Poatan Ready For Challenge
Alex Pereira is brimming with confidence ahead of the third defence of his UFC light heavyweight strap this weekend. “Poatan” takes on Khalil Rountree Jr. in the main event at UFC 307 in a match up that many fans have labelled as somewhat of a layup for the champ, given that the skillset of “The War Horse” plays right into his hands, at least in theory.
Speaking on the first episode of UFC Embedded this week from his training base at Teixeira MMA & Fitness, Pereira insists he has reached a new level in his development as a fighter, saying:
“This camp, I’ve made significant strides in my overall progress and my preparation. Like I said to Glover (Teixeira, his coach), ‘Now I understand this game’. And he replied, ‘I can see that’. So it seems like something has clicked”.
Pereira’s Remarkable Rise
Pereira is still relatively inexperienced in mixed martial arts terms and this will be just his tenth appearance inside the Octagon. That seems bizarre given that he has won world titles in two separate weight classes, beaten five current or former champions, and more than half of his fights in the UFC have been title fights.
The announcement of No. 8-ranked Rountree as his next opponent seemed to take everybody by surprise, but it’s a match up that promises to bring fireworks. Both fighters rely predominantly on their striking skills. Rountree Jr. has never taken an opponent down in fourteen UFC appearances, while Pereira’s sole takedown came in his middleweight title victory against Israel Adesanya.
Dangerous Challenger
Rountree Jr. certainly possesses the power to end any fight and is not a threat to be taken lightly. Successive victories over Modestas Bukauskas, Karl Roberson, Dustin Jacoby, Chris Daukaus and Anthony Smith (four of them stoppages) have seen the southpaw become regarded as one of the most dangerous fighters in the 205lb division, and the lead uppercut/overhand left combination that he finished Smith with in particular highlighted the potential he has to end any fight in a split second.
Technical Advantage For The Champ?
Stylistically, the match up looks favorable toward the champion. He demonstrated in his victory over Jamahal Hill at UFC 300 the ease with which he can snake charm a shorter southpaw who is willing to stand and trade with him. Measuring the distance effectively with his lead hand, Pereira repeatedly stabbed the body of Hill with jabs, before switching things up and curving a left hook over Hill’s lead shoulder to effectively end the fight.
Alex Pereira has repeatedly shown that when the stakes are high, he rises to the occasion. And with both he and his opponent arriving in the Octagon this Saturday intending to switch each other’s lights out, the fans look set to reap the rewards.
