Alex Pereira was impressive and brutal in the main event of UFC 307.
The UFC light heavyweight champion scored a vicious fourth-round TKO win over Khalil Rountree Jr. in a punishing and high-IQ performance. Rountree proved he was a dangerous striker and performed well.
However, he ultimately ran into a champion who was even better at the stand-up game. Thanks to both fighters’ efforts, the main event won Fight of the Night bonuses.
Here is a look at the finish:
Rountree scored a knockdown in the second round after Pereira missed a head kick. The challenger followed up with a hard right hand that momentarily dropped the champion.
It was near the end of the round, and Pereira looked more stunned than hurt, but it was a confidence-building moment for Rountree. Unfortunately for him, Pereira turned up the pressure in the third round.
He began to find a home for his signature calf kicks, which opened up a punishing jab and some nicely placed teep kicks. By the end of the third round, Rountree was reeling, and it was clear he needed to do something to stem the tide before heading into the fourth round.
He could not do that as Pereira’s dominance went to another level, and he battered Rountree until a pair of body shots folded him to cause the finish. Pereira’s title defense was his third at light heavyweight, and he’s now 9-1 in the UFC overall. Some critics believed Pereira should have fought No. 1 contender Magomed Ankalaev this fight instead of Rountree.
There is merit to that concept. However, Ankalaev has a big fight later this month against Aleksandr Rakic. If he wins, which is expected, he will get the next shot at Pereira, per Dana White.
Whenever that fight gets booked, it will have a tough act to follow as the UFC 307 main event was one of the best of Pereira’s career, and Rountree’s stock will rise–even in defeat..
UFC 307 Pay-Per-View card Results
- (c) Alex Pereira def. Khalil Rountree Jr. via TKO in Round 4 – Pereira retains the UFC light heavyweight championship.
- Julianna Peña def. (c) Raquel Pennington via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29) – Pena wins the UFC women’s bantamweight championship
- Mario Bautista def. Jose Aldo via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Roman Dolidze def. Kevin Holland via TKO at 5:00 of Round 1 (Holland was Injured in the first round and couldn’t continue)
- Kayla Harrison def. Ketlen Vieira via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
UFC 307 Preliminary Card Results
- Joaquin Buckley def. Stephen Thompson via KO at 2:17 of Round 3
- Iasmin Lucindo def. Marina Rodriguez via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Alexander Hernandez def. Austin Hubbard via split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)
- Cesar Almeida def. Ihor Potieria via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
UFC 307 Early Preliminary Card Results
- Ryan Spann def. Ovince Saint Preux via submission at 1:35 of Round 1 (Guillotine)
- Tecia Pennington defeats Carla Esparza via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
- Court McGee defeats Tim Means via submission at 3:19 of Round 1 (Rear-Naked Choke)