Stephen Thompson previews Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. clash ahead of UFC 307: "He's beating guys before they get out there"

Stephen Thompson recently offered his analysis of the upcoming title showdown between Alex Pereira and Khalil Rountree Jr. in the main event of UFC 307. 'Poatan' is set to put his UFC light heavyweight title on the line against Rountree Jr. this weekend at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Pereira has been unstoppable since making his 205-pound debut in July 2023, and he's riding high on a four-fight undefeated streak. Already boasting two successful title defenses earlier this year, the Brazilian powerhouse most recently secured a second-round knockout victory over Jiri Prochazka in their rematch at UFC 303.

Meanwhile, 'The War Horse' is gearing up for his first shot at UFC gold. Rountree Jr. enters UFC 307 on the back of a knockout win over Anthony Smith last December and remains unbeaten in his last five fights.

During a recent interview with Submission Radio, 'Wonderboy' shared his predictions for the Pereira vs. Rountree Jr. bout. The former UFC welterweight title challenger emphasized that 'Poatan' holds a clear advantage over Rountree Jr.

However, Thompson also acknowledged that 'The War Horse' possesses the power and potential to shift the momentum in his favor:

"Alex Pereira has been on fire, and his power, along with the reach advantage he has over guys... He's beating guys before they get out there; they're afraid of this guy. Khalil, I think it's going to be a great fight, man, to be honest. Great striking fight. I'm looking forward to it, but I'm leaning towards my man Alex Pereira to win it. But I think people are sleeping on it, man. I think Khalil, if it stays standing, it's going to be a tough one for both."

Check out Stephen Thompson's comments below (13:11):

'Wonderboy' is also set to make his return at UFC 307, where he will face off against Joaquin Buckley in a 170-pound matchup on the preliminary card.

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Alex Pereira calls on Khalil Rountree Jr. to bet part of his purse against takedowns at UFC 307

Khalil Rountree Jr. has repeatedly stated his intention to keep his fight with Alex Pereira focused solely on striking, asserting that he has no plans to pursue any takedowns. However, 'Poatan' remains skeptical about Rountree Jr.'s claims.

During a recent interview with MMA journalist Kevin Iole, Pereira suggested that 'The War Horse' should commit to donating a portion of his fight purse if he attempts a takedown during their matchup:

"Honestly, bro, everybody says that before trying to shoot a takedown against this guy, so it's hard to believe. The only way I’ll believe it is if Khalil goes public and says, 'I promise that I'm not going to shoot a takedown on this guy, and if I do, I'm going to donate a percentage of my purse to charity.' Then I’ll believe it and say let's bang."

Check out Alex Pereira's comments below (2:05):