Kamaru Usman is hoping for an upset in the UFC 307 headliner.
Alex Pereira (11-2) defends his light heavyweight title against Khalil Rountree (13-5) in the main event of UFC 307 on Saturday at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. . There was a lot of criticism when Rountree was initially given the chance to win the title by defeating Magomed Ankalaev, who was widely considered a legitimate No. 1 contender.
But the tide is slowly turning as fight night approaches, and even Pereira can feel the fans’ excitement building. Adding to the hype behind this fight, some are hoping that Rountree, considered a heavy underdog by oddsmakers, can upset the highly anticipated Poitan. That includes former welterweight champion Usman.
UFC 307: Pereira vs. Rountree Jr. Saturday at 10 a.m. ET on ESPN+. Order now!
Usman pointed out that “crazy things” happen in Utah, citing his upset head kick KO loss to Leon Edwards at UFC 278 in 2022. ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ believes Rountree has enough skill and power to catch Pereira in the first two rounds. But Usman is doubtful that the “war horse” will maintain his usual pace in the later rounds, which are over 4,000 feet in elevation.
“I’m going to shock everyone here…I think Khalil Rountree is going to shock the world,” Usman said on the Pound 4 Pound podcast. “…crazy things happen in Utah…I think Khalil Rountree is very explosive, very powerful. His Muay Thai is incredible and when he fires his Muay Thai, he’s yours. The problem is his pace. When Khalil lets go, he lets everything go. And if the fight somehow gets there, he’ll be in the third, fourth, fourth round. How are you going to fight in five rounds? That’s my only concern. But in the first two rounds I’ll say now, Khalil Rountree is as dangerous as anyone Alex Pereira fought. That is.”
Rountree, who is on a five-fight winning streak with four finishes, has never looked for a takedown in the UFC and vows to continue that streak against Pereira. Meanwhile, five of Pereira’s nine UFC appearances were title fights. He has won four of those championship matches, all by stoppage.
