Kamaru
Usman is expecting an upset in the UFC 307
headliner.
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Alex
Pereira (11-2) defends his light heavyweight title against
Khalil
Rountree (13-5) in the main event at UFC 307
on Saturday at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. There was
lot of criticism when Rountree was initially granted a title shot
over Magomed
Ankalaev, widely considered the rightful No. 1 contender.
However, the tide is gradually shifting as fight night draws near,
with even Pereira feeling fans’ excitement growing. In addition to
the hype behind the fight, some also expect Rountree, who has been
tabbed as a significant underdog by oddsmakers, to upset the
heavily-favored “Poatan.” That includes former welterweight champ
Usman.
Pereira vs. Rountree Jr. Saturday at 10 ET on ESPN+. Order
Now!
Usman notes that “crazy things” happen in Utah, referring to his
upset head-kick KO loss against Leon
Edwards at UFC 278 in 2022. “The Nigerian Nightmare” believes
Rountree is skilled and powerful enough to catch Pereira in the
first two rounds. However, Usman is skeptical about “The War Horse”
maintaining his usual pace in the later rounds at a elevation of
more than 4,000 feet.
“I’m gonna shock everybody here… I think that Khalil Rountree
shocks the world,” Usman said on the Pound 4 Pound podcast. “…
Crazy things happen in Utah… I think Khalil Rountree is extremely
explosive, extremely powerful. His muay thai is incredible, and
when he’s launching them, he’s going to find your face. The problem
is his pacing. When Khalil lets go, he lets everything go. And how
is he going to do in Rounds 3, 4 and 5 if the fight somehow gets
there? That’s my only concern. But in those first two rounds, I’m
telling you right now that Khalil Rountree is as dangerous as
anyone that Alex Pereira has fought.”
Riding a five-fight winning streak with four finishes, Rountree has
never shot for a takedown in the UFC and vows to maintain that
streak against Pereira. Meanwhile, five of Pereira’s nine UFC
outings have been title fights. He’s won four of those championship
bouts — all via stoppage.