The UFC returns to Salt Lake City, Utah with the UFC 307 pay-per-view event taking place at the Delta Center. The card features a big light heavyweight title headliner as current champion Alex Pereira looks for his third title defense when he faces Khalil Rountree. The co-main event, is a women’s bantamweight title fight between current holder Raquel Pennington and Julianna Pena.
With plenty of other great fights, let’s take a look at all of the action taking place this weekend.
UFC 307 Prelim Card
The action kicks off with a welterweight bout between veterans Court McGee and Tim Means. This should be a straightforward win for Means even if the odds seem a lot closer with him as a favorite, but If you have followed McGee’s story you know he is never one to give up in a fight or life.
A women's strawweight bout between former champion Carla Esparza and Tecia Pennington is also on the card. Pennington is a slight favorite and should eek out a decision, and she will have enough time to get ready for her wife Raquel that is in the co-main event.
Ryan Spann takes on former title challenger Ovince Saint Preux in a light heavyweight tilt. Despite his three-fight losing streak, Spann should return to winning ways in this contest as the former football player OSP is well past his prime.
Cesar Almeida battles Ihor Potieria in a middleweight affair. The Brazilian is a heavy favorite and should emerge victorious.
Austin Hubbard clashes with Alexander Hernandez in a lightweight tilt. Expect Hernandez to get the dub in this battle of Americans.
Marina Rodriguez takes on Iasmin Lucindo in a women's strawweight fight. Lucindo is the betting favorite and should come away with the win in this Brazilian battle of top 15 ranked fighters.
Former title challenger Stephen Thompson battles Joaquin Buckley in a welterweight bout in the featured prelim. Although Wonderboy’s striking is still at another level, he is 41 and Buckley could have enough power and youth to earn the biggest win of his career, and has the option to take the fight to the ground. I like the underdog Thompson to get the decision victory.
UFC 307 Main Card
Dolidze (13-3) vs Holland (26-11, 1NC)
The main card opener is an intriguing middleweight encounter between Roman Dolidze and Kevin Holland. Dolidze snapped a two-fight losing streak by outpointing Anthony Smith in a rather drab encounter back in June.
Overall, he is 7-3 in the UFC with five wins in his last seven outings. Holland also snapped a two-fight losing streak at welterweight when he returned to middleweight and submitted Michal Oleksiejczuk at UFC 302 in June. He will now look to climb back up the 185 rankings with a win over Dolidze.
This should be fairly competitive with Dolidze likely looking to take the fight to the ground which is where Holland struggled a lot in the weight class which led him to move down in the first place. Oddsmakers believe Holland and his striking has just about enough to get the victory.
Vieira (14-3) vs Harrison (17-1)
A pivotal women’s bantamweight fight is also on the main card as Ketlen Vieira takes on former PFL champion Kayla Harrison. Vieira is coming off a decision win over Pannie Kianzad back in July.
Overall, she has won three of her last four outings including wins over former champions Miesha Tate and Holly Holm. The Brazilian comes in as the #2 ranked contender.
Harrison, meanwhile, enjoyed an smashing UFC debut when she stopped Holly Holm at UFC 300 back in April. Other than one career defeat to Larissa Pacheco, the 34-year-old has been dominant in every other fight and will look to do the same against Vieira.
The winner of this fight will undoubtedly be next in line for a title shot and unfortunately for Vieira, it’s likely to be Harrison who is an overwhelming favorite.
Aldo (32-8) vs Bautista (14-2)
Former UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo returns to action when he takes on the up and comer Mario Bautista in a bantamweight clash. Aldo came out of retirement to beat another young contender in Jonathan Martinez via unanimous decision at UFC 301 back in May. He will now fight the final contest of his UFC contract where a win would make it five in his last six at the age of 38.
Bautista on the other hand will be looking for the biggest win of his career. After a shaky 2-2 start in the UFC, the 31-year-old is currently on an impressive six-fight winning streak. That run of wins includes victories over the likes of Brian Kelleher and Ricky Simon. An aging Aldo is still a massive step up, but the bookies believe Bautista should be good enough to edge out a win as the slight favorite. That said, Aldo should never be counted out even at this stage of his career.
Pennington (16-9) vs Pena (12-5)
The co-main event sees Raquel Pennington look to defend her women’s bantamweight title for the first time against former champion Julianna Pena. Pennington won the 135-pound strap after outpointing Mayra Bueno Silva back in January.
Overall, she is on a six-fight winning streak that also includes wins over Ketlen Vieira and Aspen Ladd.
Pena, meanwhile, will be returning to action for the first time since July 2022 when she lost the belt to Amanda Nunes in their rematch. Prior to that, she was on a two-fight winning streak with finishes over Sara McMann and of course, her shocking victory over Nunes back in December 2021.
The long layoff may play a role as Pennington is a slight betting favorite and is expected to defend her crown. With the Venezuelan Vixen’s power and explosiveness, I like the underdog to capture gold again.
Pereira (11-2) vs Rountree (14-5, 1NC)
The main event sees light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira defend his belt against the red-hot Khalil Rountree. Pereira recently defended his 205-pound crown for the second time when he knocked out Jiri Prochazka again in their rematch at UFC 303 back in June.
Prior to that, he knocked out Jamahal Hill in the first round of their UFC 300 headliner. Overall, “Poatan” has won his last four fights and is 8-1 in the UFC.
Rountree was a surprise opponent for Pereira, but he has been on a hot run himself. The American has won his last five fights with four of them coming by TKO. That run includes wins over Karl Roberson, Dustin Jacoby and most recently, Anthony Smith.
All that said, Pereira is on a different level compared to those fighters when it comes to striking and given that Rountree has never shot for a takedown, this looks likely to be a striking contest which favors the Brazilian kickboxer.
Despite this being his first five-round fight, Rountree has power, a Muay Thai base and will always have a puncher’s chance. Regardless, this looks like a tailor made matchup for Pereira who should rack up his third title defense in another highlight KO.
