![Khalil Rountree is planning to best Alex Pereira on the feet at UFC 307. [Images courtesy @khalilrountree and alexpoatanpereira on Instagram]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/08/aa600-17250786809605-1920.jpg)
![Khalil Rountree is planning to best Alex Pereira on the feet at UFC 307. [Images courtesy @khalilrountree and alexpoatanpereira on Instagram]](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)
Khalil Rountree Jr.'s first crack at UFC gold is just a few weeks away. In the main event of UFC 307 in Salt Lake City in October, he'll face reigning light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.
Despite 'Poatan' being one of the most dangerous strikers of all time in MMA, Rountree Jr. is not planning to test the Brazilian champion's ground game. Talking to Michael Bisping on the Brit's YouTube channel, the No.8-ranked light heavyweight contender revealed that he has no intention of shooting for takedowns during the fight:
"I literally have no intention of shooting for takedowns or trying to take what people would consider the easy route. I'm here to honestly, I want to put on a fight to remember. For me, this is a fight that I'm going to remember for the rest of my life. This is a moment in my story I'm going to remember."
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He added:
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"I’m able to do a lot of different things, my grappling is good, my wrestling is decent, but that’s just not me... That’s just not my style"
Catch Khalil Rountree Jr.'s comments below (11:40):
Rountree Jr. wants his title bout against Pereira to be one that will live on in fight lore forever and potentially make it to the UFC Hall of Fame one day.
Only former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has managed to best 'Poatan' on the feet so far in the MMA. Pereira has knocked out numerous prolific strikers, including Jiri Prochazka and Jamahal Hill.
Check out Alex Pereira's latest KO victory below:
Considering Pereira's kickboxing pedigree and Rountree Jr.'s intention to keep the fight standing, the odds will be in 'Poatan's' favor.
Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree Jr.: Betting odds
With the light heavyweight title clash between Alex Pereira and Khalil Rountree Jr. a little over a month away, oddsmakers are viewing 'Poatan' as the prohibitive favorite for the matchup.
Per DraftKings Sportsbook, Pereira is a -535 favorite over Rountree Jr. (+400 underdog) for the matchup.
According to the current betting line, a successful $100 bet on 'Poatan' will result in a return of $118.69. The same wager on 'The War Horse' could fetch a more lucrative sum of $500 if the American gets his hand raised.
