Khalil Rountree calls Alex Pereira “Fight of the Year” and responds to the former champion

The No. 8 UFC light heavyweight contender became a title challenger today when UFC CEO Dana White announced that he will fight for gold against reigning champion Pereira in the main event of UFC 307 on October 5 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The title fight came out of nowhere for Rountree, as other challengers were ahead of him and the 34-year-old had not fought since his victory over Anthony Smith in December. “The War Horse” revealed in an interview with Kevin Iole that he heard about the title fight for the first time on Wednesday.

“I was absolutely surprised,” Rountree said of the call to fight Pereira. “It was unexpected. I didn't know it was a possibility like it is now. I was always prepared for it and it's always what I wanted.”

Rountree, however, is not surprised by the reaction of his fellow light heavyweight fighters to the news that he would challenge Pereira for the title, including former champion and No. 3 ranked challenger Jamahal Hill.

He was originally booked to fight Rountree at UFC 303, but Hill objected to the challenger being able to compete in a world title fight in October after a positive drug test and a two-month suspension earlier this year. Of course, Rountree Jr. himself had admitted to taking supplements containing DHEA, the banned substance he was consuming, and his suspension expired in July.

“It doesn't surprise me, and it doesn't affect me,” Rountree Hill responded, saying his title fight was “terrible for the sport.” “He has his own personal reasons. I don't think it's terrible for the sport. I think it's great for the sport.”

The main event in Salt Lake City will be striker versus striker, with former GLORY kickboxing champion Pereira facing the tough Muay Thai style of Rountree that has seen him knock out four of his last five opponents.

Pereira is no stranger to knockouts either. This year he stopped Jiri Prochazka and Jamahal Hill in back-to-back fights, making the clash between him and first-time title challenger Rountree Jr. all the more fan-friendly.

“I think the fans are 100% going to be excited for this fight,” Rountree continued. “We're going to be face to face. That's exciting for the sport…if you have a problem with that, then, yeah, I think that's on you.”

“I think Alex is a talented striker with a lot of experience and therefore also has power and I see myself in exactly the same situation. I feel I have the same qualities. So now it's just about putting the two of us together and seeing two talented, powerful strikers really fight for the belt.”

“It is not like a frightened [feeling]said Rountree before the fight. “No, dude. I'm excited. I'm fired up and honestly can't wait to have the fight of the year. This is 100% going to be the fight of the year.”

UFC 307: Jamahal Hill stunned by Khalil Rountree Jr.'s title fight against Alex PereirA