SALT LAKE CITY, Utah : Brazil's Alex Pereira roared back from a poor start to knock out Khalil Rountree Jr. and retain his light heavyweight title at UFC 307 on Saturday, while in the co-main event Juliana Pena beat Raquel Pennington to reclaim the women's bantamweight crown.American Rountree's lightning-fast striking posed a problem in the early going for Pereira, and a right-hand counter from an awkward angle briefly dropped the Brazilian in the second round.
Wary of his opponent's power, Pereira struggled to land telling combinations but the tide began to turn in the third round as he targeted Rountree's lead leg with calf kicks to slow him down, and a body kick and a stiff jab early in the fourth signalled the beginning of the end.
Rountree did his best to stand his ground but Pereira was merciless, stalking his opponent around the cage and landing thunderous punches to leave blood streaming from a number of cuts.
Two heavy body shots and an uppercut finally broke Rountree's resistance late in the round as the fight was stopped.A former champ at middleweight, Pereira has hinted at a move to heavyweight to try to secure a third belt, but his relationship with champion Dricus Du Plessis means he will not be doing so just yet."He's a training partner of mine, I don't want to get in his way.