UFC 307: Alex Pereira aims to continue an incredible 2024

Michael Bolton

All eyes will be on Alex Pereira once again as he defends his light-heavyweight title against Khalil Rountree Jr at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City.

Pereira has defended his title twice already this year. A first round knockout win over Jamall Hill at UFC 300 was followed by a second round knockout of Jiri Prochazka at UFC 303.

Except for Israel Adesanya, nobody in the UFC has been able to figure out how to stop the power of Pereira, with his left hook one of the most dangerous weapons in the sport.

His head kick knockout of Prochazka showed how dangerous he is, and he is continuing to learn in the sport.

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Standing across from him in the octagon at UFC 307 is Rountree, who comes into the bout on a five-fight win streak, with his last win over former title challenger Anthony Smith last December.

Rountree has power of his own, and despite coming into the fight as a big underdog, will keep it standing as his best route to victory.

The fight will likely end in a knockout, and early, but for who is the question.

In the co-main event, Raquel Pennington makes the first defence of her bantamweight title when she faces former champion Julianna Pena.

In her 18th fight, Pennington finally captured UFC gold when she defeated Marya Bueno Silva at UFC 297 in January.

A veteran of the sport, Pennington will leave everything in the octagon, with her pressure and toughness making her a difficult opponent for anyone.

For Pena, this is her first fight since losing the belt two years ago to Amanda Nunes at UFC 277. She shocked the world with the victory over Nunes at UFC 269, but has not won since then.

Pena will attempt to get this fight to the ground, where she can use her submissions as a path to victory. While Pennington as the advantage on the feet, Pena has showed she can end the fight once it gets to the ground.

Elsewhere in the main card at UFC 307, Jose Aldo continues his return to the sport when he takes on Mario Bautista.

Aldo announced his retirement in 2022, following his defeat to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 278 at the venue he will be fighting in Saturday.

However, he made a victorious return to the sport at UFC 301 in Brazil when he battled to a decision victory over Jonathan Martinez.

His opponent Bautista, comes into Saturday's bout on a six-fight win streak, with latest win over Ricky Simon in January.

Aldo will use his leg kicks and jab to stop the pressure of Bauista, who will do everything he can yo breakdown the takedown defence of Aldo.

Victory for Aldo could put him in position for a big name fight, with the former featherweight champion aiming for a fast strack to the title.

Fights to watch

The next challenger for the women's bantamweight title could be confirmed by the end of UFC 307, as Kayla Harrison takes on Ketlen Vieira.

A former champion in PFL, Harrison made her highly anticipated debut in the UFC by submitting Holly Holm at UFC 300.

Her wrestling, which helped her win gold in Olympic judo, will be her guide to victory. Whether it be through ground and pound or submissions, Harrison's opponents are always in danger when the fight gets to the ground.

Standing across from her in the octagon is Vieira, who has won five out of her last six fights. Vieira has fallen short in the final hurdle of trying to earn a title shot, but a win against Harrison would make her impossible to deny.

Completing the main card, Kevin Holland takes on Roman Dolidze in the middleweight division.

Having moved between welterweight and middleweight, Holland steps up to 185 pounds once again, having come back to middleweight in his last win against Michel Oleksiejczuk in June at UFC 302.

Always active, this is the third fight for Holland this year, with his exciting style and willingness to step up making him a fan favourite.

Dolidze last competed at light-heavyweight in his win over Anthony Smith at short notice at UFC 303.

Holland will use his striking and speed as a path to victory on the feet, while Dolidze will do what he can do to get the fight to the ground, and his grappling and size advantage as a path to victory.

In the prelims, Stephen Thompson will face Joaquin Buckley in the welterweight division in what should be an exciting battle in striking.

Thompson is regarded as one of the best at striking the UFC has seen, but is now in the twilight of his career.

Standing across from him on Saturday is Buckley, who has won four fights in a row since dropping to welterweight. Buckley has shown he can end the fight at any moment with his power.

The patience of Thompson, who will look to keep Buckley on the outside, against the speed and power of Buckley should be fascinating.

In the early prelims, the UFC says goodbye to a former champion, as two-time strawweight champion Carla Ezparsa takes on Tecia Pennington in her final MMA bout.

The action gets underway at 1am Sunday, with live coverage on TnT Sport.