mma / Reports

411’s UFC 307 Report: Pereira Batters Rountree 10.05.24

October 6, 2024 | Posted by Robert Winfree
UFC 307 Image Credit: UFC

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)
(c) Alex Pereira (205 lbs.) vs. #8 Khalil Rountree (205 lbs.) – for light heavyweight title
(c) Raquel Pennington (135 lbs.) vs. #1 Julianna Peña (134.5 lbs.) – for women’s bantamweight title
#10 Jose Aldo (136 lbs.) vs. #11 Mario Bautista (136 lbs.)
#10 Roman Dolidze (185.5 lbs.) vs. Kevin Holland (185.5 lbs.)
#3 Kayla Harrison (136 lbs.) vs. #2 Ketlen Vieira (136 lbs.)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPNews/ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)
#11 Joaquin Buckley (170.5 lbs.) vs. #9 Stephen Thompson (171 lbs.)
#14 Iasmin Lucindo (116 lbs.) vs. #6 Marina Rodriguez (115.5 lbs.)
Alexander Hernandez (156 lbs.) vs. Austin Hubbard (156 lbs.)
Cesar Almeida (185.5 lbs.) vs. Ihor Potieria (185.5 lbs.)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6:30 p.m. ET)
Ovince Saint Preux (205.5 lbs.) vs. Ryan Spann (205.5 lbs.)
Carla Esparza (115.5 lbs.) vs. Tecia Pennington (115 lbs.)
Court McGee (170 lbs.) vs. Tim Means (171 lbs.)

Hello everyone and welcome to 411mania’s LIVE coverage of UFC 307, I’m Robert Winfree and I’ll be your host for the evening. The UFC is back on PPV today and they’ve brought a decent if definitively unspectacular card. In the main event the 8th ranked contender at light heavyweight is getting a title shot because that division is still kind of a mess, but champion Alex Pereira is among the bigger forces in the combat sports world and will draw interest in his fights while Khalil Rountree has a chance to shock the world. The co-main event is between the champion and number one contender but no one cares because women’s bantamweight is a wasteland, but champion Raquel Pennington defends against a former champion in Julianna Pena and try not to remember that Pena does not have a win over anyone currently on the UFC roster. The fight I’m most interested in personally is Jose Aldo vs. Mario Bautista, Bautista is a rising contender while Aldo returned from a hiatus not long ago and bested Jonathan Martinez, if Aldo can make a late push in a division as stacked as bantamweight it’ll be one of the most impressive things I’ve seen in the sport. Kayla Harrison and Ketlen Vieira will battle for the presumptive next title shot as well. On the prelims fun can be had between Stephen Thompson and Joaquin Buckley, former two time strawweight champion Carla Esparza will make the walk for the last time as she takes on Tecia Pennington, and local boy Court McGee will be curtain jerking.

UFC 307 comes to the world from the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. We’ve got Jon Anik, Joe Rogan, and Daniel Cormier on commentary while Megan Olivi does the roving reporter bit. We’re in the regular 30 foot cage since we’re not in the warehouse, and I’m not aware of any rules quirks but will keep you updated on that front. Next month is when the new rules will start going into effect so we’ll keep an eye open for that.

Court McGee has been with the UFC since 2010 when he won a season of TUF but he’s on a three fight losing streak here and likely needs a win to get a little bit of job security. Tim Means has gone 1-4 in his last five fights most recently losing to Uros Medic, similarly to McGee Means is likely fighting to prove he still belongs in the UFC. The odds are with Means at -185 to +155 for McGee.

Welterweight Bout: Court McGee (21-13, 170 lbs.) vs. Tim Means (33-16-1 1 NC, 171 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Means is three inches taller while McGee has half an inch of reach advantage. Southpaw for Means. McGee with a quick right hand then a clinch and he pushes Means into the fence. There are “woos” already, heaven help us. Some dirty boxing from McGee before Means slips free. Right to the body from McGee. Means lands to the body and they clinch, McGee lands a right hand before they break. Front kick from Means. McGee with a couple of body shots then a right to the head, nice combination work. Both men trade in the pocket then McGee hits a double leg against the fence. McGee into a ride position and he lands a few rights. Means is working to wall walk but McGee has a leg lace going and is attacking whichever arm he’s trying to post on. Only one hook in for McGee, he thinks about a choke but Means defends, Means gets too eager standing though and now McGee has both hooks in. McGee keeps looking for the choke and eventually finds an angle that seems to hurt the neck of Means and gets the tap.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Court McGee via Submission, neck crank, at 3:19 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. McGee for his work this evening. Mic time for McGee, he has no words for the gratitude he has for everyone during his 15 year career. He wanted to start the card off on the right foot and seems like he did. Asked about the neck surgery he’s had recently he says it’s revitalized him, then he thanks his family for their support and notes this is the 45 anniversary for his parents.

There’s a current of thought right now that if a rear naked choke isn’t under the chin then it turns into a neck crank. That isn’t true, the pressure across the jaw can compress the relevant blood vessels. Here though you can see how much the lateral force, the actual cranking part of the hold, is what gets Means to tap.

Carla Esparza is a two time strawweight champion including being the inaugural one, unfortunately she lost it right away both times and now at the age of 36 and with a career dating back to 2010 she’s decided this will be her last fight. She’s doubtless trying to go out with one more win. Tecia Pennington is on a two fight losing streak though both of those were split decisions, she’s looking for her first win since 2021. Pennington is your -175 favorite to a +145 comeback on Esparza.

Strawweight Bout: Carla Esparza (19-7, 115.5 lbs.) vs. Tecia Pennington (13-7, 115 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: These two are the same height while Esparza has two and a half inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get us going. Both women show the lead hand, then they fall more than a bit short with punches. Pennington lands a right hand. Pennington is throwing combinations pretty quickly and her pressure is keeping Esparza off balance. Calf kick then a right hand from Pennington. Inside leg kick from Pennington. Another right from Pennington then a left hook behind it. Bit of a knee from Pennington. Esparza lands a punch but gets cracked in reply. Pennington avoids a takedown, but gets a bit too eager pushing forward and Esparza does hit a takedown. Esparza moves to side control after absorbing an up kick. A few elbows from Esparza land as she keeps Pennington on the mat. Esparza is working towards a crucifix but her left ankle is caught in the guard of Pennington and she has to work to get it free. Now Esparza is back fully in side control. Esparza lands a few punches from top position as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Esparza but could go either way

ROUND TWO: Pennington gets back to stalking forward. A bit of feinting from both women, Pennington looks a little flatter on her feet this round. Pennington lands a calf kick. Another calf kick from Pennington. A few low kicks go back and forth then Esparza lands a solid right hand. They both miss punches. Left hook from Pennington lands. Another left from Pennington lands, she’s got a little more bounce in her step now. Pennington with a couple of inside leg kicks. Blitz from Pennington partially lands. Another calf kick from Pennington. They both miss punches. Inside and outside leg kicks from Pennington then she avoids a takedown. They trade rights then Pennington lands a left hook. Esparza is backing up then tries a takedown, it takes a second effort but they hit the mat then Pennington scrambles and Esparza gets a ride position. Pennington wall walks into a clinch then lands a left hook as they break. They both miss punches as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Pennington but another close one, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: Pennington gets back to showing the lead hand as they circle around. Inside leg kick from Pennington. Bit of a body kick from Pennington. Both women miss punches. A few more calf kicks from Pennington, she’s keeping just outside of Esparza’s punching range and is picking at her legs. More calf kicks from Pennington, those are starting to add up. Esparza lands a right hand. Bit of a left from Pennington. Pennington lands a left hook after an exchange in close. Inside leg kicks from Pennington now. They trade rights then miss a few punches each. Esparza with a couple of punches. Pennington lands a right hand. Calf kick from Pennington staggers the leg of Esparza. Esparza catches a calf kick and gets a takedown. Pennington with up kicks then Esparza moves to side half guard, then full mount and fires a few hard elbows just before the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Pennington but Esparza could have stolen it at the end, 29-28 Pennington overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Tecia Pennington via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)

30-27 for Pennington seems a little dubious but I can’t be too upset. Mic time for Pennington, she thinks she won the second and third rounds and brings up being on the wrong end of a couple of decisions recently and doesn’t care about the response. To close she dedicates the win to her grandmother who passed due to breast cancer and wishes her wife Raquel Pennington luck later tonight.

Carla Esparza gets an interview as well, she thanks the crowd and while she thinks she won she’s not going to fixate on it. They give her the highlight treatment as well. She gets a little emotional talking about the road she’s been on, then thanks the UFC staff, her friends, family, and team for working with her all these years.

Ryan Spann is on a three fight losing streak and if he ever wants to make another run towards the rankings at light heavyweight he needs to halt that skid here. Ovince Saint Preux has been fighting since 2008 and has gone 2-3 in his last five fights, most recently he got a split decision win over Kennedy Nzechukwu and now he’s trying to build his first winning streak since 2017. The odds like Spann at -220 while that +180 comeback on Saint Preux might tempt a few bettors out there.

Light Heavyweight Bout: Ovince Saint Preux (27-17, 205.5 lbs.) vs. Ryan Spann (205.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Spann is an inch and a half taller while Saint Preux has an inch of reach advantage, Saint Preux is also 8 years older. They touch gloves, Saint Preux fighting southpaw Saint Preux will switch a bit but he’s mostly southpaw. Calf kicks are traded. Spann misses a couple of punches. Calf kick from Spann. Saint Preux kicks Spann low so we’ve got a brief time out but Spann only takes 25 seconds then we’re back. One two from Spann wobbles Saint Preux for a second but he seems to recover. Saint Preux avoids a right hand. Left hooks go back and forth. Saint Preux is orthodox but gets cracked with a right hand, Spann grabs a guillotine as they tie up and rolls to mount with it then forces the tap.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Ryan Spann via Submission, guillotine choke, at 1:35 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Spann for his work this evening. Mic time for Spann, he’s very excited about the win and thanks God first then says he wanted to show everyone that hard work pays off, especially his kids. He talks us through the finish and thanks his coaches and promises to get back to work and keep getting better.

Nice finish to the mounted guillotine here, ideally you have some leverage on the mat with another arm but Spann kind of just posts on his own head to get it.

Cesar Almeida has gone 1-1 in the UFC and while he’s coming off of a loss to rising middleweight talent Roman Kopylov he’s looking to bounce back with a win here and prove he’s a talent on the rise. Ihor Potieria has gone 2-4 in the UFC and most recently was choked out in less than a minute by Michel Pereira, his only wins in the UFC are over the ghost of Mauricio Rua and then missing weight for his middleweight debut. Potieria needs a win here to try and get his career on the right track. It’s not surprising to see Almeida as a heavy favorite at -455 to +350 on Potieria.

Middleweight Bout: Cesar Almeida (5-1, 185.5 lbs.) vs. Ihor Potieria (21-6, 185.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Potieria is two inches taller with an inch of reach advantage, he’s also 8 years younger. Southpaw for Potieria. Both men do some circling, Almeida probing with outside leg kicks. Almeida lands a body kick and starts showing some stance switches. Bit of a left from Potieria. Almeida with another body kick. Inside leg kick from Almeida. Right to the body from Almeida. Very patient and methodical approach from Almeida, he’s just sniping to the body mostly right now. They trade rights. Potieria tries a takedown, Almeida defends as they hit the fence. Almeida is able to spin free without incident then lands a right hand. Potieria avoids a right hook but fails to find a clinch. Almeida avoids another takedown and then gets away from the clinch. Body shot from Potieria. Almeida catches a kick then lands a short left hook. Right to the body from Almeida. More kicks to the body and leg from Almeida then he lands a right hand. Another leg kick from Almeida, his stance switching is working well. Potieria hits a double leg but Almeida quickly wall walks into a clinch. Almeida is able to spin free and reset. Right hand from Almeida then an inside leg kick. Potieria tries another takedown as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Almeida

ROUND TWO: Potieria showing the lead hand a lot as the round starts. Almeida fires a body kick. That body work seems to be adding up. Almeida fires a punch that goes low to the groin of Potieria so we’ve got a time out. There was a bit of an eye poke before that so Potieria is taking his time here and I’m not going to get mad at him for it. We do get back to fighting after 1:20. Potieria complains of another eye poke almost right away so we’ve got another time out. Replay shows there was a bit of contact pushing out of a clinch. We’re back after 1:04. Body kick from Almeida then he lands a right hand. Potieria lands a right hook. Double leg from Potieria and he’s in half guard. Almeida scoots towards the fence as we get a replay of a third eye poke that went unaddressed. A few elbows from Potieria land. Almeida works to wall walk and gets up then free. Left hook from Almeida. Potieria hits a single leg, Almeida grabs a guillotine choke on the way down and rolls to mount with it. Almeida is not able to finish but he uses mount to land a few punches. Elbow from Almeida as Potieria is just holding on and trying to control posture. More elbows from Almeida but he’s not able to quite get enough strung together to force a stoppage. Potieria gives up his back going to turtle and Almeida is in a ride now. Both hooks in for Almeida then he moves to mount and lands a few more strikes to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Almeida, 20-18 Almeida overall

ROUND THREE: Both men with a little feinting to start the round. Bit of a high kick from Almeida. Almeida lands a right hand. One two from Potieria, they trade and Potieria complains of an eye poke but the ref again tells them to fight on. That really should have been a point. Almeida lands a couple of right hands. Another clubbing right from Almeida and he’s got Potieria on the fence. Calf kick from Almeida. They clinch and Potieria pushes stuff into the fence. The ref breaks them, they weren’t doing anything so I’ll let that one go. Almeida lands a right hand then a body kick. Potieria lands a right hook in close. Bit of a right from Almeida. Almeida is stalking Potieria to the fence and lands a kick before Potieria grabs another clinch. Again they’re not doing much and the ref breaks them, commentary is pissed but again I’m somewhat understanding. Potieria pushes into another clinch, this time Potieria tries a few knees but again things are stalling out. The ref separates them again. Potieria reaches for a single leg and that results in another clinch on the fence. They break without incident. Almeida lands a right hand. Bit of a flurry from Almeida then they tie up and Almeida fails a takedown then ends the round on his back.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Almeida, 30-27 Almeida overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Cesar Almeida via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

No interview for Almeida, and that ref will not be seen again tonight.

Austin Hubbard has gone 1-1 since returning to the UFC last year, he’s coming off of a win back in April and now looks for his first UFC winning streak. Alexander Hernandez is replacing Nate Landwher in this fight, he’s gone 1-4 in his last five fights and is on a two fight losing streak. Hernandez pretty badly needs to get back on the winning track here. The odds like Hernandez at -120 to -105 for Hubbard.

Lightweight Bout: Alexander Hernandez (14-8, 156 lbs.) vs. Austin Hubbard (16-7, 156 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Hubbard is an inch taller while Hernandez has an inch of reach advantage. Both men feinting with the hands as Hubbard begins pressuring immediately. A few stance switches from Hubbard but he’s mostly orthodox. Bit of a knee from Hubbard. Front kick from Hubbard. Hernandez lands a left hand. Hubbard keeps pressuring forward but walks into a right hand. Bit of a knee from Hubbard. Hernandez lands a right hand. Left from Hernandez then Hubbard lands a right. Body kick from Hubbard. Jab from Hubbard. Hernandez misses a couple of punches. Glancing right from Hubbard. Hernandez with a clubbing left hook. They feint away the final seconds.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Hernandez

ROUND TWO: Hernandez lands a calf kick but Hubbard is backing him up again. Hubbard is looking to keep Hernandez working and just wear him down. Front kick from Hubbard. They trade lefts. Leg kick from Hubbard. Both men land punches again. Hubbard with an inside leg kick. Hubbard tries a takedown, he slips to the back but Hernandez is able to fight free. Hernandez jabs the body. Left hook from Hernandez. Hubbard is really struggling to build a game here, he’s got a pace going but nothing is building. Hernandez fights off a couple of takedowns. Right hand from Hubbard in close. Hard knee from Hernandez stuns Hernandez for a second. Bit of a left from Hernandez. Hernandez blocks a double leg and lands a punch. They tie up and hit the fence then Hubbard lands a left hook as they break. One two from Hubbard. Hernandez avoids a takedown. Hubbard with a front kick. They land lefts. Both men land again in close. Hernandez avoids a high kick to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Hubbard but a close one, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: Hernandez gets on pressure right away and swings punches. Hubbard with a left hook. They trade a few kicks then Hernandez lands a jab. Jab from Hubbard. Right to the body from Hubbard. Hubbard with a combination of punches then a spinning back kick to the body. A couple of jabs from Hubbard. Hernandez lands a right hand. Hubbard with a front kick then a knee in close. More front kicks from Hubbard. Front kick towards the face from Hubbard. Hernandez lands a left hand but he’s fading. Hernandez avoids a single leg and spins to a front headlock position. Hubbard scrambles up into a clinch, Hernandez lands an elbow as they break. Knee from Hubbard. Hubbard lands a few punches then a front kick. Short left hook from Hubbard, he’s starting to land consistently now. Hernandez lands a right hand. Spinning back kick from Hubbard. They both land punches for the final couple of seconds.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Hubbard, 29-28 Hubbard overall but probably goes to Hernandez

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Alexander Hernandez via split decision (27-30, 29-28 x2)

30-27 for Hubbard seems off to me. No interview for Hernandez as we’re a little short on time.

Marina Rodriguez has gone just 1-3 in her last four fights, though most recently she fought to a close split decision with Jessica Andrade, but she needs to defend her ranking here. Iasmin Lucindo has gone 3-1 in the UFC and is on a three fight winning streak, she’s stepping up to a top 10 opponent here but a win could set her up with a very big fight next. Fairly close here but -170 on Lucindo to +140 for Rodriguez.

Strawweight Bout: #14 Iasmin Lucindo (16-5, 116 lbs.) vs. #6 Marina Rodriguez (17-4-2, 115.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Rodriguez is three inches taller while Lucindo has an inch of reach advantage, Rodriguez is also 15 years older. Southpaw for Lucindo. Both women probe with the lead hand as they circle. Rodriguez has started moving a bit more forward. Lucindo tries a leg scissor takedown but misses the hips and nothing comes of it. A couple of body kicks from Lucindo. Bit of a right from Rodriguez. They trade punches in close. Rodriguez trips Lucindo down but then lets her stand up. They trade punches then clinch but Lucindo quickly spins free. Right hand from Rodriguez, Lucindo has gone orthodox at the moment. Lucindo lands a leg kick. Rodriguez avoids a few punches. Spinning back kick from Lucindo. A hard right from Rodriguez drops Lucindo for a second but Lucindo bounces up. They trade knees in close then Lucindo hits a takedown into half guard to buy herself more time to recover. A few short punches from Lucindo, she passes to side control just before the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Rodriguez but a close one

ROUND TWO: Body kick from Lucindo to start the round. Rodriguez misses a few punches. Knee from Lucindo. Rodriguez lands a jab, in general she’s the one applying forward pressure. Right hand from Rodriguez. One two from Rodriguez then a clinch on the fence. They jockey for position then break without incident. Bit of an elbow from Rodriguez. Right hand from Lucindo but Rodriguez responds with a combination of punches then a body kick. Lucindo avoids a right hand and clinches, she’s able to hit an outside trip and get on top in half guard again. Not much coming of this position, Lucindo is able to control but isn’t landing much offense. The ref stands them up with 30 seconds left. One two from Rodriguez. Lucindo with a spinning back kick. They trade in close as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Lucindo, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: They trade rights to start the last round. Lucindo avoids a few punches. One two from Rodriguez. Rodriguez avoids a spinning kick. Elbow from Rodriguez and they clinch up. There’s a cut on Rodriguez from a clash of heads. Lucindo fights for the body lock takedown but eventually gets it into full mount. We get a time out, Lucindo is using her chin in the eye of Rodriguez which is against the rules. The ref reads Lucindo the riot act and restarts them on the feet. Elbow from Rodriguez. They trade rights. Lucindo avoids a couple of punches. Combination from Rodriguez, she tries a double collar tie but can’t secure it as Lucindo gets free. They trade in close again, Rodriguez is just marching forward and lands another elbow. Knee from Rodriguez and she again tries a clinch then trips Lucindo down. They wind up in a leg entanglement, Rodriguez is on top and lands some hammer fists. Eventually Lucindo stands free then pushes into top position in the guard of Rodriguez. They trade a few elbows on the mat to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Rodriguez but another close one, 29-28 Rodriguez overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Iasmin Lucindo via split decision (28-29, 29-28 x2)

No interview for Lucindo.

Stephen Thompson has twice fought for the welterweight title in the past but now as he’s north of 40 years old with a UFC run dating back to 2012 his time near the top of the division might be fading. Thompson is just 1-3 in his last four fights, granted those losses are to Gilbert Burns, Belal Muhammad, and Shavkat Rakhmonov but still it’s not a great place to be in and now Thompson really needs a win to keep himself a relevant player in the division. Joaquin Buckley has gone 4-0 since returning to welterweight last year, he’s looking to beat one of the bigger names he’s faced and prove he’s ready for a serious step up in class. The odds like Buckley at -205 against +170 for Thompson.

Welterweight Bout: #11 Joaquin Buckley (19-6, 170.5 lbs.) vs. #9 Stephen Thompson (17-7-1, 171 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Thompson is two inches taller while Buckley has an inch of reach advantage, Thompson is also 11 years older. Southpaw for Buckley, and they touch gloves. Of course Thompson will switch his stance but he’s opening orthodox. Both men probe with the lead hand. Buckley pushes in close and hits a double leg against the fence. Thompson is able to wall walk into a clinch and land a knee. They trade a few knees to the leg and body. Elbow from Buckley then Thompson lands a right hand as they break. Right hand from Thompson backs up Buckley for a second. Thompson misses a head kick then Buckley lands a counter punch. Counter right from Thompson. Body kick from Thompson. Buckley is still pressuring forward but eats a right hand. Clinch from Buckley and he looks for a high crotch against the fence but Thompson defends and spins free with an elbow. Buckley misses a few hooks but eats a right hand. Thompson looks really smooth thus far, he’s gliding and countering. Right hand from Thompson lands, Buckley hits a takedown against the fence but Thompson quickly wall walks into a clinch. Bit of an elbow from Buckley as they break. Buckley lands a right hand. Right hand from Thompson. Thompson circles off the fence and lands a calf kick. Head kick from Thompson stuns Buckley. Buckley tries another takedown but Thompson defends until they hit the fence. The round will end in the clinch.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Thompson

ROUND TWO: Thompson jabbing and stance switching now. Buckley is trying to close distance and eats a couple of punches. Thompson misses a wheel kick. Left hand from Buckley but Thompson just eats it. Right hand from Thompson then he lands elbows in the clinch as Buckley struggles to control him. A few knees go back and forth in the clinch before Thompson spins free. Thompson lands a right hand. Buckley hits a takedown but Thompson wall walks immediately into another clinch. Buckley lands a couple of body shots but he can’t keep control and Thompson lands a combination as he breaks. They trade rights. Buckley misses a high kick. Thompson starting to pressure forward and lands a left hand. Left hand from Buckley. They exchange punches then Buckley gets to the back in a clinch. Buckley drags things down to the mat then Thompson wall walks into a clinch. A few punches from Buckley then he knees Thompson in the groin so we’ve got a time out. Thompson only takes 20 seconds then we’re fighting again. Bit of a side kick from Thompson. Buckley has a few kicks fall short. Bit of a right from Buckley to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Buckley, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: They touch gloves for the last round. Thompson lands a leg kick. Right hand from Buckley. Left hook from Buckley. Thompson lands a couple of punches, they trade a bit in close. Both men land in close again. Buckley punches into a clinch then hits the body while he’s got Thompson on the fence. Thompson is able to slip free then lands a right hand. Body kick then a left hook from Thompson. Buckley lands a body kick. Bit of a head kick from Thompson, Buckley didn’t like that one. A rush from Buckley backs Thompson to the fence then he crushes him with a right hook to put Thompson out.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Joaquin Buckley via KO, punch, at 2:17 of Round 3

The Final Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Buckley for his work this evening. Mic time for Buckley, he’ll have to keep it short but he earned this one. He says he plans on coming after the title, then wants another win before fighting for the belt and thinks that should be Kamaru Usman. Gotta respect that call out.

Buckley has a lot of power and here he gets Thompson to the fence then explodes forward into this right hook. Nice stuff.

Well that’s it for the prelims, onto PPV for the main event.

Ketlen Vieira has been out of action for over a year but she’s been a highly regarded member of the division for several years now and if she can get a win here she should secure he first UFC title shot. Kayla Harrison is a two time Olympic gold medalist in judo and made her UFC debut back in April then promptly ran over Holly Holm, now Harrison is looking to secure a title shot with another impressive win here. Harrison is among the bigger favorites on the card at -950 to Vieira’s +625.

Women’s Bantamweight Bout: #3 Kayla Harrison (17-1, 136 lbs.) vs. #2 Ketlen Vieira (14-3, 136 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: These two are the same height while Vieira has two inches of reach advantage. Southpaw for Harrison. Vieira is throwing long range punches and circling. Harrison is looking to feint her way in close and checks an inside leg kick. Bit of a left from Harrison. Harrison pushes into a clinch and lands some knees to the body as she’s got Vieira on the fence. A few more knees from Harrison as she’s also looking for a trip. They break eventually and trade rights. Bit of a body shot from Vieira. Harrison lands a body kick. Harrison lands a left hand then hits a takedown into half guard. Only 45 seconds left in the round as Harrison passes to mount. Elbow from Harrison and she gets the back. More elbows and punches from Harrison as Vieira is now against the fence. Vieira will see out the round though.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Harrison

ROUND TWO: Harrison back to trying to feint her way in close. Inside leg kick from Harrison. They both miss punches. Another inside leg kick from Harrison. They trade a few punches. Harrison lands another inside leg kick. My feed had a few issues there so I’m sure I missed something. Harrison punches into a clinch on the fence. Vieira is able to spin free but Harrison bulls into another clinch and lands a knee then a couple of elbows before settling the clinch. Elbow from Vieira in close, Harrison keeps the clinch though and lands another few knees to the body. Elbow from Harrison. More knees from Harrison. The ref breaks them up, Vieira is just defensive in there and was able to stall things out. They both block high kicks to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Harrison but a closer one, 20-18 Harrison overall

ROUND THREE: Vieira slips early in the round and Harrison grabs a front headlock, they hit the fence though and Vieira is able to slip free. One two from Vieira. Bit of a left from Harrison. Inside leg kick from Harrison. Vieira avoids a tie up attempt. Another inside leg kick from Harrison. Vieira avoids a clinch. Harrison forces a clinch on the fence then gets Vieira down into full guard. Harrison quickly starts working elbows to the head of Vieira. A few punches land for Harrison. Harrison lands another couple of elbows, Vieira is just closing her guard and seems to be hoping for the ref to save her. Some more lefts from Harrison. A couple of elbows from Harrison land. Vieira tries to start a wall walk but Harrison passes to half guard and angles her off the fence. Harrison passes to full mount like it was nothing and starts landing more elbows. Vieira gives up the back, Harrison grabs at the choke but Vieira is able to catch half guard and returns to her back. Harrison lands a few more punches to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Harrison, 30-27 Harrison overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Kayla Harrison via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27 x2)

I’m not complaining about Vieira getting the second. Mic time for Harrison, she congratulated Vieira on the fight and noted Vieira was the first person to make her bleed in MMA then she puts her over again. She’s here to challenge herself and wants to be the best in the world. Asked about what’s next she says she’s coming for the gold and doesn’t care if it’s Pena or Pennington.

Roman Dolidze he was last seen in June when he beat Anthony Smith on short notice up at light heavyweight, he’s back at middleweight now and looking for his first win in that weight class since 2022 when he stopped Jack Hermansson. Kevin Holland scored a win in his middleweight return back in June and now he’s looking to start climbing the ranks right away. The odds are with Holland at -155 to +130 on Dolidze.

Middleweight Bout: #10 Roman Dolidze (13-3, 185.5 lbs.) vs. Kevin Holland (26-11 1 NC, 185.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Holland is an inch taller with five inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get us going. Dolidze is working his way forward, Holland lands a leg kick. A few more long range kicks from Holland as he’s keeping distance. Bit of a left from Dolidze. Holland with a couple of rights. Leg kick from Holland. Dolidze is showing some stance switches. Both men are willing to throw punches in close and do so. Takedown from Dolidze and he’s on top in full guard. Holland has a body triangle for his guard, odd choice in general. Dolidze lands a couple of punches. Some body to head punches from Dolidze. Holland is trying to angle his hips to get something going from guard now but Dolidze keeps covering his hips and keeps him flat. Holland gets his hips going but something goes wrong for him and Dolidze is on top in mount throwing punches. Dolidze isn’t getting through with a lot of his punches so he tries a few elbows. Holland starts talking to Dolidze so Dolidze lands more elbows before the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Dolidze

ROUND TWO: Apparently it was a rib issue during that scramble. Holland is struggling to see if he can continue. Ultimately he can’t and the coach tells the ref it’s over.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Roman Dolidze via TKO, rib injury, at 5:00 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club is willing to take this one and thanks Mr. Dolidze for his work. Mic time for Dolidze, he feels like he’s on top of the division and wants to fight either Robert Whittaker or Khamzat Chimaev, hopefully in December if possible. The loser of that fight might in fact be reasonable for him.

Good job on the coach here, it’s a tough call to stop a fight but when it’s the right thing you have to be willing to do it or you’re only a danger to your fighter.

Mario Bautista has quietly put together a really good run at bantamweight, he’s on a six fight winning streak and now takes a step up to easily the biggest name he’s ever faced but a win would launch him into the consciousness of a division that’s quite stacked. Jose Aldo is one of the all time greats the sport has produced, arguably the greatest featherweight in the sports history and then he moved down to bantamweight and challenged for the title in 2020, Aldo returned from a hiatus back in May and bested the talented Jonathan Martinez, if he can take out another talented young fighter he might find himself back in the title vicinity sooner rather than later. This one is pretty close but Bautista closed at -135 while +115 on Aldo has to be considered a good value bet.

Bantamweight Bout: #10 Jose Aldo (32-8, 36 lbs.) vs. #11 Mario Bautista (14-2, 136 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Bautista is two inches taller but Aldo has an inch of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get going. Leg kick from Bautista early, he’s feinting his way close already. Aldo blocks a high kick and lands a leg kick. Leg kick from Aldo again. Bautista falls short with a couple of punches but he’s active and doesn’t look phased. They clinch, Aldo with a few knees but things are stalling out a bit. Knees go back and forth for a bit but not much more than that. Bautista looks to change levels for a takedown but Aldo defends that. Elbow from Bautista partially lands. Aldo spins free and lands a left hand. Leg kick from Aldo. Bit of a right hand from Aldo. Bautista lands a right and tries to clinch but Aldo spins free immediately. Aldo defends a takedown but we’re back in the clinch. Aldo spins free again. Forward motion from Aldo now and he lands a jab. Right hand from Aldo but he misses an uppercut. Bautista jabs the body. Bautista lands a right hand but Aldo responds with one of his own. One two from Aldo. Aldo avoids a high kick to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Bautista

ROUND TWO: They touch gloves again. Knee from Aldo. Bautista showing the jab again. Aldo checks a leg kick. Jabs from Aldo, Bautista is cut around the right eye it looks like. More jabs from Aldo then a left hook. Knee from Aldo stuns Bautista, Bautista tries a single leg but Aldo is legendary for a reason and limp legs free then gets back on pressure. Bautista starts moving forward but eats another left kick. One two from Aldo lands. Bautista tries another takedown but Aldo defends against the fence. Aldo eats a couple of shoulder strikes then lands a knee to the body. Things are stalling out a bit here then Aldo spins free. Knee from Aldo but Bautista lands a right hand. Bit of a one two from Aldo. They trade a few jabs, Aldo’s seems to have more power but Bautista’s is a bit more active. Rights are exchanged then Bautista gets another clinch on the fence. Aldo defends a single leg then pushes free and lands a couple of hooks. Left from Aldo lands. Bautista lands a couple of jabs, he tries another takedown but again that stalls out on the fence as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Aldo, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: They hug for the last round. Bautista avoids a right hand. Aldo lands a couple of jabs then checks a leg kick. Both men block rights. A few jabs go back and forth. Bit of a right from Bautista then Aldo counters with a left hook. Jab from Aldo. Bit of a left hook from Aldo. Bautista tries a takedown, that hits the fence and stalls out. Not much happening here, Bautista is occasionally looking to change levels but Aldo is defending. The ref breaks them up eventually, then Bautista immediately tries a double leg that stalls on the fence. Again not much happens before Aldo spins free. Aldo moves forward and lands a right hand. Bautista is backing up, then clinches into the fence yet again. Aldo breaks with a left hook. They trade one last time to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Bautista but a close one, 29-28 Bautista overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Mario Bautista via split decision (28-29, 29-28 x2)

Well it wasn’t pretty, or exciting, but Bautista was able to game out Aldo’s game. Mic time for Bautista who’s getting booed out of the state, he puts over Aldo’s takedown defense and says Aldo’s not getting off the fence wasn’t his fault. He knew when Aldo was against the fence he wouldn’t do much and that was a big part of the game plan.

Julianna Pena is a former bantamweight champion but she hasn’t been seen since getting soundly beaten by Amanda Nunes in their rematch in July of 2022. Pena is trying to become a two time champion here but doesn’t own a single win over anyone currently on the UFC roster. Raquel Pennington has been in the UFC since 2013 and just kind of hung around long enough for much of the division to fall away before winning the title in one of the more forgettable title fights back in January. Pennington is trying to turn the perception of her around and a successful title defense would go a long way towards doing that. The odds like Pennington at -160 to a +135 comeback on Pena.

Women’s Bantamweight Title Bout: (c) Raquel Pennington (16-8, 135 lbs.) vs. #1 Julianna Peña (11-5, 134.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Pennington is an inch taller while Pena has an inch and a half of reach advantage. A bit of feinting from both women. Pennington pokes out the jab a few times, not landing but just sort of probing. A few jabs go back and forth. They split a few jabs but not much is going on. Pennington lands a pretty decent punch. Right hand from Pena. They’re still mostly shadow boxing. Commentary tries to sell us on the bad blood meaning this is simmering and will boil at some point, I think they’re full of it but we’ll see. Glancing left from Pennington. They both avoids a few shots, then Pennington does land a short uppercut. Pennington has backed Pena into the fence but nothing is really coming of it. Calf kick from Pennington. Another calf kick from Pennington. Again they split a few jabs then Pena’s flared elbow charge falls short. Pena does land a right hand. Right hand from Pennington then a body kick to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Pennington

ROUND TWO: They’re both back to flashing the jab and Pennington is generally moving forward. Bit of a right from Pena. Left hook from Pennington in close. They both miss rights. Pennington lands a front kick. Pena is circling along the fence now. Right to the body from Pennington. They tie up in open space, lean on each other then Pennington lands a couple of knees before Pena times a trip to get on top in side control. There’s a decent knot starting to develop on the forehead of Pennington over the left eyebrow. Pena has decent shoulder pressure going but not much else. They switch towards north-south then Pennington scrambles up into a clinch, Pena is able to jump into the backpack position though. Pena tries to push off the fence and get things back to the mat but nothing doing. Just not a whole lot going on here and that’s where the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Pena, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: Pennington comes out showing the jab again. They send a few jabs back and forth then Pennington lands an inside leg kick. Pena lands a right hand. Bit of a left hook from Pennington. Bit of a right from Pennington. Again they trade a few jabs. They punch into another clinch in open space. Outside trip from Pena lands and she’s in side control. Pennington rolls to her knees, Pena is looking for the back though and gets one hook in. Pena gets the second hook and a body triangle now. A few punches land for Pena. Choke attempt from Pena, it’s getting tight but Pennington is able to break the grip and defend. That’s where the round will end.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Pena, 29-28 Pena overall

ROUND FOUR: Pennington opens the round with a high kick that stuns Pena. Calf kick from Pennington but Pena lands a counter right hand. Uppercut from Pennington, she knows she’s down and seems to have a little bit of fire going this round. Bit of a calf kick from Pennington. Pennington looks to punch her way forward. They both miss rights. Both women miss a lot of lead hand work for a bit. Pennington lands a right to the body. Right hand from Pennington. Pennington jabs the body. A right from Pennington drops Pena, she gets on top and looks for a top position headlock. Pena fights up and looks for a takedown but settles for a clinch. Pennington lands a knee to the body then pushes free. Again they split a few jabs. Pennington backs Pena to the fence and lands a left hand. Another right from Pennington lands. A few more jabs from Pennington then a bit of a left hook to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Pennington, 38-38 overall

ROUND FIVE: They touch gloves for the final round. Pennington gets back to jabbing her way forward. They both miss rights. Pennington lands a jab. Pena misses a few punches. Pennington lands a couple of jabs. Right uppercut from Pennington partially lands. Pena lands a right hand. They trade punches in close. More jabs from Pennington, Pena seems to be slowing. Pena tries to clinch but Pennington separates. They do clinch and Pennington pushes Pena into the fence. Pennington lands a right hand and separates. More jabs from Pennington, she might be drowning Pena now. Pena does land a right hand. Pennington grabs a clinch then separates. A right from Pennington wobbles Pena, she gets on pressure and they trade a few punches but Pennington has the edge in things now. More jabs from Pennington as she’s got Pena backing into the fence. Bit of a left hook from Pennington. Pena fails on a clinch attempt. Pennington keeps firing the right hand and backing Pena up. Pennington with a left hook, 40 seconds left. They trade punches then Pena lands a right hand. Pennington punches her way forward and they trade jabs. Right hand from Pennington. Pennington lands a left hook after avoiding a right hand. One last blitz from Pennington as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Pennington, 48-47 Pennington overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – and NEW UFC bantamweight champion Julianna Pena via split decision (47-48, 48-47 x2)

OK, this just needs to be said, the judging tonight has been awful. That fight kind of sucked but Pena in no way took rounds 1, 4, or 5. Mic time for Pena, she isn’t happy to have gone the distance but is happy with the win. No reaction to anything she’s saying. She’s asked about Kayla Harrison and deflects to say she wants Amanda Nunes to come out of retirement and the crowd boos the heck out of her for that one.

Pennington gets an interview because this isn’t a long enough event already, she feels she won the fight and frankly I agree. She says it was probably 2-2 in the fifth and she did better work that round, but she’ll try and do better next time.

Khalil Rountree is on a five fight winning streak but the biggest name would be Anthony Smith and he’s largely getting this title shot based on the UFC deciding they’d rather not give it to Magomed Ankalaev. Despite the circumstances Rountree does have a pretty good record against former kickboxers who’ve come to MMA and he has a chance to shake up the MMA world if he claims the light heavyweight title. Alex Pereira is a former middleweight champion, is the reigning light heavyweight champion and has never lost at this weight class in MMA. Pereira has twice defended this title in 2024 and he’s looking for a third title defense here as well as setting up a potential superfight to either close out the year or start the next one. It’s not surprising to see Pereira as the favorite, though -470 on him leaves a +360 comeback on Rountree which might be playing with some fire given the volatility of the sport and power Rountree possesses.

Light Heavyweight Title Bout: (c) Alex Pereira (11-2, 205 lbs.) vs. #8 Khalil Rountree (13-5 1 NC, 205 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Pereira is three inches taller with two and a half inches of reach advantage. Southpaw for Rountree. Pereira tries a front kick but Rountree avoids it. Bit of a left from Rountree, he’s coming out swinging. Rountree blocks a body kick. Pereira avoids a few punches. Jab from Pereira. Pereira lands a calf kick. Rountree with a left, that partially lands. Glancing high kick from Pereira. Pereira lands a counter right hand. Another calf kick from Pereira. Rountree avoids a high kick but he falls short with his counter punches. A couple of jabs from Pereira land then a body kick and a calf kick. Rountree lands a right hook, he’s landing but not clean as the range is still a bit of a problem for him. Pereira fires a high kick that’s blocked. Right hook from Rountree mostly lands. Rountree keeps setting up blitz attacks but he’s struggling to get all the way to the target. Pereira misses a left hook. Jab from Pereira. Pereira lands a calf kick, those might be adding up already. A few more jabs from Pereira. Rountree circles away the final few seconds.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Pereira but who knows with how things have gone tonight

ROUND TWO: Pereira gets back to pressuring forward and lands a front kick. Rountree is looking to get his own jab working. Pereira lands a calf kick. Rountree avoids a high kick. Rountree catches a kick and lands a right hand. Right hand then a left hook from Pereira. Rountree is still willing to throw back but he’s finding less success. Pereira lands a calf kick. Rountree came into this fight with a slightly healed cut on his nose, it’s opened back up now. Pereira lands a couple more jabs then has a high kick blocked. Front kick from Pereira. Rountree is falling just a hair short on his punches. Pereira lands another calf kick. Rountree misses a left hand. Pereira keeps stalking forward and lands a jab then avoids the counters. Rountree avoids a high kick and lands a right hand, Pereira recovers but he did feel that one. Pereira back on pressure and avoids a couple of punches. A few more jabs from Pereira land. Rountree with a counter blitz, he partially lands one punch out of that sequence. Right hand from Pereira. Rountree lands a high kick as the last blow of the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Rountree, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: Pereira gets back on pressure and is pushing Rountree towards the fence. Bit of a right from Pereira, Rountree fires back with a left hand. Rountree is starting to feel things now. Jab from Pereira. Rountree with a right hook to the kidney. Bit of a high kick from Pereira. Rountree lands a left to the body. Left hook then a right hand from Pereira. Pereira lands a jab but Rountree counters with a left. Calf kick from Pereira. Another calf kick from Pereira, that lead leg of Rountree is feeling pretty bad. Pereira lands another calf kick, he ate a couple of body shots but that lead leg of Rountree is visibly compromised. Rountree lands a left hand to counter a high kick. Pereira just gives you such little space, he lands a jab then avoids the counters. Rountree has a high kick blocked, then blocks one from Pereira. Pereira with a couple of jabs then a left hook. A few more jabs from Pereira then a body kick. Jumping knee from Pereira partially lands, Rountree didn’t like that earlier body kick. Pereira lands a calf kick, Rountree is looking a little beat up now. More jabs from Pereira, Rountree is game but he’s getting broken down. Pereira lands a combination then a couple of knees in close to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Pereira, 29-28 Pereira overall

ROUND FOUR: Pereira lands a jab to start the round. A few leg kicks go back and forth then Pereira with a front kick and a right hand. Pereira pokes out some more jabs then lands a calf kick. Another calf kick from Pereira, Rountree’s lead leg is compromised. Pereira with more calf kicks then a jab. Front kick from Pereira, Rountree is not reacting well to these blows and his right eye is swelling up. Pereira keeps landing the jab and backing up Rountree. Counter right from Pereira cracks Rountree then a body kick, Pereira is starting to really flow now, he’s slipping and countering rather than resetting. Rountree is still throwing but he’s messed up by this point. Uppercut from Pereira is mostly blocked. Counter right again from Pereira, his hands are getting lower now though. A couple clubbing rights from Pereira, he’s hunting Rountree down and just batters him along the fence. Rountree is still moving a bit but they could stop this one. Pereira with some jabs then a right hook. Hard right from Pereira. Rountree throws back with a left but Pereira then hits him three times. Pereira with a combination then a knee, he’s got a clinch and lands more knees then a flurry of punches. Rountree is fighting in slow motion now, he’s all heart but he’s done and Pereira crumples him with body shots to prompt the stoppage.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – and STILL UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira via TKO, punches, at 4:32 of Round 4

That could have been stopped a little sooner than it was, I’m not saying it was horrifically late but it was clear at one point during that round how this was going to go. Mic time for Pereira and the translator, he says this was one of the toughest fights he’s had and puts over Rountree as an opponent. He talks us through the finish and notes they were waiting to let Rountree use energy in the first couple of rounds then slow and take over. Asked about the future he says he can move up to heavyweight but feels good at light heavyweight for now, noting that a training partner of his in Sean Strickland is getting the next middleweight title show so he wont get in the way of that.

Rountree gets an interview as well, that cut over his right eye would have stopped this fight if the ref didn’t, and he talks about doing this for a long time and was excited to embrace the moment all the way to right now. He wasn’t surprised by too much, he thought he could hit Pereira more than he did but admits he got baited and countered. He thanks the fans for embracing him during his time here and he’d love to train more here and fight at altitude again in the future.

Well on that note UFC 307 comes to a close. This was not a very good night of fights, and featured one of the dodgiest nights of judging I’ve seen in a while. But we’ll be breaking down all the results from this event on the 411 Ground and Pound MMA podcast tomorrow evening and looking ahead to the return to the warehouse next week. I’ll be back next week for that card, it’s got a good main event at least of Brandon Royval vs. Tatsuro Taira, and I hope you’ll be back as well. Until next time stay safe out there and keep checking 411mania for all of your pop culture needs.

More Trending Stories

article topics :

UFC 307, Robert Winfree

More Stories

loading
About us privacy policy contact us

Copyright © 2024 411mania.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
Click here for our privacy policy. Please help us serve you better, fill out our survey.
Use of this site signifies your agreement to our terms of use.