![Alex Pereira (middle) discusses whether Khalil Rountree Jr. dropped him in Round 2 of their fight (left) and (right) [Images courtesy: Getty Images, @ufc on X]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/10/193ab-17282164253210-1920.jpg)
![Alex Pereira (middle) discusses whether Khalil Rountree Jr. dropped him in Round 2 of their fight (left) and (right) [Images courtesy: Getty Images, @ufc on X]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.25'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Alex Pereira and Khalil Rountree Jr. went to war in the headlining fight of UFC 307 on Oct. 5 for the light heavyweight title. With both men regarded for their elite striking skillsets, fans hoped that the clash would produce a spectacle on the feet.
What unfolded was exactly that, as the pair traded strikes throughout the back-and-forth contest. However, 'Poatan' put the pedal to the metal in the fourth round and managed to get the finish via TKO in the same round.
'The War Horse' was awarded the first and second rounds on all three judges' scorecards, with the Muay Thai specialist appearing to drop Pereira in the second round when landing a counter punch after slipping his opponent's head kick.
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The strike momentarily wobbled the usually unflappable Brazilian, before he regained his composure and continued to assert himself in the fight.
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Following his successful title defense, 'Poatan' appeared in front of the media, where he was asked if the strike landed by Rountree Jr. in Round 2 hurt him, or if he had slipped.
He said:
"If it's the moment that I'm thinking of, I felt [the strike]. But I've got to rewatch it, I'm not sure. I think it was something spinning, maybe I had my back to him. I don't remember. I felt it."
Watch Alex Pereira's interview below (10:35):
Alex Pereira looking forward to some time off after three fights in seven months
Alex Pereira successfully defended his light heavyweight throne for the third time in seven months after defeating Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307 on Oct. 5.
With 'Poatan' having competed so frequently in 2024, fans and pundits alike were eager to find out if the light heavyweight champion plans on slowing down any time soon.
Following his win over 'The War Horse', Pereira was interviewed by ESPN MMA, where he was asked if he would take some time off. He responded:
"I think I earned and deserve some rest after this... I want to rest my body, I've got some trips to go to. Going to Mexico, to Malta, to [South] Korea then I'm gonna take some time in Bali just to relax."
Watch Alex Pereira's interview below (5:00):
