Alex Pereira secured a thrilling victory over Khalil Rountree Jr. in the main event of UFC 307, held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, retaining his light heavyweight title with a fourth-round stoppage.
Despite expectations for a straightforward defense, Pereira faced significant challenges as Rountree proved to be a resilient opponent. Rountree was leading on all three judges’ scorecards 29-28 as they entered the fourth round. Pereira, now with a record of 12 wins and 2 losses in MMA and 9 wins and 1 loss in the UFC, acknowledged the fight’s toughness, stating, “This was one of my toughest fights. I expected that.”
Pereira implemented a strategic game plan, focusing on body shots and calf kicks to wear down Rountree, who had drawn criticism for his title shot being ranked eighth in the division while No. 2 Magomed Ankalaev was overlooked. Rountree’s tenacity allowed him to land significant strikes, briefly dropping Pereira in the second round. However, the champion adapted and began to dominate as Rountree’s energy waned in the later rounds.
In the fourth round, Pereira intensified his assault, landing an impressive uppercut and a series of punishing body shots that ultimately sent Rountree to the canvas at 4:32. The judges confirmed Pereira’s dominance in significant strikes, with Pereira outlanding Rountree 63-15 in that round and achieving a total strike count of 127-61 for the fight.
This victory marks Pereira’s third successful title defense and placed him among elite fighters like Jon Jones and Anderson Silva, all of whom have achieved three pay-per-view main event victories in a single calendar year by knockout or submission.
Looking ahead, Pereira hinted at potential future matchups, considering a return to middleweight to challenge champion Dricus Du Plessis, or moving up to the heavyweight division for a fight against current champion Jon Jones. However, he seemed content in the light heavyweight division, stating, “This division is great, and this is where I’m at.”
As his legacy continues to grow, fans eagerly anticipate Pereira’s next move.