October 10, 2024 8:45 pm ET
Give credit score the place credit score is due. Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya paid his respect to each Alex Pereira and Khalil Rountree following their latest conflict.
This previous Saturday, Pereira (12-2 MMA, 9-1 UFC) and Rountree (13-6 MMA, 9-6 UFC) gave followers probably the greatest championship fights of the yr, going toe to toe for nearly 20 minutes in the primary occasion of UFC 307 in Salt Lake Metropolis.
Though the consequence was possibly anticipated, many have been taken away by Rountree’s toughness and competitiveness, whereas additionally admiring Pereira’s comeback potential and talent. Adesanya was certainly one of them.
“He lasted longer than I believed he would,” Adesanya stated on his YouTube channel. “At the very least another person took him to the fourth spherical. It reveals how good Khalil is. Once more he’s (Pereira) received some onerous fights in entrance of him, however he’s that man proper now, he’s on.
“Truthfully, I known as it, however I believed it was going to be earlier. Shout out to Khalil as a result of combating with a damaged nostril and the intelligence to not blow his nostril within the struggle, respect. His inventory goes up after this. What a second.” With the victory, Pereira is now on a five-fight profitable streak since shifting as much as 205 kilos and has three title defenses. He received the sunshine heavyweight title by stopping former champ Jiri Prochazka at UFC 295 final November, and went on to choose up his first title protection in April at UFC 300 by ending Jamahal Hill. “Poatan” then returned on brief discover at UFC 303 in June, the place he defeated Prochazka in a rematch.
Alternatively, Rountree noticed his five-fight profitable streak come to an finish. This was his first UFC title alternative within the eight years he’s been within the promotion.
For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 307.
You’ll want to go to the MMA Junkie Instagram web page and YouTube channel to debate this and extra content material with followers of blended martial arts.
