UFC 307 begin time, full battle card particulars | Pereira vs. Rountree

Final Combating Championship (UFC) is in Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah, TONIGHT (Sat., Oct. 5, 2024) to stage UFC 307 from inside Delta Middle, the sector made well-known by NBA Corridor of Fame legends Karl Malone and John Stockton. Headlining the occasion will likely be a Gentle Heavyweight title battle between division kingpin, Alex Pereira, defending his belt in opposition to Khalil Rountree. Within the co-main occasion, Raquel Pennington will try and safe her first title protection in opposition to former girls’s Bantamweight champion, Julianna Pena.

What’s Sizzling:

Jon Jones could be the undisputed pound-for-pound greatest fighter on the planet — and don’t you dare inform Dana White in any other case — however Pereira is no doubt the brand new face of the promotion (Sorry, Connie). That’s as a result of “Poatan” is as entertaining, deadly and reliable as they arrive — the poster boy for what an organization man is. Since making his debut in early 2021, Pereira has competed a whopping 9 occasions, gained the Middleweight and Gentle Heavyweight titles and has headlined 5 of the final six pay-per-view (PPV) occasions he’s been in, together with UFC 300 in April 2023, knocking out Jamahal Hill within the first spherical (recap right here). Just some quick months later he knocked out Jiri Prochazka at UFC 303. Three months faraway from that spectacular exhibiting, Pereira is again at it once more trying so as to add to his ever-growing legacy by locking down his third straight protection of his 205-pound strap in opposition to a person many had been shocked to see get the subsequent shot in Rountree.

They are saying you all the time should shoot your shot since you simply by no means know what can occur. Rountree did simply that, calling for a title shot in opposition to Pereira after knocking out Anthony Smith in Dec. 2023, a transfer that caught most without warning. That’s as a result of Rountree was ranked No. 8 on the time, although he was on a five-fight win streak. Quick ahead 10 months later and “Warfare Horse” has gotten his want, as he would be the subsequent man to try to sluggish “Poatan’s” momentum. In his final 5 wins, Rountree has stopped 4 of his opponents by way of strikes, so he undoubtedly has the facility to place Pereira on wobbly knees if he connects. He promised he wouldn’t shoot for a takedown, and if that holds true, then we’re in for an all-out placing struggle that favors “Poatan” as a result of he has the size and has sharper abilities in relation to buying and selling blows. If Rountree isn’t cautious, it may very well be an early evening to the showers for him. That mentioned, that’s what introduced him up to now so don’t count on him to vary his fashion now.

What’s Not:

Buried deep on the undercard is a girls’s strawweight battle between former division champion, Carla Esparza, taking over Tecia Pennington. This will likely be Esparza’s retirement battle, as she has mentioned it’s time to stroll away from the game. It’s loopy to see how the mighty have fallen, but it surely’s regular in blended martial arts (MMA). And I’m not speaking about when it comes to abilities as a result of “Cookie Monster” is definitely 6-1 in her final seven fights, along with her loss coming in opposition to Zhang Weili in a title battle two years in the past (see it right here), the final time she competed. I might have appreciated to see the promotion give her a little bit of a greater placement on the cardboard for her final battle seeing as how she was the inaugural girls’s Strawweight champion. As for Pennington, she is on a two-fight win streak and is out to get again on observe the identical evening her associate, Raquel, is defending her title within the co-main occasion.

Authentic Card Vs. Precise Card:

A Light-weight bout between Nate Landwehr and Austin Hubbard was scheduled for this card earlier than Landwehr withdrew for unknown causes and finally changed by Alexander Hernandez on quick discover. Hernandez is at present in a little bit of a funk, having misplaced 4 of 5 and two straight. One other loss will certainly put him on the chopping block.

Accidents:

Aljamain Sterling and Movsar Evloev had been set to tango on this card earlier than “Funkmaster” needed to withdraw on account of an damage (particulars right here). The bout was then rescheduled for UFC 310 in December. Chris Curtis was in line to face Kevin Holland earlier than he bowed out of the battle with an damage. Stepping in to take his place is Roman Dolidze, who’s coming off a contemporary win over Anthony Smith at UFC 303 this previous summer season, snapping his two-fight shedding streak. As for Holland, he additionally snapped his two-fight skid in the identical month by defeating Michal Oleksiejczuk by way of first spherical submission (see it once more right here). This battle will likely be kicking off UFC 307’s PPV card.

New Blood:

No newcomers slated for this occasion.

How The ‘Prelims’ Look:

Stephen Thompson wasn’t too thrilled that he was relegated to the “Prelims,” however I truly haven’t any drawback with it. He’s the principle attraction in opposition to Joaquin Buckley, and the promotion tries to ship an thrilling battle to steer into the PPV to entice extra individuals to purchase. Thompson is sitting on the No. 9 spot, which is beneficiant of voters as a result of he’s simply 1-3 in his final 4 outings. He hasn’t gained back-to-back fights since 2019-2020, and is coming off a submission loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 296 (see it once more right here). As for Buckley, the No. 11-ranked fighter within the weight class has gone a quiet tear by profitable 4 straight — two by way of knockout — and a win over “Wonderboy” may very well be what will get him into the Prime 10 for the primary time in his profession.

Marina Rodriguez was at one time thought of a reliable potential title contender, however she has actually cooled off over the previous few years after going simply 1-3 since 2022. She is coming off a break up choice loss by the hands of Jessica Andrade at UFC 300, so she wants a win over Iasmin Lucindo if she desires to keep away from dropping out of the Prime 10. After stumbling out of the gates with a loss in her UFC debut, Lucindo has rattled off three straight wins and is searching for the largest of her profession, one that may catapult her into the Prime 10 of the division.

Within the Middleweight division, Cesar Almeida will look to bounce again from his first-ever defeat when he takes on Ihor Potieria, who’s a dreadful 1-3 in his final 4 fights. That appears to be the sample on this card, a number of struggling fighters who’re searching for redemption. Talking of which, each Ryan Spann and Ovince Saint Preux are 2-3 of their final 5 UFC fights, with “Superman” shedding three straight. They may battle on the early “Prelims,” and don’t be too shocked if the loser will get lower.

Who Wants A Win Badly:

Courtroom McGee and Tim Means have each seen higher days contained in the Octagon. McGee is at present using a three-fight shedding streak whereas Means is 1-4 in his final 5 fights. It’s a superb matchup to begin off the cardboard as a result of each males are struggling, but it surely may additionally result in one in all them shedding their job with one other loss. The winner right here will get one other probability to show his value contained in the Octagon, whereas the opposite might get his strolling papers.

Curiosity Degree: 8/10

Within the co-main occasion, Pennington will put her girls’s Bantamweight title on the road for the primary time in opposition to former division champion, Pena. Pennington has actually come into her personal, profitable six straight, together with her championship-winning efficiency in opposition to Mayra Bueno Silva at UFC 297. Regardless of coming off a loss, Pena was the no-brainer to get the shot since her final battle got here in opposition to the G.O.A.T of ladies’s MMA, Amanda Nunes, at UFC 277. That battle, nonetheless, was two years in the past, so will probably be fascinating to see how she does after a prolonged layoff. As all the time, Pena has been speaking a superb recreation and, most of the time, she has backed it up. However, she will likely be coming off a prolonged sit and Pennington is on fireplace in the intervening time. This one ought to be enjoyable and the winner may very properly be trying ahead to a tricky battle in opposition to Kayla Harrison subsequent.

Talking of which, after making an explosive assertion in her Octagon debut by disposing of Holly Holm at UFC 300 (see it once more right here), Harrison is able to safe her shot on the title if she will be able to get one other win when she goes up in opposition to Ketlen Vieira, who’s at present ranked No. 2, one spot forward of the Judoka. Vieira is 3-1 in her final 4 outings and is coming off a win over Pannie Kianzad. Whereas she has extra Octagon time than Harrison, she isn’t all that rather more skilled in MMA than the two-time Olympic medal winner. The one who comes out victorious will safe her shot on the title. For Harrison, it’s her golden alternative to silence the remaining doubters who really feel her accolades aren’t as much as par since she was combating underneath PFL’s banner for thus lengthy.

Some might not understand it, however Jose Aldo is 4-1 in his final 5 fights courting again to 2020. UFC’s former Featherweight champion lately mentioned he turned down some huge cash to stay underneath the UFC banner for one final try and win gold. At present ranked No. 10 within the Bantamweight division, Aldo wants at the very least two or three extra wins to get to the massive dance once more, beginning with Mario Bautista, who sits behind him at No. 11 and is using an six-fight win streak. Has Aldo misplaced a step or two?

Perhaps.

That mentioned, he can nonetheless flip somebody’s lights off. He solely has one submission win in his total profession, whereas Bautista has six. That tells me that if Bautista desires to tug off the win, his greatest wager is to take it to the bottom. Aldo is a legend of the sport and a loss right here gained’t do a lot to have an effect on his legacy, although it’s going to finish his championship desires. However, he has appeared refreshed as of late so don’t be too shocked if we see a classic Aldo efficiency.

Benefit from the fights!

Full UFC 307 Battle Card:

UFC 307 Essential Occasion On ESPN+ PPV:

205 lbs.: UFC Gentle Heavyweight champion Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree

UFC 307 Essential Card on ESPN+ PPV (10 p.m. ET):

135 lbs.: UFC Bantamweight champion Raquel Pennington vs. Julianna Pena135 lbs.: Jose Aldo vs. Mario Bautista135 lbs.: Kayla Harrison vs. Ketlen Vieira185 lbs.: Roman Dolidze vs. Kevin Holland

UFC 307 Prelims Card on ESPNN/ESPN+ (8 p.m. ET):

170 lbs.: Stephen Thompson vs. Joaquin Buckley115 lbs.: Marina Rodriguez vs. Iasmin Lucindo185 lbs.: Cesar Almeida vs. Ihor Potieria155 lbs.: Alexander Hernandez vs. Austin Hubbard

UFC 307 Early Prelims Card on ESPN+ (6 p.m. ET):

205 lbs.: Ryan Spann vs. Ovince Saint Preux115 lbs.: Carla Esparza vs. Tecia Pennington170 lbs.: Tim Means vs. Courtroom McGee

*Battle card, bout order and variety of fights stay topic to vary.*

Do not forget that MMAmania.com will ship LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow protection of the complete UFC 307 battle card proper right here, beginning with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches on-line, that are scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. ET (simulcast on ESPNews at 8 p.m. ET), earlier than the pay-per-view (PPV) fundamental card begin time at 10 p.m. ET (additionally on ESPN+).

To take a look at the newest and best UFC 307: “Pereira vs. Rountree” information and notes you should definitely hit up our complete occasion archive proper right here.