The recently concluded UFC 307 event witnessed one of the most brutal beatdowns in UFC history. Khalil Rountree Jr. and Alex Pereira went to war at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Unlike his previous fights, ‘Poatan’ had to work hard to register his third victory in 2024 and successfully defended his title.

Rountree Jr. started the fight at a blistering pace and put the champion under much pressure. However, as the fight progressed, ‘The War Horse’ seemed to be getting out of gas and failed to keep his momentum going. So, was cardio the reason for his losing the fight? Well, Khalil Rountree Jr. has the answer for you.

Khalil Rountree Jr. points out the biggest reason for him losing the fight at UFC 307

34-year-old Khalil Rountree Jr. walked into the Octagon high on confidence after staying undefeated in his last five fights. For the time there were murmurs that Alex Pereira might just fail to defend his title. However, things took a completely new turn in the third and fourth rounds, respectively. It seemed Rountree Jr. was failing to recover between the rounds, and many felt it was due to the altitude. However, the real reason was pointed out when he spoke to Michael Bisping recently.

Rountree Jr. pointed out that he had moved to Utah weeks before the fight to help him acclimatize to the altitude. He even underwent an intense training camp to help him prepare for a five-round fight. But it seemed something was wrong as the fight started to go into the later stages. One of the biggest weaknesses in the #8 ranked light-heavyweight fighter has always been his cardio, and he struggles to keep the intensity going in most of his fights. But this time around, he pointed out that Pereira’s pace was more than what he had expected.

While speaking to “The Count”, he said, “Well yeah, I think I got tired, but I really can’t say that it was cardio reason or altitude. Because we spent so much time up there. You know one of the runs I think prior to fight week I did six miles at 7000 feet. You know, so I was acclimated. But one thing that I like to make clear is that people don’t really realize it takes a lot of energy when you start absorbing punches. As soon as he kept the pace so like every round he just kept making adjustments you know. He didn’t decline he didn’t come out slower. He actually ended up coming out faster and a little bit you know more pressure every round. “

Not only did the challenger completely gas out, but took some severe damage due to it. ‘The War Horse’ had to undergo surgery after his brutal fight and is slowly getting back to full fitness. In a recent video on Instagram, he gave details of the problems he faced after taking some serious blows from the champion.

Khalil Rountree Jr. faced some severe damage during his fight with Alex Pereira

Khalil Rountree Jr. truly earned his stripes and his stock grew to an all-time high. However, he took on a fighter who is currently in his prime. Alex Pereira looks absolutely unbeatable at the moment and seems to have an answer for every problem his opponents throw at him. During his last fight at UFC 307, ‘Poatan’ showed a completely different side of him and proved that he is more than just an elite striker but also a barbaric technician as displayed by his changed approach in the championship rounds.

His biggest weapon in the fight was his devastating left hook and lethal leg kicks, and Rountree Jr. was at the receiving end of it. Red Corner MMA shared a video on their Instagram page where the 34-year-old gave out the details of his injuries. He said, “Did some damage to my nose. So I had my septum replaced because it was crooked like a letter ‘C’, and I couldn’t breathe. So, no other injuries. I mean, everything else seems good: my hands, my legs. Everything was just like the cuts on the nose. The nose was the worst thing.”

Fortunately for Rountree Jr. and his family members, the fighter is healthy and will be returning to action real soon. Despite the injuries, the fight at UFC 307 will be etched into the memories of the fans for a long time. How do you rate this clash between the two warriors? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.