also that’s why they don’t want to give Ankalaev to him because Ankalaev is also very strong. Maybe this is the reason, that Khalil is a striker and maybe they want to make another nice win for him. Easy, maybe not easy, but another knockout win, something like this.

“I just don’t understand. … If they want big name, I think they can make Ankalaev with Pereira right now. I think Ankalaev will be ready also for another UFC in Abu Dhabi. I think they know everything, what they want to do. They just want to do this, and they did. They’ve got something in their head like, one year into the future, something like this. So, I think they already know what they want to do.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 307.

Coach John Wood reflects on Khalil Rountree’s long road to UFC title shot: ‘He’s paid his dues’

John Wood remembers having to talk Khalil Rountree out of ending his career before it started. Nearly a decade later, they’re preparing for a UFC title fight.

Syndicate MMA head coach John Wood recalls when [autotag]Khalil Rountree[/autotag] gave serious consideration to ending his career before it even began.

“When I first started coaching him, he was on the verge of – really not even knowing if he wanted to fight,” Wood told MMA Junkie Radio. “I remember having a conversation with him. He was talking about retiring and going into construction because he had a good construction job that was gonna pay him a lot. I kind of begged and pleaded with him and said, ‘Hey, man, give me six months, and we can have you where you need to be.'”

Nearly a decade later, Rountree (13-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) is on the verge of reaching the pinnacle of his career as he gets set for his first title shot against light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira on Oct. 5 at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City.

“He’s paid his dues and hitting his stride,” Wood said.

True as that statement might be, Rountree’s title shot hasn’t exactly been met with open arms. While he’s on a five-fight winning streak, Rountree, 34, is ranked just No. 8 in the official UFC light heavyweight rankings.

There’s also the fact that he’s coming off a failed drug test that forced him out of UFC 303, which was later attributed to a supplement company’s “massive oversight” by UFC anti-doping program Combat Sports Anti-Doping.

For Wood, Rountree’s title shot is not only a longtime coming, but it carries extra special weight given their relationship. Wood acknowledged that he and Rountree had “ups and downs” prior to Rountree leaving Syndicate to train in Thailand for a few years.

Ever since Rountree returned “five or six fights ago,” it’s been exactly what Wood hoped for.

“When he left originally, it did hurt,” Wood said. “I love the guy. Anytime a fighter leaves it’s an emotional thing. But he came back, and it’s way better than I think it ever could’ve been. He grew into himself. He’s matured as a man. He looks at things different – the way he speaks, the way he talks. It’s just different now. …

“He just really came back as a whole new person. You could see that the focus, the energy, everything was different. His mentality, he just grew up a lot. He’s really kind of came into his own. The mindset is he’s ready for this, and he’s been ready for this now for the last couple years. We’re really starting to see everything play out. We’re starting to see the talent and the mindset come together, the work ethic and everything, and that’s why we’re here where we’re at, on the verge of winning a title.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 307.

Jiri Prochazka: ‘I really don’t understand the chance’ for Khalil Rountree vs. Alex Pereira at UFC 307

Like many, Jiri Prochazka is surprised to see Khalil Rountree get a UFC title opportunity vs. Alex Pereira.

PERTH, Australia – Like many, [autotag]Jiri Prochazka[/autotag] is surprised to see [autotag]Khalil Rountree[/autotag] get the title opportunity vs. UFC light heavyweight champion [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag].

Rountree (13-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) challenges Pereira (11-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC) on Oct. 5 in the UFC 307 main event in Salt Lake City, Utah. The fight announcement left the likes of Jamahal Hill dumbfounded and also caught Prochazka off guard.

Prochazka (30-5-1 MMA, 4-2 UFC) is coming off a title loss to Pereira at UFC 303 in June – a setback that doesn’t sit well with him. Prochazka’s lone two octagon losses have both come to Pereira by finish.

“OK, it’s a fight, I really don’t understand the chance for Rountree,” Prochazka said during the UFC 305 Q&A. “But, I still keep my mind on Alex Pereira because I believe I can beat him. I believe in that.

“My honor is telling me to stay at light heavyweight, fight another guy, win the next fight, win the next fight, take a title, and show the best, because last time I think I showed my worst performance in my life.”

Prochazka admits he’s still undecided on whether he’ll remain at 205 pounds or drop down to middleweight for his next fight.

“It depends on where I will stay,” Prochazka said. “In light heavyweight, there is, I think, in the next step Jamahal Hill, and if I decide to go to middleweight, let’s see who will be there. But right now, because I’m talking about middleweight because I feel like my body still can push it to this weight, take the belt, and go back or whatever. So that’s on my mind right now.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 307.

Spinning Back Clique REPLAY: Dricus Du Plessis submits Israel Adesanya, other UFC 305 results, Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree

Our panel discusses the major results from UFC 305, Alex Pereira’s title bout vs. Khalil Rountree, the PFL playoffs and more.

Check out this week’s “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly live show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts.

This week’s panel of Brian “Goze” Garcia, Matt Wells and Danny Segura will join host “Gorgeous” George Garcia live at a special start time of 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT) to discuss and debate the following topics:

  • It was “And still” Saturday when [autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag] defended his middleweight belt for the first time against former champion [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] in the main event of UFC 305. Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) submitted Adesanya (24-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC) in the fourth round of their contest, and now appears to have set up a title rematch with Sean Strickland. Is that the right fight to make? Where does Adesanya go from here? We discuss the fallout from the UFC 305 main event.
  • Du Plessis’ win wasn’t the only important thing that went down at UFC 305. The card also was host to several key results, including [autotag]Kai Kara-France[/autotag]’s TKO win over [autotag]Steve Erceg[/autotag], [autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag]’s upset of [autotag]Mateusz Gamrot[/autotag], and many more. We break down all the notable moments outside the UFC 305 main event.
  • UFC 307 has its headlining acts. [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] will be defending his light heavyweight title against [autotag]Khalil Rountree[/autotag] in the main event, and a women’s bantamweight title fight between [autotag]Raquel Pennington[/autotag] and [autotag]Julianna Peña[/autotag] will serve as its co-main event. There’s plenty to digest with those big bout announcements.

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Khalil Rountree: If you’re not excited about the Alex Pereira fight, ‘the problem is yours’

Khalil Rountree brushes off Jamahal Hill’s reaction to his title fight.

[autotag]Khalil Rountree[/autotag] brushes off Jamahal Hill’s reaction to his title fight.

Hill (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) was outraged upon hearing the news that Rountree (13-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) will challenge light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira (11-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC) in the UFC 307 headliner in Salt Lake City on Oct. 5.

Hill’s anger stems from Rountree’s failed drug test, which forced him to withdraw from their light heavyweight bout at UFC 303 in June. Rountree served a two-month suspension after testing positive for banned substances, including androsterone, a banned steroid.

“It doesn’t surprise me and it doesn’t affect me,” Rountree told Kevin Iole of Hill’s reaction. “I understand that he is upset for his own personal reasons. I’m like, OK, but it’s really none of my business what he thinks or anybody else thinks, what they believe about the business and how things operate.”

Rountree is on a five-fight winning streak, including a TKO of former light heavyweight title challenger Anthony Smith. Having finished four of his past five fights by strikes, Rountree doesn’t see how fans wouldn’t get up for his stylistic matchup vs. Pereira.

“I don’t think it’s terrible for the sport,” Rountree said. “I think it’s amazing for the sport. I think the fans are going to be 100 percent hyped on this fight. You’ve got a guy like me. You’ve got a guy like Alex. We’re going to go head-to-head. It’s exciting for the sport. I think it’s an amazing thing for the fans, so whatever.

“I’m grateful for the UFC. I’m grateful for this opportunity. Everybody else, whatever negative opinions, if you’re anything but excited about this fight, maybe you’ve got the problem. I don’t think it’s the matchmakers or the company. It’s like, if you have a problem with this, I think the problem is yours.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 307.

Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree title fight headlines UFC 307 in Salt Lake City

The UFC’s return to Utah this fall has a main event – and it’s not one that was on many people’s radars.

The UFC’s return to Utah this fall has a main event – and it’s not one that was on many people’s radars.

Light heavyweight champion [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] (11-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC) will put his title on the line against [autotag]Khalil Rountree[/autotag] (13-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) in the UFC 307 headliner in Salt Lake City on Oct. 5. UFC officials announced the matchup Friday.

Already in 2024, Pereira has title defenses in the UFC 300 main event against ex-champ Jamahal Hill and in the UFC 303 main event against ex-champ Jiri Prochazka. A win for Pereira would give him four light heavyweight title wins in about 11 months. Few, if any, UFC champions average more than two title fights a year.

Many wondered who would be a viable next opponent for Pereira after Magomed Ankalaev (19-1-1 MMA, 10-1-1 UFC) was matched up with Aleksandar Rakic (14-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC) at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi. And considering Pereira fought in April, then again in late June, the timing is perhaps an indication Pereira intends to keep right on trucking through the UFC’s history books.

Pereira won the UFC’s middleweight title against kickboxing rival Israel Adesanya in late 2022, but lost the belt to him in a rematch. He then moved to light heavyweight and needed just two fights to become champion. His two defenses came in short order, too.

Fair or not, Rountree’s name wasn’t atop most potential title challenger lists. But the 34-year-old veteran of Season 23 of “The Ultimate Fighter” has a five-fight winning streak with four stoppages, including a third-round finish of former title challenger Anthony Smith this past December. He has three post-fight bonuses in that stretch, as well.

But earlier this year, he was supposed to fight former champ Jamahal Hill at UFC 303, but was forced out when he tested positive for banned substances, including androsterone, a banned steroid. He was suspended for two months.

Pereira, who has been just a slight favorite or underdog in all his UFC fights, is likely to experience a big bump in early support when the oddsmakers go to work, given his recent resume.

UFC 307 also added a co-main event women’s bantamweight title fight between champion Raquel Pennington and former champ Julianna Peña.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 307.