UFC 307: Post-Fight Analysis

Executive Summary: UFC 307, held on October 5th, 2024, in Salt Lake City, Utah, delivered a mixed bag of results, highlighted by Alex Pereira’s brutal TKO victory over Khalil Rountree Jr. to retain his light heavyweight title. The event also saw controversial decisions, notable retirements, and impressive knockout performances. While Pereira’s performance was widely praised, several other fights sparked significant debate and criticism regarding judging and officiating. The event generated considerable buzz across various social media platforms and MMA news outlets.

Title Fights & Main Events

Alex Pereira Retains Title with Brutal TKO Victory

Alex Pereira successfully defended his light heavyweight title against Khalil Rountree Jr. in a main event that ended in a fourth-round TKO. Pereira dominated the fight, utilizing precise striking and devastating calf kicks to break down Rountree. Rountree showed resilience, but ultimately succumbed to the champion’s power and precision. The victory solidified Pereira’s status as a dominant force in the light heavyweight division. Multiple sources describe the fight as a brutal but decisive win for Pereira.
ESPN (2 hours ago), Forbes (2 hours ago), New York Post (1 hour ago), Bleacher Report (3 hours ago), UFC.com (2 hours ago)

Julianna Peña Wins Controversial Bantamweight Title Fight

Julianna Peña defeated Raquel Pennington for the bantamweight title in a closely contested fight that sparked significant controversy. The decision was met with outrage on social media, with many believing Pennington deserved the win. This division is now significantly shaken up with Pennington’s loss.
MMA Junkie (3 hours ago), MMA Fighting (4 hours ago), Action Network (9 hours ago), Forbes (1 hour ago)

Notable Fights & Performances

Kevin Holland Suffers Painful Rib Injury, Loses to Roman Dolidze

Kevin Holland suffered a painful rib injury in the first round of his fight against Roman Dolidze, forcing him to withdraw from the contest. Dolidze was declared the winner via TKO. Conor McGregor voiced his opinion on Holland’s performance and early exit.
Bloody Elbow (4 hours ago), MMA Fighting (5 hours ago), ESPN (2 hours ago)

Kayla Harrison Wins, Calls for Title Shot

Kayla Harrison survived a tough fight against Ketlen Vieira, securing a victory that she believes warrants a title shot. Her performance was strong enough to solidify her position as a top contender.
CBS Sports (5 hours ago), Forbes (3 hours ago), MMA Fighting (6 hours ago)

Joaquin Buckley’s Impressive Knockout Victory

Joaquin Buckley delivered a spectacular knockout victory over Stephen Thompson with a leaping punch. The knockout earned him a Performance of the Night bonus and a callout of Kamaru Usman.
MMA Junkie (6 hours ago), MMA Fighting (6 hours ago), BJPenn.com (2 hours ago)

Controversies & Reactions

Controversial Judging and Officiating

UFC 307 saw multiple controversial decisions, leading to widespread criticism of the judges and officiating. Dana White himself called the judging "atrocious." The scoring of several fights sparked significant debate and calls for improved judging standards.
MMA Junkie (1 hour ago), Bloody Elbow (7 hours ago), Reddit (5 hours ago)

Carla Esparza Retires After Loss

Former strawweight champion Carla Esparza announced her retirement from MMA following a close loss at UFC 307. Her retirement marked the end of a significant career in the sport.
Fall River Herald News (8 hours ago), ESPN (8 hours ago), MMA Junkie (8 hours ago)