The moment is here for Khalil Rountree Jr. as he’ll fight under the bright lights of the main event for the first time in his UFC career at UFC 307. With an opportunity to beat the indomitable Alex Pereira and capture gold, the 34-year-old seems to be taking a measured approach to the biggest fight of his career. But why? Well, he believes ‘Poatan’ is going to be a “tough opponent.”

Yes, straight out of the get-go, Khalil Rountree made it clear that despite wanting to make this fight “entertaining for the fans,” he isn’t taking the reigning light heavyweight champion lightly, and he has good reasons for that, too. “[In Pereira] I see a very skilled, like talented, strong opponent. I see him for everything else that the world sees him as,” Rountree told Megan Olivi during an ESPN interview.

Looking at Alex Pereira’s resume and the run he’s had so far in Dana White‘s promotion, Khalil Rountree Jr. further stated, “I mean, yeah, he’s been very dominant since he’s come into the sport. He’s shown everything that he’s capable of doing. He’s beat the best of the best, you know. Izzy, Strickland… This guy’s a tough opponent.” However, he’s not only wary about the dangers but also about the opportunity.

It’s always hard to get a title shot with so many world-class talents on the roster and in the 205-pound division. Although Alex Pereira poses a threat, it is a challenge that ‘The War Horse’ has welcomed with open arms, given that fans didn’t think he was next in line for a title shot. “I also see inspiration. When I look at this fight, I see everything he’s been able to accomplish. This fight and this matchup – it excites me,” Khalil Rountree Jr. added.

The challenger has also made one thing perfectly clear – no takedowns. Khalil Rountree Jr. claims he isn’t playing the ground game against Alex Pereira because he’s never shot a takedown ever in the UFC and is rather confident about his striking abilities. But ‘Poatan’ is skeptical about it.

As Khalil Rountree Jr. makes an honest admission about Alex Pereira, the champion has a challenge for him

Alex Pereira isn’t buying into Khalil Rountree Jr.’s bravado. He’s heard it all before—the claims, the confidence, the promise to keep the fight standing. But Pereira knows better, and he’s calling Rountree’s bluff. The light heavyweight champ isn’t interested in empty words; he wants action. And he’s laid down a challenge: put your money where your mouth is. Pereira challenged Rountree to bet a percentage of his purse against the use of takedowns.

“Honestly bro, everybody says that before trying to shoot a takedown against this guy, so it’s hard to believe,” Pereira told Kevin Iole. “The only way [I’ll] believe [is] if Khalil goes public and say, ‘I promise that I’m not going to shoot a takedown on this guy, and if I do and I’m going to donate a percentage of my purse for charity,’ then [I’ll] believe it and say let’s bang.”

The gauntlet has been thrown down, and it’s not just about fighting anymore—it’s about pride, about proving a point. Rountree has said he’ll take Pereira on at his own game, but does he have the resolve to put it all on the line? It’s a big ask and one that might make Rountree think twice about his strategy. But the way Pereira sees it, words are cheap, and the octagon demands more.