Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is aware of a factor or two about combating in Utah.
On Saturday night time, Alex Pereira will defend his gentle heavyweight title within the UFC 307 essential occasion in opposition to prime contender Khalil Rountree in a battle in Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah that may check each fighters’ cardio given that it’s going to happen at round 4,200 toes above sea degree.
And Usman, who misplaced his 170-pound title to Leon Edwards in Salt Lake Metropolis to Leon Edwards in August 2022, says that the realm is not like another on the UFC’s common rotation of host cities and claimed that Rountree may rating what could be an enormous upset of the reigning champion Pereira.
“I’m gonna shock all people right here,” Usman stated on the Pound 4 Pound podcast alongside fellow ex-champ Henry Cejudo. “I believe that Khalil Rountree shocks the world.
“Loopy issues occur in Utah,” he added. “I believe Khalil Rountree is extraordinarily explosive, extraordinarily highly effective. His muay thai is unbelievable, and when he’s launching them, he’s going to search out your face. The issue is his pacing. When Khalil lets go, he lets all the pieces go. And the way is he going to do in Rounds 3, 4 and 5 if the battle in some way will get there? That’s my solely concern.
“However in these first two rounds, I’m telling you proper now that Khalil Rountree is as harmful as anybody that Alex Pereira has fought.”
Rountree, who’s 13-5 in his profession, has detailed why Usman has such religion in him in his latest outings within the Octagon. His previous 5 fights have all yielded victories, with 4 TKO finishes and three ‘Efficiency of the Evening’ bonuses in addition.
Nevertheless, the 34-year-old Californian is dealing with a steep uptick in competitors in opposition to Pereira who’s extensively considered being among the many most proficient strikers at the moment energetic within the sport. The Brazilian is 11-2 in a combined martial arts profession which has seen him seize world titles in two UFC weight classes, in addition to headline slots on among the organisation’s largest occasions lately. He, too, has scored finishes in his most up-to-date fights, together with two knockouts in opposition to Jiri Prochazka and a first-round KO of Jamahal Hill within the UFC 300 essential occasion again in April.
