UFC 307 went down final evening (Sat., Oct. 5, 2024) inside Delta Middle in Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah, which noticed Alex Pereira retain his Gentle Heavyweight title by stopping Khalil Rountree with an onslaught of punishment within the fourth spherical (see it once more right here). Within the co-main occasion, Julianna Pena as soon as once more turned the ladies’s Bantamweight champion after narrowly defeating the now-former champion, Raquel Pennington, through break up determination.
Greatest Winner: Alex Pereira
“Poatan” received off to considerably of a gradual begin (by his requirements) in his foremost occasion bout in opposition to Rountree, getting tagged and dropped early on, although he ultimately discovered his groove. By the point the third spherical got here round, Pereira began to search out his vary and began to tee off on Rountree, who was a bloody mess come spherical 4, although he refused to again down and confirmed a ton of coronary heart earlier than the champ tagged him with some physique blows that put him out for the rely. For Pereira, that’s now his third straight title protection, additional including to his ever-impressive resume and legacy, which incorporates 5 straight wins, 4 through KO/TKO. He vowed to remain at 205 kilos for now, however an interim Heavyweight title battle in opposition to Tom Aspinall certain sounds tempting.
Runner Up: Julianna Pena
Look, it wasn’t a dominant win, however on the finish of the day it was a championship victory by “The Venezuelan Vixen.” And it didn’t come straightforward as a result of Pennington had her shining moments and made it robust for Pena to re-claim her strap. It might have gone both manner, however Pena did do sufficient on the judges’ scorecards to achieve the top of the game as soon as extra. Maybe as vital, nonetheless, is that she possible secured herself a significant title battle in opposition to Kayla Harrison, who received earlier within the evening in opposition to Ketlen Vieira. And sure, that is although Pena continues to be attempting to lure Amanda Nunes out of retirement.
Honorable Point out: Joaquin Buckley
Don’t look now, however Buckley is on the trail to his first-ever High 10 rating after icing Stephen Thompson within the third and ultimate spherical of their 170-pound collision (see it once more right here). It was “New Mansa’s” fifth straight win — three through knockout — contained in the Octagon, one of many higher present win streaks within the division. A pair extra spectacular victories like that, and don’t be too shocked whenever you begin listening to his title within the championship dialog.
Greatest Loser: Stephen Thompson
There comes a time whenever you begin to surprise if a fighter has misplaced a step or three, and if he/she is going to ever return to the shape that introduced them to relevance. As soon as often called a hanging machine able to knocking your block off together with his harmful karate kicks, Thompson has appeared the whole lot however that over the past three years as a result of he has misplaced 4 of his final 5 fights, and his final two, together with his knockout defeat by the hands of Joaquin Buckley. He’ll simply drop out of the High 10, which in all probability ought to have occurred some time again, and the massive fights will in all probability by no means be supplied as much as him transferring ahead. That’s to not say he can’t flip issues round, however the 41-year previous has a troublesome highway forward if he needs to try this. Maybe the promotion wasn’t all that mistaken in placing him on the undercard?
For full UFC 307 outcomes, protection, and highlights, click on HERE.