UFC 307 looks impressive on paper. Alex Pereira will defend his title against Khalil Rountree Jr. in the main event, and that’s just one of the intriguing fights.
Will it live up to the hype? We’ll find out in less than 48 hours.
Here is everything you need to know about the potentially epic next PPV from the UFC.
- Date: Saturday, October 5
- Time: 6:30 pm ET (Early Prelims), 8 pm ET (Prelims) and 10 pm ET (Main Card)
- Location: Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah
- TV/Stream: Early Prelims on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass, Prelims on ESPN+, Main Card on ESPN+ PPV
Full UFC 307 Card
UFC 307 Main Card
- Alex Pereira (C) vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. – UFC Men’s Light Heavyweight Championship
- Raquel Pennington (C) vs. Julianna Peña – UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship
- José Aldo vs. Mario Bautista
- Ketlen Vieira vs. Kayla Harrison
- Roman Dolidze vs. Kevin Holland
UFC 307 Prelims
- Stephen Thompson vs. Joaquin Buckley
- Marina Rodriguez vs. Iasmin Lucindo
- Austin Hubbard vs. Alexander Hernandez
- Cesar Almeida vs. Ihor Potieria
UFC 307 Early Prelims
- Ryan Spann vs. Ovince Saint Preux
- Carla Esparza vs. Tecia Pennington
- Court McGee vs. Tim Means
UFC 307 Fight Card Preview
Very few fights on this card are devoid of an intriguing storyline or without high stakes attached.
It might be tough for fans to get into the Means-McGee opener. The two veterans are at the end of their careers; McGee is 39, and Means is 40. Who knows? One or both could leave their gloves in the center of the Octagon.
Carla Esparza has announced her fight with Tecia Pennington will be the last one of her career. The inaugural women’s strawweight champion owns a win over Pennington back when the two were on The Ultimate Fighter Season 20 in 2014.
Ryan Spann has been plummeting in the light heavyweight rankings, and he’ll clash with the ultimate gatekeeper in Ovince Saint Preux. He has lost three fights in a row. If Spann loses to Saint Preux, he could be in danger of getting released.
Cesar Almeida is one of the most dangerous strikers in the UFC, and he’s still new to MMA. Almeida owns a victory over Pereira in kickboxing. He should run through Ihor Potieria, and a win would push Almeida to the cusp of a Top-15 ranking in the UFC’s middleweight division.
Former Ultimate Fighter finalist Austin Hubbard faces another desperate veteran in Alexander Hernandez. At one time, Hernandez looked like a major prospect. However, he’s lost four of his last five and six of his previous nine fights, so he’s another one who could be fighting for his UFC life on Saturday.
Iasmin Lucindo is the fighter I pegged as the best of her age group in the UFC. The Brazilian is only 22 years old and looks like a future champion. She will get a massive test from Marina Rodriguez as the latter tries to hold on to her Top-10 ranking and slow Lucindo’s rise.
In the featured prelim, Stephen Wonderboy Thompson will face the brash and hard-charging Joaquin Buckley. If the latter wins, he could be ranked as high as No. 8 among welterweights next week. It’s a big fight for both men as Wonderboy tries to keep his fading championship-contending hopes alive.
Kevin Holland rarely has a boring fight, and he’ll be in with a guy in Roman Dolidze who has put on a few stinkers in his career. Dolidze has gone up and down between middleweight and light heavyweight, but his only losses have come to legit contenders like Nassourdine Imavov and Marvin Vettori. This fight will be great or terribly one-sided and boring. If it’s the latter, Dolidze will win easily.
Kayla Harrison could be the next superstar in the UFC. She looks like a future champion, and the Olympic gold medalist and former Professional Fighters League champion isn’t shy about trash talk. She went at it with her opponent on Saturday, Ketlen Viera, and a potential future opponent, Julianna Pena. The Harrison-Viera fight could have been the last undercard bout before the co-main event, as there is that much hype and attention around Harrison. I can’t wait for this one.
Jose Aldo is a legend, and what he’s doing in the bantamweight division at 38 years old is fantastic. He will take on Mario Bautista in the latest test of Aldo’s form in his advanced years. If Aldo wins, it will be one of the year’s biggest stories.
In the co-main event, Raquel Pennington will try to defend her title against a former champion in Pena. While no one among the UFC’s brass will admit it publicly, they all must hope Pena regains the title. Pennington likely has the least charisma of any current champion, and Pena is about as polarizing as anyone in the women’s divisions. Should they both win on Saturday, there is also a more natural, built-in rivalry with Harrison.
In the main event, Pereira, the man who has risen to become one of the biggest stars in combat sports, will defend his title against Rountree in what is considered to be a pure striking battle. Pereira has already become the ninth fighter in UFC history to win titles in two weight classes. Some doubt Rountree’s fitness for this opportunity as No. 1 contender Magomed Ankalaev seems like the guy who should have gotten this shot. As it is, Pereira-Rountree could be great. Both men have massive power, and it seems unlikely anyone will shoot for a takedown.
Watch for post-event coverage on Saturday night and early Sunday morning.
