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 ready to return for his third Octagon stroll this 12 months 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 12 months, 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 shocking -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 not too long ago headlining UFC 303 again in June in a short-notice rematch towards Jiri Prochazka on the finish of Worldwide Battle 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 shocking 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 12 months.
And in an enormous 12 months 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 exhibiting off his formidable putting 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 basically anticipated to happen completely on the ft for nevertheless lengthy it lasts.
In a nutshell, sure [it’s a kickboxing fight],” John Wooden instructed ESPN. “I consider 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 achieved, I imply, we ain’t capturing over right here I can let you know that — Khalil can, it’s not like we don’t practice MMA or wrestling,” Wooden defined. “I feel Alex shoots first, however sure, I might be shocked if this combat goes 5 rounds, somebody goes out on their defend, it’s gonna occur.”
Launching himself into the sunshine heavyweight title image final summer season 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.
