Defending champ Alex Pereira wins by TKO at UFC 307

Updated

Oct 06, 2024, 06:01 PM

Published

Oct 06, 2024, 04:22 PM

SALT LAKE CITY – Brazil’s Alex Pereira roared back from a poor start to knock out Khalil Rountree Jr and retain his light heavyweight title at UFC 307 at the Delta Centre on Oct 5, while in the co-main event Julianna Pena beat Raquel Pennington to reclaim the women’s bantamweight crown.

American Rountree’s lightning-fast striking posed a problem in the early going for Pereira, and a right-hand counter from an awkward angle briefly dropped the Brazilian in the second round.

Wary of his opponent’s power, Pereira struggled to land telling combinations but the tide began to turn in the third round as he targeted Rountree’s lead leg with calf kicks to slow him down, and a body kick and a stiff jab early in the fourth signalled the beginning of the end.

Rountree did his best to stand his ground but Pereira was merciless, stalking his opponent around the cage and landing thunderous punches to leave blood streaming from a number of cuts.

Two heavy body shots and an uppercut finally broke Rountree’s resistance late in the round as the fight was stopped.

A former champ at middleweight, Pereira has hinted at a move to heavyweight to try to secure a third belt, but his relationship with champion Dricus du Plessis means he will not be doing so just yet.

“He’s a training partner of mine,” the 37-year-old said in a post-fight interview. “I don’t want to get in his way.

“I can move up to heavyweight, but this division is great.

“I feel great with this weight cut and this is where I’m at.”

Pena, meanwhile, recaptured the women’s bantamweight title by earning a split decision against Pennington.

The judges scored the fight 48-47, 47-48 and 48-47 in favour of Pena, who was fighting for the first time since she lost by unanimous decision against Amanda Nunes in July 2022.

Pena landed more total strikes (123-112) but the two fighters had the same number of significant strikes (92) as Pennington saw her six-fight unbeaten streak come to an end.

Mario Bautista beat Jose Aldo by split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) in a bantamweight bout for his seventh victory in a row.

Roman Dolidze defeated Kevin Holland after their middleweight fight was stopped following the first round due to a gruesome rib injury. It was Dolidze’s second win this year and sixth in his past eight outings.

Kayla Harrison defeated Ketlen Vieira by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) in a bantamweight bout. REUTERS