Last week, UFC boss Dana White surprised the MMA community by announcing that #8 ranked light heavyweight contender Khalil Rountree would fight division champion Alex Pereira at the upcoming UFC 307 in October. This decision angered many fans, who had hoped to see #2 ranked Magomed Ankalaev as Pereira’s opponent, believing him to be a more deserving contender. The unexpected announcement increased their frustration. Many fans criticized Dana White for giving Pereira a low-ranked opponent, accusing him of favoritism.

Despite the criticism, a former UFC fighter recently defended Dana White’s decision and explained why Khalil Rountree is a deserving opponent for Alex Pereira. He also shared his prediction that could be a warning sign for Pereira.

UFC Insider endorses Khalil Rountree over Alex Pereira

Chael Sonnen, the fighter-turned-analyst, recently shared some eye-opening insight on his YouTube podcast “Good Guy/Bad Guy,” alongside his co-host Daniel Cormier. Sonnen explored the upcoming matchup between Khalil Rountree and Alex Pereira, siding with Rountree and taking aim at critics. He boldly claimed, “Let me give you the hot take of the day: Khalil Rountree is going to walk through Pereira. 

Sonen further explored Khalil Rountree’s career, referencing the experience he gained from fighting in other promotions. Sonen remarked, “Well, Khalil was from SmackDown; he came from the other show. He’s been fighting on the Fight Nights and at the Apex and things like that. He’s still won six in a row, and he stopped five of those sons of guns.”

However, Chael Sonnen may not be entirely wrong. If we closely examine the stats of Khalil Rountree and Alex Pereira, Pereira’s number reveals less MMA experience, with only 9 fights since he debuted in the UFC in 2021 after ending his kickboxing career. In contrast, Khalil Rountree, a living MMA student, began his career back in 2015 with king of the Cage, which paved the way for his participation in the The Ultimate Fighter and eventually the UFC, with a total 15 fights until now.

Despite facing criticism within the MMA community, Khalil Rountree has remained optimistic. He also shared a message for his detractors in the division and expressed his thoughts on the upcoming fight against Alex Pereira.

Khalil Rountree Jr. shuts down UFC 307 criticism in one line

Everything was going well for Khalil Rountree until May when he realized he had unintentionally taken a banned substance that was mixed into his supplement. As soon as he discovered his mistake, Rountree immediately reported himself to the UFC’s compliance authority. The controversy deepened when the Nevada Athletic Commission banned him. Now, Rountree is trying to put his past behind him, facing Alex Pereira in October, but his critics remain unsatisfied, questioning his right to fight for a title shot after coming directly off a suspension.

In a recent interview on the MMAFightingonSBN YouTube channel, Rountree fired back at his critics when the host asked him for his message to Alex Pereira and others in his division. Rountree responded, “I got a message for Alex, and that’s, ‘See you in October.’ Everybody else? Nothing.” The host then confirmed his appearance at UFC 307, saying, “They can watch you in October,’ to which Rountree concluded the controversy by stating, ‘Watch me in October.'”

What are your thoughts on Chael Sonnen’s claim that Khalil Rountree can defeat Alex Pereira, who has become a formidable force in the promotion with his dangerous striking skills and has successfully defended his title belt for the third time? Drop your comments below.