Israel Adesanya finds it laborious to choose towards Alex Pereira at UFC 307.
Pereira (11-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC) defends his gentle heavyweight title towards Khalil Rountree (14-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) in Saturday’s foremost occasion at Delta Middle in Salt Lake Metropolis (pay-per-view, ESPNews, ESPN+).
Adesanya (24-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC) is aware of firsthand how good Pereira is. The pair fought 4 instances – twice in kickboxing and twice in MMA, with Adesanya lastly getting his hand raised by knockout at UFC 287. Though Adesanya has picked towards Pereira a number of instances earlier than, he thinks Rountree’s strategy gained’t discover an excessive amount of success towards “Poatan.”
“I’ll go Pereira due to momentum proper now,” Adesanya mentioned on “The Adam Carolla Present.” “Rountree doesn’t grapple. He likes to kickbox. He’s by no means gone for a takedown. In the event you’re going to try this with Pereira – I’m the one one who’s ever even rocked him or like stood with him within the UFC. Everybody else, he’s washed. Rountree, if he could make it soiled and catch him, he can catch him, nevertheless it’s so laborious to do it to Pereira.
“Rountree, his attain could not have the ability to get to him. Pereira likes to make use of his lengthy attain to border. … This weekend I’m going to go Pereira, and I’m going to go TKO or KO. I don’t know what spherical, however I simply really feel prefer it’ll be laborious for Rountree. Leg kicks, leg kicks, and he would possibly catch him as Rountree is available in as a result of Rountree goes to be attacking him.”
Chael Sonnen predicted that Rountree will stroll by means of Pereira. Adesanya is uncertain what perception Sonnen might should make such a daring assertion however gained’t rule out the potential of Rountree successful.
“Rountree will certainly be the underdog on this one, however I wouldn’t rely him out,” Adesanya mentioned. “As a result of Chael reckons he’s going to win, and Chael reckons he’s going to scrub Pereira. And I’m like, ‘Wait, what does he know that we don’t know?’ In fact that is preventing, and I do know he can as a result of he can get in there, put him towards the fence and simply (beat him up).”
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