Forward of his return to motion subsequent weekend in the principle occasion of UFC 307, former two-weight champion, Alex Pereira is closing as an enormous betting favourite with the bookies to land a victory over incoming championship challenger, Khalil Rountree in Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah.
Pereira, a former undisputed middleweight champion and the present undisputed mild heavyweight titleholder, is about to return for his third Octagon stroll this yr in the principle occasion of UFC 307 on the Delta Heart, taking over quantity eight ranked contender, Rountree in one other journey to altitude.
Sidelined since he featured towards former title chaser, Anthony Smith again in December of final yr, Syndicate MMA stape, Rountree turned in a dominant third spherical knockout win over the Nebraska veteran — incomes himself a stunning title cost.
Alex Pereira closing as betting favourite to beat Khalil Rountree at UFC 307
And forward of the occasion, Alex Pereira is closing as excessive as a surprising -500 betting favourite to beat Khalil Rountree, who’s drawing odds of +350 — with sports activities betting websites nonetheless taking motion on the high-profile title combat between the 2 in the principle occasion of UFC 307 subsequent month.
Most lately headlining UFC 303 again in June in a short-notice rematch towards Jiri Prochazka on the finish of Worldwide Combat Week, Sao Paulo knockout artist, Alex Pereira made mild work of the Czech Republic native with a thunderous knockout win.
Dropping the previous champion on the finish of the primary spherical, early within the second body, Pereira sprung with a surprising high-kick dropping Prochazka for the second time — earlier than touchdown a slew of floor strikes to land a second win over the previous since November of final yr.
And in an enormous yr for the previous GLORY Kickboxing star, Pereira headlined the monumental UFC 300 card again in April, stopping former titleholder, Jamahal Hill with one other devastating knockout stoppage within the opening spherical of the pair’s grudge combat.
Whereas completely displaying off his formidable hanging prowess contained in the Octagon since his transfer to the promotion, Pereira has been surprisingly backed by Rountree’s head coach, John Wooden to shoot towards his trainee for a take down — in a combat which is essentially anticipated to happen completely on the ft for nevertheless lengthy it lasts.
In a nutshell, sure [it’s a kickboxing fight],” John Wooden advised ESPN. “I imagine truthfully in my man, I feel (Alex) Pereira shoots on Khalil (Rountree), I feel he’s the one which breaks sport first and shoots on Khalil to attempt to get that takedown.”
“That’s truly one thing he has accomplished, I imply, we ain’t taking pictures over right here I can inform you that — Khalil can, it’s not like we don’t practice MMA or wrestling,” Wooden defined. “I feel Alex shoots first, however sure, I’d be shocked if this combat goes 5 rounds, somebody goes out on their protect, it’s gonna occur.”
Launching himself into the sunshine heavyweight title image final summer time with a victory over ex-champion, Jan Blachowicz in Salt Lake Metropolis in the identical venue as hie championship protection towards Rountree, Pereira will look to show in his fifth successive victory at 205lbs since his transfer to the load class.
