Alex Pereira, Khalil Rountree Jr.’s Subsequent Finest Fights After UFC 307 Outcomes

Alex Pereira added one other good bullet level to his ever-growing resume with a fourth-round TKO win over Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307. It will not take lengthy for the query to grow to be what occurs subsequent with the two-division champion.

Poatan continues to be one of many UFC’s largest stars and he would not appear involved in slowing down anytime quickly.

There’ll, after all, be requires him to maneuver up a weight. It is the pure inclination after watching him dominate at middleweight and lightweight heavyweight. Nevertheless, there are some attention-grabbing challenges that would nonetheless emerge at 205 kilos.

As for Rountree, it is again to the drafting board. He put collectively a five-fight win streak to get up to now and has quite a lot of names on the high of the division that he hasn’t fought.

Let’s check out the highest choice for every of the principle occasion combatants.

If this win made something clear it is that Alex Pereira is the type of fighter who is ready to transcend weight class. He has simply transitioned from middleweight to gentle heavyweight whereas retaining his dominance.

Pereira has toyed with the thought of transferring again right down to middleweight and even going as much as heavyweight to go for a historic third weight class title. Nevertheless, any concepts for his subsequent combat ought to begin in his present weight class.

He made it clear forward of the combat that’s the place his consideration lies in the mean time.

“I might really select to defend my belt,” Pereira told reporters at media day. “For me to go to a decrease weight class, it might take a while, want some preparation. For me to go to a better weight class, it additionally takes extra preparation. So proper now, the way in which it’s at gentle heavyweight is ideal.”

If he needs to remain at gentle heavyweight then the winner of an October bout between Magomed Ankalaev and Aleksandar Rakic is the one logical choice. Ankalaev might have arguably acquired this title shot over Rountree, however that is not the way in which it performed out.

The extra intriguing choice for followers is for Pereira to strike whereas the iron is scorching and go for a historic heavyweight championship. Pereira not too long ago educated with Jones after the reigning champion dropped hints that his upcoming bout towards Stipe Miocic may very well be his final.

If Jones does retire then the UFC may very well be in search of an enormous identify to tackle interim champion Tom Aspinall. Pereira may very well be that man if he needs to.

The only path ahead for the UFC and Rountree could be to arrange Rountree with the loser of the scheduled bout between Magomed Ankalaev and Aleksandar Rakic. The winner has the within monitor on the subsequent title shot, so it might make sense to pair up the losers and see who can save face.

The winner of that bout would possible stay within the combine and get a high 5 opponent of their subsequent combat after that one.

After shedding to the champion, that is about pretty much as good a state of affairs as Rountree might hope for.

One other state of affairs could be Rountree taking over the opposite gentle heavyweight who most not too long ago misplaced to Pereira. Jamahal Hill had a quick run as champion and was really scheduled to combat Rountree at UFC 303 however Rountree withdrew from the fight after consuming a banned substance.

With that incident behind him, it is perhaps time to satisfy up with Hill.

The ultimate chance is perhaps a rematch with Johnny Walker. The 2 have been equally ranked going into this combat and Walker gained a matchup between the 2 again in 2018. They’ve taken comparable roads within the UFC with inconsistencies which have stored them from staying within the limelight.

A bout between the 2 wouldn’t solely be thrilling, however give one in all them the prospect to remain within the operating for a title shot.