Khalil Rountree Jr. might not have prevailed against Alex Pereira at UFC 307 but his stock did reach an all-time high. With a battered nose and his body adorned in the pride of his blood, ‘The War Horse’ did not go down until the very end. Fight fans around the world are going to remember the symphony of violence and the color of the canvas for a long time.

As for the undisputed king, the Brazilian didn’t enter the battleground at 100 percent and he surely didn’t leave it with that number either. Naturally, the MMA community is buzzing with the aftermath of this slug-fest, with praises coming in for both the contenders involved in the scrap. Surprisingly Pereira’s former rival also chimed in to give compliments and had a chance to take a dig at ‘Poatan’.

Artem Vakhitov mocked Alex Pereira in the guise of praising Khalil Rountree Jr.

The last man to beat Alex Pereira outside of the UFC was Artem Vakhitov so you can gauge the prowess that the Light heavyweight prospect holds in his 6’1” physique. Pereira’s former kryptonite is a former Glory FC kickboxing champion and is planning to soon transition into the UFC. He is scheduled to make his debut at the 75th edition of the Dana White Contender Series on October 8, 2024. Ahead of his bout, Vakhitov stated his views on the UFC 307 main event where his former rival won. However, it wasn’t enough to win the Russian’s praise. 

According to Red Corner MMA, “Alex Pereira’s former kickboxing rival Artem Vakhitov says the outcome of the #UFC307 main event was predictable, but that Khalil Rountree Jr. deserves respect for staying in the fight for as long as he did. @VakhitovArtem himself could be set to enter the UFC as he fights on Dana White’s Contender Series this Tuesday.”

Meanwhile, Vakhitov was not the only one praising ‘The War Horse’. UFC head honcho Dana White acknowledged the challenger’s durability and his effort against ‘The Boogeyman’ of the Light heavyweight division. As said, ‘The War Horse’ had brutal wounds on his nose that seemingly burst amid the ferocious exchange between the two. 

Rountree Jr. had to be rushed to the hospital immediately for a precautionary checkup and stitches. White also posted a backstage photo of Rountree Jr. with all his cuts and bruises from the battle and praised him just like Vakhitov did. However, the Glory FC champ’s praise was not without criticism for Pereira.

The Russian fighter has expressed a desire to settle his unfinished business with ‘Poatan’ and is eyeing a potential UFC contract through DWCS. Having split their previous two fights, with Pereira winning by split decision and the Russian by majority decision, the 33-year-old believes a trilogy fight is on the horizon and would definitively determine the superior striker between them.

“I am very motivated by the prospect of getting that trilogy match with Pereira. He’s a superstar now… but when I hear people saying he’s the best striker in the world… well, I think it’s time for MMA fans to learn about me,” Vakhitov said in an interview earlier this year. Along with this, he also took a jibe at the Brazilian’s defense game. 

Artem Vakhitov criticizes Pereira’s defense 

For the unversed, the rivalry between Pereira and Vakhitov dates back to 2021 when Pereira won their first encounter at Glory 77. Their rematch at Glory 78 saw Vakhitov claim victory. Since transitioning to MMA, the Russian has compiled a record of 2-1. Pereira, on the other hand, has suffered only one loss in his UFC career, a knockout defeat to Israel Adesanya.

Vakhitov believes that Pereira’s striking defense is a significant weakness, as evidenced by his loss to ‘The Last Stylebender’. He further suggested that other light heavyweight contenders have struggled against Pereira due to their subpar striking skills. Pereira, while displaying confidence in his ability to slay the Russian, has also acknowledged the potential challenges of transitioning from kickboxing to the world of MMA. He also credited his former arch-nemesis Israel Adesanya and added that everyone does not possess the natural talent that Izzy had and so would not be able to fare well in the octagon.

Whether Vakhitov could slay the Brazilian in the UFC remains shrouded in mystery for now. Ultimately, the outcome of a potential matchup between the two would depend on various factors, including what the combatants decide to do on the night of the bout. Do you think Vakhitov has what it takes to demolish ‘Poatan’? Drop your thoughts in the comment section below.