Fans Slam Dana White For Announcing Pereira Vs. Rountree – ‘Disgraceful Matchmaking’
Fans are unhappy with Dana White announcing Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree for UFC 307 on October 5.
White has said the fight will take place from Salt Lake City, Utah Delta Centre, as Pereira hopes to continue his recent form. He knocked out Jiri Prochazka in his last fight at UFC 303 with a kick to the head in the second round to retain his UFC Light Heavyweight Title.
The win was impressive because Pereira took the fight at late notice. Conor McGregor vs Michael Chandler was scheduled. However, McGregor withdrew after injuring his toe. It was the second time Pereira stopped Jiri, having done the same at UFC 295. There was talk that Alex could move up to heavyweight. Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall welcomed the idea of a fight.
Rountree On Pereira
Pereira only wanted Jones since he is the champion. However, White dismissed that fight as Aspinall will take on the winner of Jones vs. Stipe Miocic. Rountree has won his last five fights with four knockouts. He stopped Anthony Smith in his previous bout to put him in a title shot position. After beating Smith, Rountree wanted the Pereira fight.
“I don’t ever call people out. I don’t think you guys have any record of me ever calling anybody out. But, in my mind, knowing that I beat Anthony Smith, that would get me into the top-10. And I know that, the way the rankings kinda work, if I fought and I’m just 12, I just know that, like, I have to be in the top-10 to be worthy of fighting for a title.”
“Say they put me at No. 10 and not No. 8 where Anthony was. Okay, so from nine up, in my opinion, and I think in the fans’ opinion, the most exciting fight would be me vs. Pereira. That’s just…I’ve seen, from like comments, things like that after Alex’s win [in November], I got flooded with people tagging me in things [on social media]. I think it makes sense. Two dynamic strikers, powerful strikers,” Rountree said
Ankalaev Misses Out
However, there were suggestions that Magomed Ankalaev should have gotten the title shot instead. The Russian has ten wins out of his last 12 fights. The two other bouts were a draw and a no-contest. He knocked out Johnny Walker in his last fight.
His last defeat was in 2018 when he lost to Paul Craig on his UFC debut. Pereira’s last defeat was against Israel Adesanya at UFC 287 last year. Izzy will now face Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305 as he hopes to regain the middleweight title he lost to Sean Strickland. Looking back at his former rival, Izzy was pleased with how Alex was doing.
“I watched the Pereira fight again last night, it was on YouTube, and I was just like scrolling past and I watched it and there was certain sequences I was just like, I was making him move back. I was really pushing him back and for me, I’m so happy with what he’s doing right now, I’m like bro… I know! I fought him four times! I know! Bro, every time I fought him, I knew I could get him till he got me and then now, here we are,” Adesanya said
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