UFC 307: Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree head-to-toe breakdown | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

Alex Pereira is a two-division UFC champion, briefly holding the middleweight title before ascending to the light heavyweight throne. Winning belts across two divisions is a massive achievement under any circumstances, but in the Brazilian's case it's particularly impressive given he only debuted with the promotion in November 2021.

When Rountree was living in Thailand and considering retiring from MMA, Pereira was still competing in the Glory kickboxing ring and only had a handful of MMA fights to his credit.

Even he can't believe what he's accomplished in the time since his last kickboxing fight.

“Yeah, sometimes it’s hard to believe,” said the former kickboxing champion. “Sometimes it’s not. Sometimes I think about all the hard work I’ve put in and everything I’ve done and I need to have this kind of success.”

Most of Pereira's success in the UFC is due to the devastating striking skills he developed throughout his kickboxing career. There are few fighters on the UFC roster who are at his level. Rountree may be one of them, but the champion was hesitant to give his challenger too much credit.

“I can put him in front of some people I have.” [faced] “I don't know where he would be on the list, but he's definitely a dangerous striker.” Every fighter has a different style.

Rountree, who remarkably has never shot for a takedown in 15 UFC fights, has a different perspective on things.

In his estimation, he and Pereira are equal on the feet.

“Without praising myself, at least, [we’re] right away,” he said.

It's easy to see why Rountree is so confident in his carefully honed Muay Thai striking. He has delivered some very impressive knockouts in the Octagon, none more so than his one-hitter quitter in 2019 against another kickboxing legend, Gokhan Saki.

In the lead-up to UFC 307, Rountree's fans have frequently referenced his win over Saki. He's knocked out a world-class kickboxer before, they'll tell you, and he can do it again.

For Rountree, however, the win against Saki isn't a huge confidence boost – at least not in the way you'd expect.

“I try not to look back at what I did and compare it to this fight or use it as fuel,” he said. “Every fighter is different. Gokhan Saki is a different fighter.” [than Pereira]. As great as he is and what he's done, it's a different body, a different brain, a different strategy. I don't really compare the two.

“All I can say is that when I fought Gokhan Saki, I was not the same fighter as I am today. I wasn't as skilled, I don't think I worked as hard as I do now. Just knowing that gives me confidence – knowing that I was a kid when I fought Gokhan Saki.”

Pereira agrees that Rountree's win over Saki has little impact on their UFC 307 fight. While he found it impressive, he pointed to Rountree's 2022 split decision win over another kickboxer in Dustin Jacoby as a counterpoint.

“Gokhan Saki is a super dangerous striker,” he said. “If you look back in time in kickboxing and ask me who I would rather fight, between Gokhan Saki and Dustin Jacoby, I would choose Dustin Jacoby. You see how Dustin beat Jacoby with Khalil. Yes, Khalil beat Gokhan Saki” like he did, but I watched that fight with Dustin Jacoby the other day and I think Dustin won that fight.