Career Averages - Khalil Rountree Jr.
Career Averages - Karl Roberson
Khalil Rountree Jr.
Karl Roberson
Khalil Rountree Jr. - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jiří Procházka | 1 | 71 of 138 | 51% | 71 of 138 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:12 |
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | 0 | 66 of 158 | 41% | 66 of 158 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jiří Procházka | 0 | 12 of 24 | 50% | 12 of 24 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | 0 | 15 of 32 | 46% | 15 of 32 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Jiří Procházka | 0 | 12 of 43 | 27% | 12 of 43 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | 0 | 24 of 65 | 36% | 24 of 65 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Jiří Procházka | 1 | 47 of 71 | 66% | 47 of 71 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:12 |
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | 0 | 27 of 61 | 44% | 27 of 61 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jiří Procházka | 71 of 138 | 51% | 44 of 100 | 16 of 25 | 11 of 13 | 61 of 127 | 10 of 11 | 0 of 0 |
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | 66 of 158 | 41% | 44 of 127 | 12 of 17 | 10 of 14 | 62 of 151 | 4 of 7 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jiří Procházka | 12 of 24 | 50% | 7 of 17 | 1 of 2 | 4 of 5 | 12 of 24 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | 15 of 32 | 46% | 9 of 22 | 4 of 6 | 2 of 4 | 15 of 32 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Jiří Procházka | 12 of 43 | 27% | 7 of 34 | 1 of 4 | 4 of 5 | 12 of 43 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | 24 of 65 | 36% | 10 of 47 | 7 of 9 | 7 of 9 | 24 of 65 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Jiří Procházka | 47 of 71 | 66% | 30 of 49 | 14 of 19 | 3 of 3 | 37 of 60 | 10 of 11 | 0 of 0 |
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | 27 of 61 | 44% | 25 of 58 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 23 of 54 | 4 of 7 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Jiří Procházka but is not confident, as he thinks the odds are too wide. He believes Procházka's relentless forward pressure and threat of takedowns will be key against Khalil Rountree, who struggles when moving backwards. However, he notes Procházka gets hit a lot and has been knocked out twice recently, while Rountree has power and durability. He calls it a very close fight.
Big Brady acknowledges Procházka's poor striking defense but believes he is built differently and will break Rountree as the fight goes on. He notes that Procházka often switches to an aggressive style in the second round, as seen in the Rakic fight. He predicts Procházka wins by second-round knockout.
Connor picks Procházka, emphasizing that Rountree's technical improvements have not overcome his mental fragility. He notes that Procházka's relentless pressure and willingness to exchange will force Rountree into defensive mode, and that Procházka's athleticism and relaxed style give him an edge. Connor also acknowledges the possibility of Rountree landing a knockout or leg kicks, but believes Procházka's overall dynamics favor him.
The host expects a violent matchup, but Rountree's improvements will help him find Procházka's chin and his power will put Procházka away by knockout.
The MMA Guru picks Jiří Procházka, believing his chaos and durability will overwhelm Khalil Rountree. He notes Rountree's lack of one-punch KO power and tendency to fade under pressure. He predicts a third-round TKO.
Zane picks Procházka because he believes Rountree's mentality is his biggest weakness, as seen in the Jamal Hill fight where Rountree fought with fear despite having a technical advantage. Zane argues that Procházka's fearless, chaotic pressure will overwhelm Rountree, who tends to tense up and fight with a panic response. He also notes that Procházka is a better athlete, faster, and more dynamic, and that Rountree's leg kicks could be a threat but are unlikely to stop Procházka's forward pressure.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jamahal Hill | 0 | 69 of 172 | 40% | 70 of 173 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | 1 | 102 of 181 | 56% | 102 of 181 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jamahal Hill | 0 | 14 of 30 | 46% | 14 of 30 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | 0 | 17 of 30 | 56% | 17 of 30 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Jamahal Hill | 0 | 15 of 33 | 45% | 16 of 34 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | 0 | 15 of 35 | 42% | 15 of 35 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Jamahal Hill | 0 | 6 of 25 | 24% | 6 of 25 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | 1 | 15 of 29 | 51% | 15 of 29 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 4 | Jamahal Hill | 0 | 8 of 28 | 28% | 8 of 28 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | 0 | 18 of 30 | 60% | 18 of 30 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 5 | Jamahal Hill | 0 | 26 of 56 | 46% | 26 of 56 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | 0 | 37 of 57 | 64% | 37 of 57 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jamahal Hill | 69 of 172 | 40% | 47 of 142 | 7 of 12 | 15 of 18 | 68 of 170 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 1 |
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | 102 of 181 | 56% | 30 of 91 | 42 of 54 | 30 of 36 | 102 of 181 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jamahal Hill | 14 of 30 | 46% | 2 of 17 | 3 of 3 | 9 of 10 | 14 of 29 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | 17 of 30 | 56% | 2 of 13 | 7 of 8 | 8 of 9 | 17 of 30 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Jamahal Hill | 15 of 33 | 45% | 10 of 25 | 2 of 5 | 3 of 3 | 14 of 32 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | 15 of 35 | 42% | 3 of 19 | 5 of 7 | 7 of 9 | 15 of 35 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Jamahal Hill | 6 of 25 | 24% | 6 of 23 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 2 | 6 of 25 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | 15 of 29 | 51% | 7 of 17 | 2 of 5 | 6 of 7 | 15 of 29 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 4 | Jamahal Hill | 8 of 28 | 28% | 8 of 28 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 28 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | 18 of 30 | 60% | 8 of 17 | 6 of 7 | 4 of 6 | 18 of 30 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 5 | Jamahal Hill | 26 of 56 | 46% | 21 of 49 | 2 of 4 | 3 of 3 | 26 of 56 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | 37 of 57 | 64% | 10 of 25 | 22 of 27 | 5 of 5 | 37 of 57 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Khalil Rountree Jr., citing his durability and power. He notes that Rountree went toe-to-toe with Alex Pereira and showed he belongs. He thinks Jamahal Hill has good footwork but may slow down, and that Rountree has more upside. He expects a fun fight and thinks Rountree can win if he pressures.
Big Brady picks Jamahal Hill as a plus money underdog, but he is very hesitant due to Hill's recent performances after a gruesome injury. He notes that if Hill were the same fighter who beat Glover Teixeira, he would be max betting him, but the Hill who fought Pereira and Prochazka looked bad. Brady worries about Hill's durability and whether the injury took something out of him. He ultimately picks Hill but says he's not sure if he wants to put money on him, predicting a late finish or decision.
Connor picks Rountree, emphasizing that Rountree is a much more consistent technician while Hill is a bad technician with poor footwork and defense, leaving him open to be picked apart. He notes that Hill's durability against Prochazka may not hold against a cleaner puncher like Rountree, and that Rountree's roteness gives him consistency similar to Pereira. He believes if Rountree can't finish early, Hill's pressure could turn the fight, but he still favors Rountree.
The host notes Rountree opened around -160 but has moved to -120 as money came in on Hill, and he agrees with that movement. He thinks this is a great stylistic matchup for Hill to batter Rountree from distance, counter strike effectively, and pull away in deep water, predicting a round three or four KO finish.
The MMA Guru picks Khalil Rountree Jr., despite acknowledging Jamahal Hill's underrated skills. He believes Rountree's low kicks will be decisive, and notes Hill's predictable movement. He also cites Rountree's longer recovery time since his loss to Pereira compared to Hill's recent brutal loss to Prochazka. He predicts a leg kick TKO in round 2 or 3.
Zane picks Rountree based on the stark technical advantage he sees in 30 seconds of footage: Rountree is much cleaner as a striker with better footwork, power, speed, and a more varied arsenal. However, he acknowledges Hill's comfort in messiness and ability to up the intensity over five rounds, drawing a parallel to Diaz vs Edwards. He is hesitant because Hill's durability and scrapping mentality could turn the fight late, but he ultimately sticks with Rountree.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Pereira | 1 | 127 of 209 | 60% | 129 of 211 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | 0 | 61 of 191 | 31% | 62 of 193 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alex Pereira | 0 | 15 of 27 | 55% | 15 of 27 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | 0 | 10 of 42 | 23% | 10 of 42 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Alex Pereira | 0 | 18 of 41 | 43% | 18 of 41 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | 0 | 11 of 42 | 26% | 11 of 42 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Alex Pereira | 0 | 31 of 49 | 63% | 31 of 49 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | 0 | 25 of 54 | 46% | 25 of 54 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 4 | Alex Pereira | 1 | 63 of 92 | 68% | 65 of 94 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | 0 | 15 of 53 | 28% | 16 of 55 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Pereira | 127 of 209 | 60% | 92 of 167 | 17 of 20 | 18 of 22 | 123 of 205 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | 61 of 191 | 31% | 34 of 155 | 16 of 23 | 11 of 13 | 60 of 189 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alex Pereira | 15 of 27 | 55% | 7 of 17 | 3 of 4 | 5 of 6 | 15 of 27 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | 10 of 42 | 23% | 8 of 39 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 2 | 10 of 41 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Alex Pereira | 18 of 41 | 43% | 11 of 31 | 2 of 3 | 5 of 7 | 18 of 41 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | 11 of 42 | 26% | 10 of 38 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 11 of 42 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Alex Pereira | 31 of 49 | 63% | 22 of 39 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 30 of 48 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | 25 of 54 | 46% | 7 of 32 | 12 of 15 | 6 of 7 | 25 of 54 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 4 | Alex Pereira | 63 of 92 | 68% | 52 of 80 | 7 of 8 | 4 of 4 | 60 of 89 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | 15 of 53 | 28% | 9 of 46 | 2 of 3 | 4 of 4 | 14 of 52 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Pereira (-535), Rountree (+400)
Round 1
Possibly not the fight that fans wanted, the UFC has put Pereira (11-2, 8-1 UFC) in another headlining spot as he plans on defending his light heavyweight throne for the third time this year. While Rountree (13-5, 1 NC; 9-5, 1 NC UFC) has won five in a row, with four of those by knockout, he did recently fail a post-fight drug test and was still elevated to a championship opportunity. “Poatan” does not care, as he seeks to crush, maim and destroy any challenger standing before him. Referee Marc Goddard dons his proverbial hard hat and hopes to stay away from any errant blows, although he is relieved when the strikers come together and respectfully tap their gloves together to demonstrate sportsmanship. It’s on with the show. Pereira lashes out with a front kick to introduce himself, and it brushes past Rountree’s face as he grabs hold of it and hurls Pereira down to a knee. Rountree lets him up and backs off, and he lunges in with a right hand but pulls back when he is out of range. Pereira goes high with a kick that is blocked, and he parries a left hook. Rountree reaches the target with a left hand, and he sticks the champ with a one-two. Rountree again lands a long left hand, and Pereira smacks him with a front-leg calf kick. Rountree shuts up chants of “Chama” by launching strikes at his opponent, catching the favorite before he can block them. Pereira counters a strike with a right hand down the pipe, and Rountree is no worse for wear and throws back with a left. Pereira hacks at the front leg, keeping his hands up to block jabs or power strikes. When Pereira kicks high, Rountree charges through them but does not quite have his range nailed down. Pereira backs him up against the wall, but Rountree escapes before absorbing anything. They both land single shots, and Pereira smacks him upside the head with a kick. The calf kick that follows is more effective for the champ, and he hand-fights jabs but gets caught with a lunging left hand. Rountree gets to him with another left, and he dances away from a head kick and a leg kick that follows. Rountree misses a left hand by an inch, and he blocks a high kick and tries to sweep the leg. Rountree gets a right hand in on the champion, and Pereira jabs him back away. Rountree blitzes forward with three punches, and Pereira darts away but still eats one or two. Pereira comes out firing, and Rountree ducks away to get out of harm’s way. Rountree wings a right hand over the top, and a leg kick irritates him in response. Rountree takes two strong jabs and steels himself to loose a right hand, and he circles away as the bell sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Rountree
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Pereira
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Rountree
Round 2
Pereira is eager to get going again, and Goddard has to back him up before clocking them in again. Rountree gives him back a few blitzes to think about, but none of them land cleanly. Pereira kicks low and then high, and Rountree comes up hitting air on the counter. Rountree counters a body kick with a right hand, and he swats out a pair of hooks that make Pereira back off but for a moment. “Poatan” clips the challenger with a right hand, and he gets in a left hook to further wobble Rountree’s knees. Rountree gathers his thoughts and struggles with a low kick, and the punches split open the bridge of his nose. Pereira goes after another calf kick but is shy of his intended target, and his jab further bloodies the nose. Pereira jabs the body with his toes extended, and he lowers his hands to encourage Rountree to come at him. Rountree checks a kick and jabs to the body, but Pereira is walking him down fearlessly. The Brazilian jabs his way into a strike, and Rountree clips him behind the ear but absorbs a hard calf kick. They trade jabs in their alternating stances, and Rountree comes up short with his big left hook. Rountree again tries to connect with a right hook, and Pereira lashes out with a head kick. Rountree sees it coming, allows Pereira to plant and bashes him in the face with a right hand. Pereira drops to a knee and is staggered, his bell rung, and he stands to spin around and shake it off in a hurry. Pereira recovers quickly, as he is right in front of the challenger plugging him with jab after jab. Three punches from Rountree manage to get through, and the crowd starts to get behind him as they chant “USA.” Pereira tosses out a right hand, and he gets drilled with a head kick as the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Rountree
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Rountree
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Pereira
Round 3
“Poatan” crowds the challenger the second Goddard clocks them in, moving forward with purpose. He does not throw more than a single jab early, until he goes after a right hand and gets his head snapped back from a powerful left hook from “The War Horse.” Rountree lands cleanly to the body, and Pereira has to take a moment to reset as he reacts strangely to the blow while bounding off the fence. Rountree wings a right hand to the body, and he brushes another few punches off the champ’s face. Rountree keeps his hands busy, and a left to the body finds the sternum flush. Rountree goes there again when avoiding a single right hand, and they both tag one another with hard hooks. When Pereira gets in two jabs, Rountree answers with two hooks and a body shot. Pereira has a low kick checked, but two more find their home as Rountree thinks about changing stances as a limp slowly develops. When Rountree comes out swinging, Pereira intercepts with a front leg, and it nearly gives way beneath him. Rountree ducks a head kick and tags the champ with a left hook, and he goes after an inside leg kick to pay “Poatan” back for his investment in leg strikes. Rountree lands to the head and goes to the body, and he backs away. Rountree’s head kick is blocked, and Pereira tosses one back that is similarly rebounded off the guard. Rountree swipes out with a right hand, and he reaches the champ with a left as Pereira backs away. Pereira kicks him in the ribs and then steps in with a knee, and his jab snaps the head back. Rountree reacts poorly from absorbing the strikes, giving Pereira confidence. The Brazilian strides after him, finding jab after jab further damaging the nose of the challenger. They trade low kicks, and Pereira splits the guard with two punches and a knee before the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Pereira
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Pereira
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Pereira
Round 4
When the championship rounds hit, Pereira is quick to attack the front leg to further invest in disabling it. Rountree gives him a few kicks back to think about, and they trade front kicks as “Poatan” nods at him. It is the Brazilian’s kicks that are breaking through the defenses, and they open up strikes over the top as a jab from Pereira stings the challenger. Strikes from Pereira are starting to have additional, compounding impact on Rountree’s mug, and swelling is growing under Rountree’s right eye. Rountree tries to pay him back, but Pereira is in his stride, tagging Rountree with a flurry of fists. When Rountree starts to flag, Pereira pours it on, and this only excites Rountree. He might be hurt and bloodying up fast, but he is swinging for the fences and Pereira is not backing down. The eyebrow of Rountree is ripped wide open and hanging over Rountree’s eye, and Pereira is a man possessed. “Poatan” marches down the challenger, clubbing him with punishing strikes, picking them to the head and body and knocking Rountree around the cage. Rountree’s volume falls off a cliff, and his strikes are labored as he is low on energy. Pereira tags Rountree, and Rountree gathers every bit of energy left in him and throws back with the worst of intentions. Pereira walks him down like a Terminator, laying into him with ruthless punches and a few knees for good measure. Rountree unloads with hook after hook in hopes of keeping Pereira at bay, but Pereira is a man on a mission and knows the finish is around the corner. Rountree bounces weakly off the cage wall, and Pereira switches up his head shots to a few to the body while blood sprays everywhere. Seeing Rountree’s guard is wide open, “Poatan” splits it with a merciless uppercut and nearly dislodges the mouthpiece. Roasting Rountree’s ribs with a ruthless right and a mighty left, “The War Horse” folds like wet cardboard box. The spirit is willing but the flesh is bloody and wounded, and Rountree falls to a knee and is done. Goddard knows he needs to get involved before any further punishment is inflicted, and he waves things off to save Rountree from his impossible toughness. Pereira has done it, outlasting an extremely dangerous challenger that took the first two rounds. Pulling off the outstanding feat of three defenses in a calendar year, Pereira is entering rarified air as he adds to his legendary status. With options in several divisions, “Poatan” suggests that he will stay away from middleweight for the time being, hints about a possible heavyweight move and ultimately notes that he is happy as a light heavyweight. With the crowd in the palm of his hand, the Brazilian gets the thousands in attendance chanting his catchphrase of “Chama.” No matter who he fights next, we will be here it. We hope you are too.
The Official Result
Alex Pereira def. Khalil Rountree R4 4:32 via TKO (Punches)
Angelo picks Alex Pereira to win, citing his power, size, and reach advantage. He acknowledges Khalil Rountree is the most dangerous striker Pereira has faced, with lightning speed and power, but believes Pereira's kickboxing pedigree and preparation at elevation will prevail. He notes the line is juiced at -550 and does not recommend a bet at those odds, but is confident in the win. He also expresses a dream scenario of Pereira moving up to heavyweight.
Big Brady picks Alex Pereira to win by second-round knockout, noting that Rountree has said he won't wrestle and will strike. He believes Pereira is the better striker and has been dominant in title defenses. He acknowledges Rountree hits hard and Pereira has been knocked out before, but still favors Pereira strongly.
Cody picks Pereira because of his superior striking credentials, length, and technique. He notes that Rountree has a puncher's chance but lacks wrestling, and Pereira's path to victory is clear. He also mentions that Pereira could mix in takedowns but expects a standup fight.
Connor also picks Pereira, agreeing with Zane's assessment. He emphasizes that Rountree's best chance is a counter right hook from southpaw, but Pereira is defensively aware and can lure Rountree into coming forward. Connor notes that Pereira's low kicks and jab will force Rountree to change his approach, and that Rountree's clinch is powerful but Pereira is the bigger clinch fighter.
Daniel Vreeland picks Alex Pereira. He notes that Pereira is a kickboxing champion who has beaten elite competition. He believes Rountree cannot out-technique Pereira and that his only path to victory is a power shot landing. Vreeland thinks Pereira will pick Rountree apart and likely finish him early, suggesting the under 1.5 rounds at +140 is a good bet.
Daniel Vreeland believes Alex Pereira's left hook and calf kicks will be too much for Khalil Rountree Jr. He notes that Rountree swings wide and wild, leaving openings for Pereira's counter left hook. Vreeland also points out Pereira's black belt in Jiu-Jitsu and his takedown against Adesanya as advantages. He acknowledges Rountree's power but thinks Pereira's experience against top competition will prevail.
Jeff Fox picks Alex Pereira. He notes that this is a good style matchup for Pereira, as Rountree has no way to make it a grappling fight. Fox believes Pereira will win a kickboxing fight and likely knock Rountree out. He appreciates that Pereira takes any fight and finishes opponents.
The host thinks the line is a bit wide considering the fight takes place in the striking realm and Rountree has knockout power. However, he leans with Pereira's technical advantages, expecting him to keep the fight at distance and counter effectively, eventually landing a big shot (likely his left hook) to finish Rountree within two rounds.
Paul picks Pereira, acknowledging Rountree's power and improvements but emphasizing Pereira's elite striking and the fact that Rountree has never attempted a takedown in the UFC. He believes Pereira's experience and technique will prevail.
The MMA Guru picks Alex Pereira to KO Khalil Rountree Jr. in the first round. He dismisses Rountree's hype, noting his close fight with Anthony Smith and robbery win over Jacoby. He believes Pereira's composure, low kicks, and body work will be too much, and that Rountree will get caught with a left hook. He also mentions Pereira's recent injury revelation but still expects a dominant win.
Zane picks Pereira confidently, citing Pereira's ability to chew up Rountree with low kicks from long range and work his jab. He notes that Rountree's counter-punching is passive and subtractive, relying on waiting for a big mistake rather than forcing opportunities. Zane also points out that Rountree struggles under pressure and that Pereira's size and clinch work will be problematic for Rountree.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | 0 | 47 of 84 | 55% | 52 of 89 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:11 |
| Anthony Smith | 1 | 53 of 114 | 46% | 56 of 118 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:58 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Khalil Rountree Jr. | 0 | 19 of 30 | 63% | 23 of 34 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Anthony Smith | 0 | 20 of 40 | 50% | 21 of 41 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:40 | |
| 2 | Khalil Rountree Jr. | 0 | 23 of 48 | 47% | 24 of 49 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:11 |
| Anthony Smith | 0 | 23 of 58 | 39% | 25 of 61 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:14 | |
| 3 | Khalil Rountree Jr. | 0 | 5 of 6 | 83% | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Anthony Smith | 1 | 10 of 16 | 62% | 10 of 16 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:04 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | 47 of 84 | 55% | 27 of 62 | 14 of 16 | 6 of 6 | 46 of 83 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Anthony Smith | 53 of 114 | 46% | 33 of 94 | 14 of 14 | 6 of 6 | 51 of 109 | 1 of 3 | 1 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Khalil Rountree Jr. | 19 of 30 | 63% | 9 of 19 | 6 of 7 | 4 of 4 | 19 of 30 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Anthony Smith | 20 of 40 | 50% | 12 of 32 | 6 of 6 | 2 of 2 | 20 of 39 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Khalil Rountree Jr. | 23 of 48 | 47% | 15 of 39 | 7 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 22 of 47 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Anthony Smith | 23 of 58 | 39% | 17 of 52 | 4 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 21 of 54 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 2 | |
| 3 | Khalil Rountree Jr. | 5 of 6 | 83% | 3 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Anthony Smith | 10 of 16 | 62% | 4 of 10 | 4 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 10 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Cody likes Anthony Smith as a plus 190 underdog. He notes that Smith is taking the fight on short notice but is likely in shape due to his commentary work in Vegas. Cody highlights Smith's durability, cardio, and experience against top competition. He believes Smith can survive Rountree's early onslaught and take the fight to the ground, where he has a massive grappling advantage. Cody also mentions the small Apex cage helps Smith cut off the cage and get takedowns. He acknowledges Rountree's power but thinks Smith can outwork him in later rounds.
Lucrative James calls this a 'weird ass fight' and refuses to break it down in detail. He sees Khalil potentially teeing off with leg kicks and body shots, but also notes Khalil's mental inconsistency and cardio issues. He thinks Anthony Smith could out-veteran him in later rounds with takedowns, but Smith doesn't shoot takedowns much anymore. He says it's a massive stay-away and if anything, he'd play Smith as a plus-money underdog due to volatility. He makes no pick.
Paul agrees with Cody on Anthony Smith at plus 190. He notes that Smith is likely staying in shape in Vegas and has a good chance to survive Rountree's early power. Paul points out that Smith has five-round cardio and can take a shot. He thinks Smith's grappling and experience will be key, especially if he can get the fight to the mat. Paul is not a huge Smith supporter but finds the underdog price too good to pass up.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | 1 | 16 of 24 | 66% | 16 of 24 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:31 |
| Chris Daukaus | 0 | 8 of 21 | 38% | 14 of 28 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:04 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Khalil Rountree Jr. | 1 | 16 of 24 | 66% | 16 of 24 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:31 |
| Chris Daukaus | 0 | 8 of 21 | 38% | 14 of 28 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:04 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | 16 of 24 | 66% | 12 of 19 | 3 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 11 of 17 | 3 of 4 | 2 of 3 |
| Chris Daukaus | 8 of 21 | 38% | 6 of 19 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 19 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Khalil Rountree Jr. | 16 of 24 | 66% | 12 of 19 | 3 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 11 of 17 | 3 of 4 | 2 of 3 |
| Chris Daukaus | 8 of 21 | 38% | 6 of 19 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 19 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Rountree, citing his Muay Thai, speed, and kicks as the difference. He notes Daukaus is a pure boxer who doesn't use takedowns, and the speed advantage at light heavyweight will be key. He expects a decision win.
Big Brady picks Khalil Rountree to win by first-round knockout. He notes Rountree's power and aggression when he is 'on', but questions his consistency. He doubts Daukaus's durability and speed at light heavyweight, and believes Rountree will finish him early. He mentions Daukaus's three consecutive knockout losses at heavyweight and thinks the weight cut won't help.
Cody picks Rountree, citing Daukaus' lack of cardio at heavyweight and the unknown of his 40-pound cut to light heavyweight. He notes Daukaus has never attempted a takedown in the UFC and has no history of grappling, while Rountree has shown he can go three rounds. He thinks if the fight stretches, Rountree's power and durability will prevail. He also mentions a potential live betting opportunity if Daukaus takes Rountree down early.
James has no strong opinion on this fight, calling it a 'weird one' with too much volatility. He notes Rountree is inconsistent and Daukaus is moving down in weight after three bad knockout losses. He doesn't want to speak on it further and says he has nothing to say.
Rountree is on a winning streak and has improved his confidence and aggressiveness. He is dangerous on the feet and should keep the fight upright. Daukaus is dropping to light heavyweight after three straight KO losses at heavyweight. Rountree has the power advantage and should knock him out. The fight not going to decision is a strong prop.
Paul picked Daukaus at plus 182 two weeks ago and is confident in the move to light heavyweight. He believes Daukaus' speed and power from heavyweight will translate well, and that he has a significant grappling advantage if he chooses to use it. He notes Rountree's poor ground game and thinks Daukaus can get the fight to the mat and finish. He also mentions the submission prop at 20-1 that got smashed down to 8-1.
The MMA Guru picks Khalil Rountree Jr. over Chris Daukaus, stating Daukaus was never good at heavyweight and is moving down to a higher skill division. He criticizes Daukaus's poor distance management and notes he has been brutally finished three times in a row. He predicts Rountree will KO Daukaus in round one.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | 0 | 120 of 255 | 47% | 122 of 257 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:05 |
| Dustin Jacoby | 0 | 85 of 237 | 35% | 88 of 241 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Khalil Rountree Jr. | 0 | 34 of 66 | 51% | 35 of 67 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Dustin Jacoby | 0 | 20 of 57 | 35% | 22 of 60 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Khalil Rountree Jr. | 0 | 39 of 105 | 37% | 40 of 106 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:05 |
| Dustin Jacoby | 0 | 35 of 88 | 39% | 36 of 89 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Khalil Rountree Jr. | 0 | 47 of 84 | 55% | 47 of 84 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Dustin Jacoby | 0 | 30 of 92 | 32% | 30 of 92 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | 120 of 255 | 47% | 69 of 194 | 27 of 34 | 24 of 27 | 116 of 250 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
| Dustin Jacoby | 85 of 237 | 35% | 49 of 193 | 18 of 23 | 18 of 21 | 80 of 231 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Khalil Rountree Jr. | 34 of 66 | 51% | 12 of 38 | 12 of 16 | 10 of 12 | 34 of 66 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Dustin Jacoby | 20 of 57 | 35% | 11 of 44 | 3 of 4 | 6 of 9 | 19 of 55 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Khalil Rountree Jr. | 39 of 105 | 37% | 30 of 93 | 5 of 7 | 4 of 5 | 39 of 105 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Dustin Jacoby | 35 of 88 | 39% | 20 of 72 | 7 of 8 | 8 of 8 | 35 of 88 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Khalil Rountree Jr. | 47 of 84 | 55% | 27 of 63 | 10 of 11 | 10 of 10 | 43 of 79 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
| Dustin Jacoby | 30 of 92 | 32% | 18 of 77 | 8 of 11 | 4 of 4 | 26 of 88 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
Big Brady picks Khalil Rountree Jr. to win by knockout, but admits it's a tough fight to call due to Rountree's inconsistency. He notes that if the best version of Rountree shows up, he can knock out Jacoby, who has been dropped before. He mentions the smaller cage favors Rountree's pressure. However, he acknowledges that Jacoby is the better striker and could easily outpoint Rountree if the inconsistent version appears.
Cody picks Dustin Jacoby, citing his Glory kickboxing experience, superior cardio, and technical striking. He notes that Jacoby has shown durability (surviving knockdowns against Max Grisham) and should win on volume if he doesn't get knocked out. Cody acknowledges Khalil Rountree's power and potential but believes Jacoby's kickboxing skills will prevail in a 15-minute striking battle.
Daniel Levi picks Dustin Jacoby, citing his consistency, kickboxing experience (Glory), and titanium plate in his forearm that adds power. He acknowledges Khalil Rountree's knockout power and inconsistency, but trusts Jacoby's process. He is not betting due to the risk of Rountree's power, but picks Jacoby to win.
Jacob is confident in Dustin Jacoby, calling him a real deal striker with great kickboxing. He acknowledges Rountree's power and inconsistency but believes technique wins. Jacoby can defend takedowns and should outpoint Rountree, though he admits bias.
Jacoby's disciplined striking, footwork, and distance management will neutralize Rountree's power. Rountree's confidence is high but he struggles against technical strikers. Jacoby has more paths to victory and should win a decision. A small one-unit bet on Jacoby is recommended.
Paul is tempted by Khalil Rountree as a plus-money underdog, noting his sheer power and aggression. He mentions that when Rountree is in shape and motivated (as seen against Modestas Bukauskas and Karl Roberson), he can be dangerous. Paul says he needs to see the weigh-ins and dig into Rountree's personal life before deciding, but considers Rountree the most live underdog on the card.
The MMA Guru picks Dustin Jacoby over Khalil Rountree, noting that Rountree's wins are against low-level opponents and he lost to Marcin Prachnio, who Jacoby should outperform. He highlights Jacoby's kickboxing credentials, reach, and chin, and believes Jacoby will fight on the outside, avoid Rountree's power, and win by 30-27 decision. He expects Rountree to have moments but fade.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | 2 | 26 of 69 | 37% | 26 of 69 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:15 |
| Karl Roberson | 0 | 17 of 28 | 60% | 17 of 28 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Khalil Rountree Jr. | 0 | 18 of 54 | 33% | 18 of 54 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Karl Roberson | 0 | 17 of 27 | 62% | 17 of 27 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Khalil Rountree Jr. | 2 | 8 of 15 | 53% | 8 of 15 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:15 |
| Karl Roberson | 0 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | 26 of 69 | 37% | 16 of 53 | 5 of 9 | 5 of 7 | 17 of 55 | 5 of 7 | 4 of 7 |
| Karl Roberson | 17 of 28 | 60% | 4 of 10 | 6 of 9 | 7 of 9 | 16 of 27 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Khalil Rountree Jr. | 18 of 54 | 33% | 10 of 41 | 3 of 6 | 5 of 7 | 14 of 48 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
| Karl Roberson | 17 of 27 | 62% | 4 of 9 | 6 of 9 | 7 of 9 | 16 of 26 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Khalil Rountree Jr. | 8 of 15 | 53% | 6 of 12 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 7 |
| Karl Roberson | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo gives a slight edge to Karl Roberson because he believes Roberson can hang in the striking and has a clear path to victory via takedowns. He notes that the skill gap on the ground is wider than on the feet, favoring Roberson. However, he acknowledges that Khalil Rountree is a very good striker and could knock Roberson out at any moment.
Big Brady picks Karl Roberson to win by third-round submission. He notes Roberson has never been knocked out and has underrated grappling, despite being submitted by elite grapplers. He points out that Rountree has zero takedowns in 11 UFC fights, so Roberson will likely keep the fight standing where he is the better striker. He also thinks Roberson can mix in takedowns and submit Rountree, who has poor takedown defense (50%). He expects Roberson to out-strike Rountree for two rounds then get a submission in the third.
Cody leans Rountree, citing his durability, power, and pressure. He notes Roberson's ground game is weak but Rountree won't exploit it. He sees it as a striking battle where Rountree's forward pressure and power give him the edge.
Daniel Levi leans with Khalil Rountree Jr., citing his speed advantage and the fact that when Rountree is mentally on and there's no takedown threat, he can be a serious problem. He notes that both fighters have been flaky and can't be fully trusted, but Rountree's speed gives him the edge. Levi acknowledges that Karl Roberson might be tougher but thinks Rountree's speed is the difference.
Roberson is seen as the more technical striker with a better overall MMA game, including grappling and clinch work. He can nullify Rountree's early power and then chip away with kicks and takedowns. Rountree has been inconsistent, with losses to Prachnio and Cutelaba. Roberson is expected to win via decision, using a grapple-heavy game plan.
Paul has no clear pick, calling it a dogger pass. He notes both fighters have moments but he doesn't trust either. He mentions Rountree's inconsistency and Roberson's cancellations.
The MMA Guru picks Khalil Rountree Jr. over Karl Roberson, expecting a stand-up contest. He believes Rountree has a big advantage on the feet and will pull the trigger more than in his last fight. He predicts a KO in round two, as Rountree lands powerful shots and gains respect. He notes that Roberson has shown some grappling ability but doesn't think it will be enough to stop Rountree.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | 0 | 23 of 49 | 46% | 23 of 49 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Modestas Bukauskas | 1 | 38 of 92 | 41% | 38 of 92 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Khalil Rountree Jr. | 0 | 18 of 36 | 50% | 18 of 36 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Modestas Bukauskas | 0 | 28 of 65 | 43% | 28 of 65 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Khalil Rountree Jr. | 0 | 5 of 13 | 38% | 5 of 13 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Modestas Bukauskas | 1 | 10 of 27 | 37% | 10 of 27 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | 23 of 49 | 46% | 18 of 44 | 3 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 22 of 48 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Modestas Bukauskas | 38 of 92 | 41% | 18 of 71 | 7 of 8 | 13 of 13 | 38 of 92 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Khalil Rountree Jr. | 18 of 36 | 50% | 13 of 31 | 3 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 17 of 35 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Modestas Bukauskas | 28 of 65 | 43% | 15 of 52 | 6 of 6 | 7 of 7 | 28 of 65 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Khalil Rountree Jr. | 5 of 13 | 38% | 5 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Modestas Bukauskas | 10 of 27 | 37% | 3 of 19 | 1 of 2 | 6 of 6 | 10 of 27 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
A light heavyweight brawl should excite fans in this next one, when Bukauskas (11-4, 1-2 UFC) and Rountree (8-5, 1 NC; 4-5, 1 NC UFC) vie for a .500 record inside the Octagon. Something’s gotta give, and referee Herb Dean has been assigned to keep things up on the up-and-up. The gloves are not touched, and the hands are about to be traded. Bukauskas is the first to throw a strike, and Rountree prepares a big right hand counter. Rountree catches Bukauskas backing up, snapping his head back with a left hand. Rountree already knows he has his man hurt, and he starts smashing his fists into Bukauskas’ face. Rountree chases him into the wall, unloads on him, and Bukauskas runs away. This happens a few more times, with Rountree aggressively throwing deadly powerful blows that knock Bukauskas around the cage. Bukauskas’ eyes are wide open as Rountree stalks him down with murder in his eyes, and the huge punches have shattered the Lithuanian’s nose. Rountree does not recklessly pursue a finish, instead marching him down with hammers. Bukauskas tries to keep him backed off with a jab, but Rountree pounces with power punches to the busted nose and body. The American plods ahead, sizing up his strikes and waiting for openings to drop bombs. As Bukauskas gets his wits about him after every damaging blow, the onslaught of Rountree begins to slow. Rountree ends a combination with a thudding leg kick, and he stings Bukauskas again with a right hand. Bukauskas tries to step in to throw back, but Rountree snipes him on the way in. Bukauskas swipes out with a left hook, and Dean is quick to warn him for outstretched fingers. Rountree follows him with a slapping leg kick, and another right hand forces blood to splatter out of Bukauskas’ nose. “The Baltic Gladiator” goes up high with a kick, and when it is blocked, Rountree slams his foot in the thigh. A large welt has formed on the top of Bukauskas’ thigh from the kicks, and Rountree lays into him with a final combination that makes Bukauskas turn around. He cannot finish the job, and Bukauskas survives the round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Rountree
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Rountree
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Rountree
Round 2
Rountree takes the center of the cage, ready to unload with a big right hand, and the two nearly connect with these blows. When they come up short, Rountree chops at the swelling leg like he were a 2021 Pedro Rizzo. The kicks have actually drawn blood on the thigh, but Bukauskas pays it no mind as he tries to bounce himself off the fence. Rountree marches on, landing a punch to send Bukauskas careening towards the cage wall. Bukauskas gathers his thoughts and tries to figure out a way to land a jab or some meaningful offense, as Rountree kicks at that bloody spot on the leg and a right hand to follow. Bukauskas strikes back, but Rountree shrugs it off, lands a kick to the knee and then lifts his leg up several times like a muay Thai fighter.
Bukauskas lunges forward with his lead leg planted, and Rountree times it perfectly by stomping it with a short side kick that sends Bukauskas falling down to the canvas screaming.
The fight is immediately over and Rountree knows his work here is done, and Dean runs over to attend to the fallen fighter. After several minutes of medical attention, Bukauskas receives a leg brace and is helped to his feet and out of the cage. In the post-fight interview, commentator Michael Bisping remarks that the doctor informed him that multiple ligaments for Bukauskas are likely shredded.
The Official Result
Khalil Rountree def. Modestas Bukauskas R2 2:30 via TKO (Leg Kick)
Big Brady picks Khalil Rountree to win by first-round knockout, but with low confidence due to Rountree's inconsistency. He notes Rountree has tremendous power but sometimes fails to show up (e.g., loss to Marcin Prachnio). Bukauskas is hittable (50% striking defense) and chinny, making him a good target for Rountree's power. However, Brady is not betting Rountree because of the unpredictability.
Cody picks Bukauskas but suggests waiting for a live line after the first round. He notes Rountree's power and first-round threat, but thinks Bukauskas has better cardio and reach, and can survive the initial onslaught. He expects Bukauskas to take over in later rounds if he survives round one.
I don't trust Rountree in a fight that goes long because his cardio fades, but he's dangerous early with fast hands and hard kicks. Bukauskas has a shaky chin and is hittable. Rountree's knockdown rate is about 4.5%, and most of his wins come in round one. I think there's a 25-30% chance he puts Bukauskas out early. The plus 500 on Rountree round one is good value. I'm not betting the moneyline because if it goes to decision, Bukauskas likely wins.
Paul is uncertain, calling it a landmine fight. He notes Rountree's inconsistency and Bukauskas's defensive issues. He mentions Rountree by KO at +250 as a possible play but doesn't commit to a pick.
The MMA Guru picks Modestas Bukauskas to win by decision. He questions Khalil Rountree's hunger after his performance against Marcin Prachnio, where Rountree seemed to lack drive. He believes Bukauskas, who trained with Jon Jones at Jackson Wink, has more desire and will out-volume Rountree with punches at range, mixing in grappling to gas Rountree out.
Karl Roberson - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kennedy Nzechukwu | 0 | 20 of 43 | 46% | 64 of 114 | 5 of 7 | 71% | 1 | 0 | 10:46 |
| Karl Roberson | 0 | 9 of 19 | 47% | 16 of 26 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:23 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kennedy Nzechukwu | 0 | 3 of 8 | 37% | 9 of 17 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 4:16 |
| Karl Roberson | 0 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 8 of 9 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:23 | |
| 2 | Kennedy Nzechukwu | 0 | 2 of 7 | 28% | 39 of 66 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 4:41 |
| Karl Roberson | 0 | 6 of 10 | 60% | 6 of 10 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Kennedy Nzechukwu | 0 | 15 of 28 | 53% | 16 of 31 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 1:49 |
| Karl Roberson | 0 | 2 of 7 | 28% | 2 of 7 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kennedy Nzechukwu | 20 of 43 | 46% | 18 of 37 | 2 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 22 | 0 of 0 | 17 of 21 |
| Karl Roberson | 9 of 19 | 47% | 4 of 13 | 4 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 9 of 19 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kennedy Nzechukwu | 3 of 8 | 37% | 2 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 3 |
| Karl Roberson | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Kennedy Nzechukwu | 2 of 7 | 28% | 1 of 4 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Karl Roberson | 6 of 10 | 60% | 4 of 8 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Kennedy Nzechukwu | 15 of 28 | 53% | 15 of 26 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 14 of 18 |
| Karl Roberson | 2 of 7 | 28% | 0 of 4 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Karl Roberson despite Kennedy Nzechukwu's power and reach. He notes Roberson is the better all-around fighter with solid game planning and takedowns against strikers. He worries about Roberson's knockout loss to Khalil Rountree but believes Roberson's clean technique and solid game planning will get it done. He acknowledges Kennedy will be dangerous the entire 15 minutes.
Big Brady picks Kennedy Nzechukwu primarily due to his significant size advantage (4-inch height, 9-inch reach) and superior cardio. He notes that Kennedy is still green and inconsistent, but Karl Roberson's low output, inconsistency, and three-fight skid make him hard to trust. Brady acknowledges that Roberson is more skilled but believes Kennedy's physical attributes and cardio will allow him to do more over three rounds. He expresses low confidence, calling it a borderline '100 gambler fight' and says he won't bet it.
Cody picks Nzechukwu but with low confidence. He notes Nzechukwu has a huge reach advantage but doesn't use it well, and his fights are often sloppy. He thinks Roberson has better kickboxing but terrible ring IQ. He sees this as a low-level fight where either could win.
The host discusses this fight but does not place a bet. He acknowledges that Roberson is technically the better striker and could win if he grapples, but he does not trust Roberson's fight IQ. He mentions that Roberson could win by decision or submission but ultimately does not pull the trigger.
Paul picks Roberson as a dog, noting his striking is more refined and he has better kickboxing. He thinks Roberson's durability could hold up and he might mix in takedowns. However, he's not confident due to Roberson's poor decision-making.
The Guru picks Kennedy Nzechukwu due to his massive size and reach advantage (9-inch reach). He believes Nzechukwu should have won his last fight and that Roberson lacks power at range. He worries about Nzechukwu's chin but notes Roberson doesn't take punches well either. He predicts a 29-28 decision win at range.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | 2 | 26 of 69 | 37% | 26 of 69 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:15 |
| Karl Roberson | 0 | 17 of 28 | 60% | 17 of 28 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Khalil Rountree Jr. | 0 | 18 of 54 | 33% | 18 of 54 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Karl Roberson | 0 | 17 of 27 | 62% | 17 of 27 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Khalil Rountree Jr. | 2 | 8 of 15 | 53% | 8 of 15 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:15 |
| Karl Roberson | 0 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khalil Rountree Jr. | 26 of 69 | 37% | 16 of 53 | 5 of 9 | 5 of 7 | 17 of 55 | 5 of 7 | 4 of 7 |
| Karl Roberson | 17 of 28 | 60% | 4 of 10 | 6 of 9 | 7 of 9 | 16 of 27 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Khalil Rountree Jr. | 18 of 54 | 33% | 10 of 41 | 3 of 6 | 5 of 7 | 14 of 48 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
| Karl Roberson | 17 of 27 | 62% | 4 of 9 | 6 of 9 | 7 of 9 | 16 of 26 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Khalil Rountree Jr. | 8 of 15 | 53% | 6 of 12 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 7 |
| Karl Roberson | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo gives a slight edge to Karl Roberson because he believes Roberson can hang in the striking and has a clear path to victory via takedowns. He notes that the skill gap on the ground is wider than on the feet, favoring Roberson. However, he acknowledges that Khalil Rountree is a very good striker and could knock Roberson out at any moment.
Big Brady picks Karl Roberson to win by third-round submission. He notes Roberson has never been knocked out and has underrated grappling, despite being submitted by elite grapplers. He points out that Rountree has zero takedowns in 11 UFC fights, so Roberson will likely keep the fight standing where he is the better striker. He also thinks Roberson can mix in takedowns and submit Rountree, who has poor takedown defense (50%). He expects Roberson to out-strike Rountree for two rounds then get a submission in the third.
Cody leans Rountree, citing his durability, power, and pressure. He notes Roberson's ground game is weak but Rountree won't exploit it. He sees it as a striking battle where Rountree's forward pressure and power give him the edge.
Daniel Levi leans with Khalil Rountree Jr., citing his speed advantage and the fact that when Rountree is mentally on and there's no takedown threat, he can be a serious problem. He notes that both fighters have been flaky and can't be fully trusted, but Rountree's speed gives him the edge. Levi acknowledges that Karl Roberson might be tougher but thinks Rountree's speed is the difference.
Roberson is seen as the more technical striker with a better overall MMA game, including grappling and clinch work. He can nullify Rountree's early power and then chip away with kicks and takedowns. Rountree has been inconsistent, with losses to Prachnio and Cutelaba. Roberson is expected to win via decision, using a grapple-heavy game plan.
Paul has no clear pick, calling it a dogger pass. He notes both fighters have moments but he doesn't trust either. He mentions Rountree's inconsistency and Roberson's cancellations.
The MMA Guru picks Khalil Rountree Jr. over Karl Roberson, expecting a stand-up contest. He believes Rountree has a big advantage on the feet and will pull the trigger more than in his last fight. He predicts a KO in round two, as Rountree lands powerful shots and gains respect. He notes that Roberson has shown some grappling ability but doesn't think it will be enough to stop Rountree.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brendan Allen | 0 | 6 of 14 | 42% | 15 of 24 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Karl Roberson | 0 | 9 of 16 | 56% | 15 of 22 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 3:16 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brendan Allen | 0 | 6 of 14 | 42% | 15 of 24 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Karl Roberson | 0 | 9 of 16 | 56% | 15 of 22 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 3:16 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brendan Allen | 6 of 14 | 42% | 5 of 11 | 0 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 6 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Karl Roberson | 9 of 16 | 56% | 4 of 11 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 4 | 9 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brendan Allen | 6 of 14 | 42% | 5 of 11 | 0 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 6 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Karl Roberson | 9 of 16 | 56% | 4 of 11 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 4 | 9 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
An all-action middleweight contest is next, as two thrillers that prefer to finish their foes lock horns, when Allen (15-4, 3-1 UFC) looks to pacify “Baby K” Roberson (9-3, 4-3 UFC). The Octagon ranger for this battle is referee Dan Miragliotta, and the two decide to touch gloves before trying to take the other’s head off. Allen quickly lets loose a head kick as soon as he retracts the touch, and Roberson is barely able to block it in time. Both men start trading, and both hurt the other with massive shots. Roberson gets off a body kick, and a left hand just misses the target as Allen dances out of the way to score a right. Allen fires off several kicks to the body and legs, and he clips “Baby K” with a right and a left chained into a head kick. “All In” uses his forward momentum to clinch up, where he hits a trip and puts Roberson on his back emphatically. Allen has some damage on the corner of his right eye, but he does not appear bothered by it as he crushes Roberson down in half guard. Roberson is stuck with his neck against the fence, and Allen reaches a little too far to pursue a straight armbar or kimura. Allen nearly falls off, but he readjusts himself and steps into mount, with the so-called “Dagestani handcuff” trapping Roberson’s legs while he can wail on Roberson’s face. Allen tries to pull Roberson’s legs out as he steps over toe the side, and Roberson bursts to his feet only to quickly be thrown back down to the ground. Allen in half guard squeezes with his shoulder, and Roberson can do little but hold on tight to stop the offense from coming. Allen smothers with his top pressure even though he does not land anything of note, but he does grind his elbow on Roberson’s face.
“Baby K” bucks like a bronco into a leglock from his back, and Allen defends in the 50/50 guard with his own heel hook attempt at the same time. Roberson is suddenly in big trouble, as Allen hooks the ankle underneath his armpit. “All In” torques it with seconds to spare, and Roberson grimaces in pain and taps out so his knee and ankle do not get shredded.
That is now submission number nine for Allen, who elicits this rare and elusive ankle-based tapout in impressive fashion.
The Official Result
Brendan Allen def. Karl Roberson R1 4:55 via Submission (Ankle Lock)
Big Brady picks Allen to win by first-round submission, but is hesitant because Allen often fails to implement his wrestling game plan. He notes Allen's striking defense is poor and he was knocked out by Strickland when he didn't wrestle. However, Roberson's weakness is takedown defense and ground game, and Allen is a good submission artist. He hopes Allen learned from his last loss.
Cody leans toward Allen but is not confident, noting Allen's grappling skills and Roberson's weakness against wrestlers. He worries about Allen's cardio and tendency to stand and strike. He thinks Allen must take Roberson down early to win, and if he doesn't, he could get knocked out. He also likes the over 1.5 rounds.
Daniel picks Brendan Allen, expecting him to take Roberson down and submit him. He notes Roberson has been choked out three times in the UFC and that Allen's striking has improved. He hopes Allen's fight IQ is on point and predicts a first-round submission.
I'm going the opposite way on this one. I think Roberson keeps the fight on the feet and uses his leg kicks to set up a knockout. Allen's takedown accuracy is only 37%, and Roberson has decent takedown defense. If Roberson can stuff the takedowns, he has the striking advantage. I like Roberson by KO at +335, but we need to wait for weigh-ins to see if he makes weight.
Paul picks Allen but is hesitant, citing Allen's grappling advantage and Roberson's susceptibility to takedowns. He notes Allen's cardio issues and tendency to tire if he doesn't get an early finish. He thinks Allen needs to use a wrestling-heavy approach to win, and if he stands with Roberson, he could get knocked out. He also likes the over 1.5 rounds.
The MMA Guru picks Brendan Allen by second-round rear-naked choke. He notes that Allen has good submissions and has submitted Kevin Holland, while Roberson has been taken down and submitted quickly in recent fights. He expects Allen to grapple his way to a win after some stand-up exchanges.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvin Vettori | 0 | 4 of 16 | 25% | 4 of 16 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:19 |
| Karl Roberson | 0 | 45 of 64 | 70% | 60 of 79 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 2 | 0 | 2:05 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marvin Vettori | 0 | 4 of 16 | 25% | 4 of 16 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:19 |
| Karl Roberson | 0 | 45 of 64 | 70% | 60 of 79 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 2 | 0 | 2:05 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvin Vettori | 4 of 16 | 25% | 4 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Karl Roberson | 45 of 64 | 70% | 45 of 64 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 43 of 52 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marvin Vettori | 4 of 16 | 25% | 4 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Karl Roberson | 45 of 64 | 70% | 45 of 64 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 43 of 52 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Our co-main event is the heaviest fight on the card -- 190.5 pounds to be precise -- as Roberson (9-2, 4-2 UFC) missed weight against the stark raving mad Vettori (14-4-1, 4-2-1 UFC). They were set to fight a month prior, and Roberson was hospitalized due to his weight cut, so calls for a move up to light heavyweight are sure to come for “Baby K.” Keeping tabs on this grudge match will be referee Dan Miragliotta, and unsurprisingly the two do not touch gloves and start swinging for the fences at the opening bell. The opening seconds are tense, as neither man wants to commit to anything of important or leave themselves wide open. Vettori lands a left hand to begin, and Roberson replies with a one-two that gets blocked. Vettori sticks him with a hard left, and rushes in while ducking the attack coming over the top from Roberson. Roberson whiffs a head kick after they separate, and Vettori likewise misses a right hand. Roberson attempts a hook kick but misses it as well, but manages to circle around and get the back of his opponent, where he pulls the Italian down. Roberson fishes for a choke attempt, but Vettori is able to scramble out of danger and reverse the position, where he ends up on top. Vettori is on top in half guard, while he puts his weight on the heavier fighter. Roberson sits up against the fence, allowing Vettori to set up a guillotine choke. Vettori wrenches with everything he has, and Roberson bucks him off and nearly gets out of the position. Roberson falls back into a choke, and lifts Vettori off the ground to set him down. Both men scramble wildly, and Vettori winds up on top again. Postured up on half guard, Vettori starts to rain down quick and short punches and elbows. Roberson blocks most of them, but earns a warning from Miragliotta to improve his position.
When Roberson rolls to his stomach to keep defending from the onslaught, Vettori latches on to his back and sinks in a slick rear-naked choke. The arm is beneath the chin, and Roberson is done.
When Roberson taps out, "The Italian Dream" has his dream come true, and he unleashes all of his remaining rage in a guttural scream.
The Official Result
Marvin Vettori def. Karl Roberson R1 4:17 via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
Daniel Levi leans towards Marvin Vettori, citing his improved boxing, tough chin, and well-rounded game including clinch and jiu-jitsu. He acknowledges Karl Roberson's potential, knockout threat, and improving jiu-jitsu, but believes Vettori is the better overall fighter. Levi notes the line may be inflated due to the hotel incident and considers it a dog-or-pass situation, but still favors Vettori by tough decision.
The MMA Guru picks Marvin Vettori, noting that Karl Roberson botched a weight cut recently and was in critical condition, which increases Vettori's chances. He highlights Vettori's forward pressure and combination punching, while Roberson struggles moving backwards. He predicts Vettori will get a TKO finish in the third round.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karl Roberson | 0 | 37 of 95 | 38% | 38 of 96 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
| Roman Kopylov | 0 | 43 of 117 | 36% | 43 of 117 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 1 | 0 | 0:55 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Karl Roberson | 0 | 12 of 28 | 42% | 12 of 28 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Roman Kopylov | 0 | 9 of 38 | 23% | 9 of 38 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:06 | |
| 2 | Karl Roberson | 0 | 11 of 30 | 36% | 11 of 30 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Roman Kopylov | 0 | 18 of 41 | 43% | 18 of 41 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Karl Roberson | 0 | 14 of 37 | 37% | 15 of 38 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
| Roman Kopylov | 0 | 16 of 38 | 42% | 16 of 38 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 1 | 0 | 0:49 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karl Roberson | 37 of 95 | 38% | 19 of 72 | 15 of 20 | 3 of 3 | 37 of 95 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Roman Kopylov | 43 of 117 | 36% | 14 of 77 | 3 of 10 | 26 of 30 | 41 of 115 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Karl Roberson | 12 of 28 | 42% | 5 of 17 | 4 of 8 | 3 of 3 | 12 of 28 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Roman Kopylov | 9 of 38 | 23% | 3 of 29 | 1 of 4 | 5 of 5 | 8 of 37 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Karl Roberson | 11 of 30 | 36% | 4 of 23 | 7 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 11 of 30 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Roman Kopylov | 18 of 41 | 43% | 2 of 21 | 1 of 3 | 15 of 17 | 18 of 41 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Karl Roberson | 14 of 37 | 37% | 10 of 32 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 14 of 37 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Roman Kopylov | 16 of 38 | 42% | 9 of 27 | 1 of 3 | 6 of 8 | 15 of 37 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Moving right along, Roberson (8-2, 3-2 UFC) welcomes undefeated knockout artist Kopylov (8-0, 0-0 UFC) to the organization in a big way at middleweight. Serving as the referee for this bout will be Vyacheslav Kiselev. A touch of gloves in sporting fashion begins the fight, and Kopylov quickly opens with a few looping punches that fall short. Roberson responds with a few that are shy of the mark as well, so Kopylov aims for a kick instead. The American presses forward and lands a low kick, so Kopylov fires with a one-two up top that makes Roberson readjust his position. Trading jabs back and forth, Roberson looks to set up a big left hand, but Kopylov keeps moving and working the body to stay away from that prospective power punch. Roberson lands a few more heavy leg kicks, and then barely misses with one up high. Roberson stalks down Kopylov, and then flips up another head kick that glances off the shoulder of his opponent. Kopylov backs off and bounces off the cage a few times to find his place in the cage, and dodges some punches that fly from Roberson. Kopylov fires a head kick up that gets blocked, but follows with a quick short left that catches Roberson right on the jaw, much to the delight of the crowd -- they have not had much to cheer for so far. As Kopylov tries to dig to the body, Roberson wings a big left hand and a body kick. The Russian plants a one-two right on the jaw of his opponent, and backs away before the counters come in his direction. Kopylov just misses with a spinning back kick, so Roberson throws up a kick that almost appears to be an axe kick, leading to a clinch and the end of this razor-close round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Roberson
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Roberson
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Roberson
Round 2
Once more the two men touch gloves, and trade leather immediately. Both score effectively and wear it well, but it is Roberson that is advancing and pressing forward. A straight punch to the body leads to a response from Roberson in the form of a hard leg kick, and then another. Kopylov stings Roberson with a left hand, and the crowd chants for him, but Roberson scores a heavy leg kick that makes Kopylov's knee buckle slightly. One more lands and makes Kopylov duck away, so Roberson chases after him with a head kick and falls over in the process. Kopylov allows him to get up and they touch gloves, so Roberson goes to the inside of Kopylov's lead leg. Another low kick finds its home from Roberson, and by throwing another, Kopylov's movement seems slightly hampered. Kopylov sits down on a left straight, but it does not have the same pop on it after the American lands yet another hard leg kick. The continued leg kicks are bothering Kopylov, so Roberson smartly continues to pursue it. Roberson whips another leg kick and Kopylov does not check it but actually reaches for it, and grimaces as he absorbs it. "Baby K" then launches a head kick and Kopylov is barely able to block it in time, so Roberson then pursues that lead leg some more. The leg is turning into hamburger, as these leg kicks are hard and loud. Roberson turns his hips into a leg kick and Kopylov fully takes the brunt of it, causing him to limp off. Kopylov tries to fire back at him, but he cannot plant on that lead leg, so Roberson goes after it once more to end the round dramatically.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Roberson
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Roberson
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Roberson
Round 3
Unsurprisingly, within five seconds of the last round, Roberson throws a low kick. Kopylov attempts to come back at him and catches Roberson coming in, but the Russian instead pursues a takedown that Roberson shucks off. Sensing he might be down on the scorecards, Kopylov turns up the pace and starts throwing big shots at Roberson, much to the delight of the home fans. Roberson stays largely out of harm's way, but shoots in for his own takedown, and cannot land it. The American backs away and digs to that lead leg again, forcing Kopylov to try to respond by throwing a looping hook that nearly makes him topple over. A striking exchange dings up the nose of Kopylov, who then absorbs an inside leg kick as Roberson jumps in and out. Kopylov stretches his left arm out and jabs his pointer finger directly into the eye of Roberson, and that is a nasty poke as Roberson falls over. That eye starts bleeding, and the doctor is taking a hard look at it. Roberson is calling for the fight to continue, and there is a lot of blood coming from a cut on the eyelid. Kiselev takes a point from Kopylov, but the action resumes. Now confident he is behind in the fight, Kopylov throws everything he has at Roberson by winging combinations with wild kicks and punches. Roberson eats some strikes but aims directly at that lead leg with a few more kicks, causing Kopylov to retreat. Roberson chases him down and clinches up, muscling the Russian to the ground.
Roberson takes his opponent's back, and immediately seeks out a rear-naked choke. He grabs hold of the neck and will not let go, wrenching it with all his might until the Russian taps out.
Roberson becomes the first man to defeat Kopylov, and does so in style in front of a crowd that sits in stunned silence. Russian fighters are now 0-4 tonight against their foreign adversaries.
The Official Result
Karl Roberson def. Roman Kopylov R3 4:01 via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karl Roberson | 0 | 50 of 80 | 62% | 79 of 113 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 3 | 5:48 |
| Wellington Turman | 0 | 25 of 51 | 49% | 38 of 67 | 4 of 7 | 57% | 2 | 0 | 6:55 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Karl Roberson | 0 | 23 of 38 | 60% | 41 of 58 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 3:14 |
| Wellington Turman | 0 | 9 of 16 | 56% | 11 of 18 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 1 | 0 | 0:57 | |
| 2 | Karl Roberson | 0 | 17 of 26 | 65% | 25 of 36 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 1:54 |
| Wellington Turman | 0 | 8 of 21 | 38% | 12 of 27 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:14 | |
| 3 | Karl Roberson | 0 | 10 of 16 | 62% | 13 of 19 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 0:40 |
| Wellington Turman | 0 | 8 of 14 | 57% | 15 of 22 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 3:44 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karl Roberson | 50 of 80 | 62% | 35 of 64 | 11 of 12 | 4 of 4 | 15 of 40 | 8 of 8 | 27 of 32 |
| Wellington Turman | 25 of 51 | 49% | 20 of 42 | 5 of 8 | 0 of 1 | 8 of 27 | 5 of 6 | 12 of 18 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Karl Roberson | 23 of 38 | 60% | 17 of 31 | 4 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 7 of 18 | 0 of 0 | 16 of 20 |
| Wellington Turman | 9 of 16 | 56% | 8 of 15 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 3 | |
| 2 | Karl Roberson | 17 of 26 | 65% | 13 of 22 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 13 | 7 of 7 | 5 of 6 |
| Wellington Turman | 8 of 21 | 38% | 5 of 16 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 8 | 5 of 6 | 3 of 7 | |
| 3 | Karl Roberson | 10 of 16 | 62% | 5 of 11 | 3 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 9 | 1 of 1 | 6 of 6 |
| Wellington Turman | 8 of 14 | 57% | 7 of 11 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 8 |
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glover Teixeira | 0 | 6 of 11 | 54% | 20 of 26 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 1 | 0 | 1:46 |
| Karl Roberson | 1 | 24 of 30 | 80% | 29 of 35 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:41 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glover Teixeira | 0 | 6 of 11 | 54% | 20 of 26 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 1 | 0 | 1:46 |
| Karl Roberson | 1 | 24 of 30 | 80% | 29 of 35 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:41 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glover Teixeira | 6 of 11 | 54% | 6 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 8 |
| Karl Roberson | 24 of 30 | 80% | 22 of 28 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 3 | 6 of 6 | 17 of 21 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glover Teixeira | 6 of 11 | 54% | 6 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 8 |
| Karl Roberson | 24 of 30 | 80% | 22 of 28 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 3 | 6 of 6 | 17 of 21 |
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karl Roberson | 0 | 34 of 71 | 47% | 90 of 135 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 5:06 |
| Jack Marshman | 0 | 21 of 98 | 21% | 30 of 108 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Karl Roberson | 0 | 15 of 32 | 46% | 15 of 32 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:18 |
| Jack Marshman | 0 | 13 of 52 | 25% | 16 of 55 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Karl Roberson | 0 | 8 of 20 | 40% | 35 of 51 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:15 |
| Jack Marshman | 0 | 8 of 31 | 25% | 10 of 33 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Karl Roberson | 0 | 11 of 19 | 57% | 40 of 52 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:33 |
| Jack Marshman | 0 | 0 of 15 | 0% | 4 of 20 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karl Roberson | 34 of 71 | 47% | 24 of 58 | 6 of 8 | 4 of 5 | 24 of 57 | 5 of 7 | 5 of 7 |
| Jack Marshman | 21 of 98 | 21% | 12 of 80 | 3 of 5 | 6 of 13 | 19 of 95 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Karl Roberson | 15 of 32 | 46% | 6 of 23 | 6 of 6 | 3 of 3 | 10 of 25 | 5 of 7 | 0 of 0 |
| Jack Marshman | 13 of 52 | 25% | 8 of 42 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 8 | 11 of 50 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Karl Roberson | 8 of 20 | 40% | 8 of 18 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 19 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
| Jack Marshman | 8 of 31 | 25% | 4 of 25 | 1 of 3 | 3 of 3 | 8 of 30 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Karl Roberson | 11 of 19 | 57% | 10 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 | 7 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 6 |
| Jack Marshman | 0 of 15 | 0% | 0 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 15 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Expert Picks (7)
Angelo gives a slight edge to Karl Roberson because he believes Roberson can hang in the striking and has a clear path to victory via takedowns. He notes that the skill gap on the ground is wider than on the feet, favoring Roberson. However, he acknowledges that Khalil Rountree is a very good striker and could knock Roberson out at any moment.
Big Brady picks Karl Roberson to win by third-round submission. He notes Roberson has never been knocked out and has underrated grappling, despite being submitted by elite grapplers. He points out that Rountree has zero takedowns in 11 UFC fights, so Roberson will likely keep the fight standing where he is the better striker. He also thinks Roberson can mix in takedowns and submit Rountree, who has poor takedown defense (50%). He expects Roberson to out-strike Rountree for two rounds then get a submission in the third.
Cody leans Rountree, citing his durability, power, and pressure. He notes Roberson's ground game is weak but Rountree won't exploit it. He sees it as a striking battle where Rountree's forward pressure and power give him the edge.
Daniel Levi leans with Khalil Rountree Jr., citing his speed advantage and the fact that when Rountree is mentally on and there's no takedown threat, he can be a serious problem. He notes that both fighters have been flaky and can't be fully trusted, but Rountree's speed gives him the edge. Levi acknowledges that Karl Roberson might be tougher but thinks Rountree's speed is the difference.
Roberson is seen as the more technical striker with a better overall MMA game, including grappling and clinch work. He can nullify Rountree's early power and then chip away with kicks and takedowns. Rountree has been inconsistent, with losses to Prachnio and Cutelaba. Roberson is expected to win via decision, using a grapple-heavy game plan.
Paul has no clear pick, calling it a dogger pass. He notes both fighters have moments but he doesn't trust either. He mentions Rountree's inconsistency and Roberson's cancellations.
The MMA Guru picks Khalil Rountree Jr. over Karl Roberson, expecting a stand-up contest. He believes Rountree has a big advantage on the feet and will pull the trigger more than in his last fight. He predicts a KO in round two, as Rountree lands powerful shots and gains respect. He notes that Roberson has shown some grappling ability but doesn't think it will be enough to stop Rountree.
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