Former UFC Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman made his prediction at the main event of UFC 307.
Kamaru Usman Makes His Prediction
Current UFC Light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira will look to defend his title this weekend. This is when he faces off against Khalil Rountree in the main event of UFC 307 this Saturday. When the decision was announced that Khalil Rountree would be next to fight for the title there was a lot of criticism surrounding this decision. This is due to many fans believing Magomed Ankalaev was the number one contender.
However, as this fight draws closer, the idea that Rountree isn’t deserving of his shot has shifted. This has included Alex Pereira fans who are feeling the excitement grow for this fight. This has also got fans even believing that Khalil Rountree will be able to do the unthinkable and be able to get the upset victory. This is despite the bookmakers having Rountree as a significant underdog. One of the people that is believing in Rountree is the former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman.
Kamaru Usman has also noted that “crazy things” have happened before in Utah. This is in relation to Usman’s upset head-kick knockout against Leon Edwards back in 2022 at UFC 278. Usman believes Rountree has the skills and power to be able to catch Alex Pereira in one of the first two rounds. However, Kamaru Usman does have concerns about Rountree being able to maintain his usual pace in the later rounds at an elevation of more than 4,000 feet.
Speaking on his Pound 4 Pound podcast Kamaru Usman explained;
“I’m gonna shock everybody here… I think that Khalil Rountree shocks the world,”
“… Crazy things happen in Utah… I think Khalil Rountree is extremely explosive, extremely powerful. His muay thai is incredible, and when he’s launching them, he’s going to find your face. The problem is his pacing. When Khalil lets go, he lets everything go. And how is he going to do in Rounds 3, 4 and 5 if the fight somehow gets there? That’s my only concern. But in those first two rounds, I’m telling you right now that Khalil Rountree is as dangerous as anyone that Alex Pereira has fought.”
Khalil Rountree Ready to Shock the World
Khalil Rountree is currently riding a five-fight winning streak with 4 of his 5 victories coming due to a stoppage. Rountree prefers to keep the fight standing with the contender never shooting for a takedown in his UFC career. Rountree has also vowed to maintain his streak against Alex Pereira. Meanwhile, five of Alex Pereira’s nine UFC fights have been for a UFC title. He has also been successful in 4 out of those 5 championship fights and all of those victories have come due to a stoppage.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
