As UFC 307 approaches, predictions surrounding the headline combat between gentle heavyweight champion Alex Pereira and ranked #8 contender Khalil Rountree Jr. are amplifying. Regardless of being labeled the underdog by oddsmakers, Rountree Jr. continues to be favored by some analysts, together with Chael Sonnen, who boldly predicted a month in the past, “Khalil Rountree goes via Pereira.”
Whereas this assertion confronted criticism from different analysts, Rountree Jr. is gaining traction amongst predictors. Lately, BMF titleholder Max Holloway weighed in on the matchup. ‘Blessed’ overtly mentioned Rountree Jr.’s life-threatening strikes, suggesting they might be ‘Poatan’s’ ‘kryptonite.’
Max Holloway alarmed Alex Pereira forward of his conflict at UFC 307
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Max Holloway is at present gearing as much as face UFC featherweight king Ilia Topuria at UFC 308, which is occurring in the identical month as UFC 307. Regardless of being just a few weeks away from his personal occasion, ‘Blessed’ appears extra excited concerning the Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. combat. This was not too long ago evident on Holloway’s YouTube channel, the place he broke down the UFC headline occasion whereas anticipating Pereira’s win within the upcoming combat.
Nevertheless, he didn’t fully ignore Khalil Rountree, emphasizing Rountree Jr.’s potential victory below one situation: the indirect kick. He said, “I already know what Khalil Rountree goes to do. I’ll inform you guys this a lot: Khalil Rountree goes to try to cease Alex’s leg kick with that entrance indirect kick.”
Holloway then referenced Rountree Jr.’s 2021 combat towards Modestas Bukauskas, the place Rountree Jr. used the indirect kick on his opponent, sending him right into a hiatus that saved him out of the sport for nearly two years.
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Although Bukauskas bounced again from the lethal indirect kick, not everyone seems to be that fortunate. Former UFC star Quinton “Rampage” Jackson highlighted the components surrounding this controversial transfer on The Joe Rogan Expertise podcast final summer season, explaining how the indirect kick ended his superb profession.
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Joe Rogan shared his ideas on the lethal ‘indirect kick.’
Method again earlier than Khalil Rountree Jr. made his debut within the UFC, heavyweight king Jon Jones was an energetic person of those formidable, career-ending indirect kicks. One in every of his victims was Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, who as soon as dominated the sunshine heavyweight division. Nevertheless, after clashing with Jon Jones, Jackson’s life modified as a result of harm he sustained in the course of the combat within the type of an indirect kick.
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Remembering the incident on the JRE MMA Present, Jackson said, “He’s actually good at these leg kicks. These indirect kicks too.” After recalling the ache and distress brought on by the indirect kicks, Jackson vowed to ban these unlawful strikes if he ever began his personal MMA promotion. Upon listening to this, Joe Rogan criticized indirect kicks, calling them the most important setback for athletes and promotions from a enterprise standpoint. He claimed, “It’s undoubtedly not good for enterprise, nevertheless it’s nonetheless authorized. It’s authorized proper now. So, it’s laborious to say. I see the purpose that you simply shouldn’t be allowed to focus on the knees.”
What are your ideas on Max Holloway? Do you assume Khalil Rountree Jr.’s indirect kick can harm Alex Pereira’s knee, on condition that he has spent nearly a decade in kickboxing promotions? Drop your opinion under.
