Alex Pereira successfully defended his UFC light heavyweight title with a fourth-round knockout over Khalil Rountree, but he is still experiencing pain in his hand from the fight, which took place at UFC 307 on October 5 in Salt Lake City.
Alex Pereira, fresh off defending his UFC light heavyweight title, knocked out Khalil Rountree in the fourth round nearly a month ago. Yet, he’s still feeling the aftermath of that victory.
On the Brazilian podcast Podpah, “Poatan” revealed that his hand continues to ache from their bout at UFC 307 on Oct. 5 in Salt Lake City.
“That fourth round, I was throwing jabs and hurting my hand,” Pereira shared. “I swear. I was thinking, ‘My hand must be broken.’ It still hurts. Not all the time, no, but if I squeeze here, it hurts.”
In 2024, Pereira went 3-0 with three knockouts—first Jamahal Hill, then Jiri Prochazka. Now he’s riding a five-fight win streak since moving up to 205 pounds.
“I saw that the jabs were working and thought, ‘I have to hurt him,’” Pereira said. “But then I hit him right there in the [forehead], one of the hardest parts [of the body], and it kept hurting [laughs].”
The UFC hasn’t announced what’s next for Pereira. Despite swirling rumors, he won’t headline UFC 310 after Belal Muhammad‘s recent withdrawal from the Dec. 7 main event.