UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira is set to defend his title at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City, Utah, on October 5, marking his fourth pay-per-view main event within 11 months. Pereira has quickly become a fan-favorite headliner, consistently delivering thrilling performances inside the Octagon.
Pereira, nicknamed “Poatan,” faces an unexpected challenger in Khalil Rountree Jr., the UFC’s No. 8 ranked light heavyweight. Since moving up from middleweight, Pereira has been unstoppable, holding a 4-0 record. His recent victories include back-to-back stoppages against Jiri Prochazka and Jamahal Hill. Rountree, who was originally scheduled to face Hill before a failed drug test postponed the bout, enters UFC 307 on a five-fight winning streak, with four of those wins coming via stoppage. Known for his devastating striking power, Rountree will face one of the toughest challenges of his career against the two-division Glory kickboxing champion and two-division UFC titleholder Pereira.
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Co-Main Event: Raquel Pennington vs. Julianna Pena
The co-main event for UFC 307 sees Raquel Pennington defending her UFC women’s bantamweight title against former champion Julianna Pena. Pennington secured the vacant belt in January after defeating Mayra Bueno Silva, extending her win streak to six fights. Julianna Pena, meanwhile, has not competed since losing the title to Amanda Nunes in July 2022. However, Pena previously shocked the MMA world by submitting Nunes in one of the biggest upsets in UFC history just six months prior. With both fighters having something to prove, this co-main event promises to be an intense showdown.
Aljamain Sterling Pulls Out Due to Injury
Unfortunately, former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling has pulled out of his scheduled featherweight bout against Movsar Evloev at UFC 307 due to a shoulder injury. Sterling, who was set to make his second appearance as a featherweight following his title loss to Sean O’Malley in August 2023, explained the situation on his YouTube channel.
“In sparring I had an injury,” Sterling stated in a video showing footage of his shoulder issue. “I did stem cells. I took time off. I tried to rehab it as much as I could and as best I could with the [UFC Performance Institute]. Unfortunately, it’s out of my hands now.”
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Sterling, ranked No. 9 in the featherweight division, had hoped to face Evloev, who is undefeated and currently holds the No. 6 spot in the rankings. Although Sterling’s shoulder will not require surgery, he hopes the fight can be rescheduled for December.
Evloev, who hasn’t competed since his decision victory over Arnold Allen in January, was on track for a major test against Sterling. With previous wins over tough opponents like Diego Lopes and Dan Ige, Evloev’s momentum continues, although the search for a new opponent is ongoing.
Complete UFC 307 Fight Card and Odds
Here’s a full rundown of the UFC 307 fight card, along with the latest betting odds:
- Alex Pereira (c) -450 vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. +350, light heavyweight title
- Raquel Pennington (c) -180 vs. Julianna Pena +150, women’s bantamweight title
- Joaquin Buckley -165 vs. Stephen Thompson +140, welterweight
- Mario Bautista -155 vs. Jose Aldo +130, bantamweight
- Kevin Holland -150 vs. Roman Dolidze +125, middleweight
Movsar Evloev -230 vs. Aljamain Sterling +190, featherweight- Ketlen Vieira vs. Kayla Harrison, women’s bantamweight
- Marina Rodriguez vs. Iasmin Lucindo, women’s strawweight
- Cesar Almeida vs. Ihor Potieira, middleweight
- Carla Esparza vs. Tecia Pennington, women’s strawweight
Event Information
- Date: October 5
- Location: Delta Center, Salt Lake City
- Start Time: 10 p.m. ET (Main card)
- How to Watch: ESPN+ PPV
An Action-Packed Night Awaits
UFC 307 is shaping up to be an exciting event, with two title fights headlining the card. Pereira’s dominance in the light heavyweight division will be tested by the surging Rountree, while Pennington faces a dangerous challenge from a former champion in Pena. With a stacked undercard featuring established veterans and rising prospects, fight fans can expect a thrilling night of action. Be sure to tune in and catch all the action live from Salt Lake City.
