"It still hurts today" - Alex Pereira recalls fearing serious injury while fighting Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307
Alex Pereira showcased his composure and delivered a striking masterclass after enduring an explosive start from Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307. The Brazilian made the third defense of his light heavyweight title at the Salt Lake City, Utah, pay-per-view event with a fourth-round TKO win.
From the opening bell, Rountree proved he wasn’t intimidated by Pereira's striking, seemingly taking an early lead with sharp boxing. However, the champion adapted as the fight progressed, even recovering from a powerful right hand at one point that briefly sent 'Poatan' to the canvas.
In the fourth round, Pereira pressed forward relentlessly, unleashing a barrage of strikes, and closed the fight with punches to the body and head to retain his title.
Speaking about the fight in a recent interview with Podpah, Pereira claimed that his hands were severely compromised with the damage he inflicted on Rountree. He said:
"In that 4th round, I was throwing jabs and it was hurting my hand man, I swear. I was thinking ‘my hand must be broken’. It still hurts today.”
Check out Alex Pereira's comment below:
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It’s a true measure of Rountree’s endurance that Pereira, who goes by the moniker 'Poatan' meaning 'Stone Hands,' felt the impact of his strikes. The intensity required to break through Rountree’s defenses turned the fight into a brutal test of will.
Pereira is currently tied for the second most knockouts in UFC title fights (5) and also holds the highest significant strike percentage in UFC 205-pound division history (67.2%).
Chael Sonnen raises concerns over Tom Aspinall's readiness in potential fight against Alex Pereira
UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has revealed that he will serve as the backup fighter for UFC 309’s main event clash between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic. He also previously suggested a four-man heavyweight tournament and included Alex Pereira's name in the mix.
The Brazilian has been teasing a move to the heavyweight division in a quest to attain the three-division championship status.
However, MMA analyst Chael Sonnen has expressed concerns about Aspinall’s endurance in a potential fight against Pereira, pointing to his lack of experience in longer fights.
While Aspinall has built an impressive reputation in the UFC, with seven first-round finishes, Sonnen believes that his limited exposure to later rounds could be a disadvantage against a battle-tested fighter like Pereira. He said:
"I have one concern with Tom, and I am one of Tom's biggest advocates, but I worry about his UFC career. He has only left the first round once. I don't love that a guy hasn't had to breathe for 15 minutes. If Aspinall is so damn good that nobody can test him, it's unfair to criticize, but for me to wonder, I have to tell you it's a concern for me."
Check out Chael Sonnen's comments below: