Alex Pereira and Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307 ceremonial weigh-in Credit: Dylan Napoleone/Cageside Press
Alex Pereira returned to the main event for the third time in 2024 and came out on top against Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307.
The match was designed for entertainment rather than meritocracy, and Rountree was chosen over the better-ranked Magomed Ankalaev. Still, fans at home and in Salt Lake City didn’t seem to mind.
What unfolded was exactly as expected: an impressive, violent and bloody war for Pereira’s light heavyweight title.
Pereira came out early and charged over the cage, but Rountree almost caught the kick. It was a bit of a surprising start, but things have calmed down since then. “Poatan” was methodical and methodical as he walked forward, but Rountree was tight and technical. Towards the final moments of the round, the challenger connected with a solid right hand. Pereira wore it well, but it was clear Rountree was ready to face the champion in a stand-up fight.
In the second round, Pereira found a home for a right hook, pushing Rountree against the fence in the process. Rountree sank out, but this time Pereira’s leg kick and left hand caused trouble. Rountree was still there, answering every time Pereira came in. However, damage to the lead landing gear was beginning to show, and movement appeared to be hampered. Still, Rountree clipped the champion at the last moment! Pereira fell but quickly got back up, but it was unclear whether it was a knockdown or whether Pereira had lost his balance. And at the end of the round, Rountree landed a clean head kick. Somehow, quite unbelievably, Pereira got it.
Rountree was in great shape in the third round. He threw a punch to the body. He then goes up top with a kick but it is blocked. Pereira found success with his right hand and jab. Rountree lands a left hook. If there was a key difference between the two fighters, it was Pereira’s continued use of leg kicks, forcing Khalil Rountree Jr. to change his weight distribution again in the third round. The champion turned it up at the end of the round and Rountree connected multiple times while dealing damage to the face. “Poitan” clinches Ty and finishes it off with a firing knee.
Championship rounds are nothing new for Alex Pereira. After all, he was going five-man with Israel Adesanya. Early in the fourth, he connected with a jab that hurt Rountree. He hurt him again near the halfway point and then dropped off, drawing Rountree into a shootout! Mr. Rountree was bloody and torn, with blood splattering on his shorts. Pereira was a shark that smelled blood in the water and came for the kill. The champion connected on every shot like he couldn’t miss any shot. Rountree was covering, circling, and firing eagerly and blindly.
Referee Mark Goddard kept an eye on the situation with 90 seconds remaining. A right and a left, both connected with Pereira. Rountree fought back, but Pereira seemed to land five shots with every punch he landed or threw. A knee to the middle from Pereira took away more power from Rountree, but somehow he didn’t go down. Pereira then digs to the body twice and takes a combo upstairs that includes an uppercut and finally Khalil Rountree Jr. goes down! It was probably one of Alex Pereira’s toughest fights in the last 12 months, and despite some early adversity, he pulled off another impressive stoppage to win.
Official Results: Alex Pereira def. Khalil Rountree Jr., Round 4, 4:32 TKO
