Alex Pereira is feeling the changes as he approaches his fight with Khalil Rountree at UFC 307.
Rountree (13-5) will compete for the Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight title against Pereira in the headliner of UFC 307 on October 5th at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. (11 wins, 2 losses).
Pereira believes fans weren’t initially excited about the matchup when it was announced in August. But the champion can feel his excitement building as fight night approaches. “Poitin” vows to put on a show and expects the same from his opponents.
“I feel good and I feel ready. I came here three weeks before this match to prepare for this time,” Pereira told Nina Marie Daniele. “I was very excited. I think it’s going to be a good fight. Initially, people weren’t paying too much attention to this matchup, but now I see a difference. People are growing up for it. is ready to put on a show…I think Khalil is too. So it’s going to be a great fight.”
UFC 307: Pereira vs. Rountree Jr. Saturday at 10 a.m. ET on ESPN+. Order now!
Pereira won the light heavyweight title with a technical knockout of Jiri Prochaska at UFC 295 in November 2023. Since then, the Brazilian has defended his title twice, with breaks in between, against Jamahal Hill at UFC 300 in April of this year, and in a rematch with Prochaska at UFC 303 in June. .
Rountree, on the other hand, is on a five-fight winning streak, including four in a row. Like former UFC star Chel Sonnen, many believe Pereira won’t have an easy night in the War Horse office. Rountree has never looked for a takedown in his UFC career and vows to maintain that against Pereira. Pereira has only scored one takedown so far in the UFC, so a matchup between two power punchers certainly has the potential for fireworks.
