UFC 307 in Salt Lake City delivered a 12-fight card headlined by two title bouts. Julianna Peña regained the women’s bantamweight title in the co-main event, winning a split decision against Raquel Pennington. With Peña back on top, will Kayla Harrison be her next challenger? Andreas Hale and Brett Okamoto break down the biggest moments from a dramatic night of fights.
The Spooky Dominance of Alex Pereira
Hale: As UFC 307 kicked off the month of October, it felt only fitting that Alex Pereira channeled his inner Michael Myers, the stoic and relentless killer from the Halloween series. His expressionless face and calculated approach made him appear terrifyingly unstoppable.
Few expected Khalil Rountree Jr. to stop Pereira, but many anticipated a finish in this light heavyweight title clash. And Pereira delivered, systematically breaking down his opponent with a lethal combination of calf kicks and precise jabs, even as he faced adversity. Rountree briefly dropped Pereira with a counter punch in the second round, but the champ stayed composed, sticking to his game plan and exhausting his challenger.
Despite being down 29-28 on all three scorecards entering the fourth round, Pereira’s relentless pressure eventually took its toll. He finished Rountree with a vicious series of punches, including body shots that crumbled the contender.
Pereira’s dominance may not be as rapid as Ronda Rousey’s legendary run, but it’s arguably more destructive. Four wins, four knockouts. Next up, he might look to challenge for a heavyweight title or return to middleweight to face Dricus Du Plessis. But for now, he seems comfortable staying put, with a likely rematch against grappler Magomed Ankalaev looming.
Kayla Harrison: The Queen the Bantamweight Division Needs
Okamoto: Kayla Harrison’s win on Saturday wasn’t her most impressive, but it was crucial. The women’s bantamweight division desperately needs her presence.
Without Harrison, this division would be struggling to stay afloat. While Peña and Pennington put on a solid title fight, it lacked the star power and drama needed to revitalize the division. Amanda Nunes’ retirement left a massive void, and Harrison is the only fighter capable of filling it.
Looking at the division’s rankings only underscores the problem. Chelsea Chandler (6-3) is ranked No. 15, Germaine de Randamie, inactive for four years, is No. 13, and Yana Santos, who’s 1-3 in her last four fights, sits inside the top 10. This division is barely hanging on.
Harrison called herself the queen, and love her or hate her, she’s right. The bantamweight division’s survival depends on her, and without her, it may not last another year.
Cookie Monster’s Bittersweet Farewell
Okamoto: Carla Esparza’s UFC career ended with a close, difficult-to-score fight, but the Salt Lake City crowd gave her a warm sendoff.
Esparza wasn’t known for exciting performances—many of her wins and losses were split decisions—but her ability to neutralize her opponents while staying true to her style made her a respected figure in the sport. She won 19 fights over a 14-year career, became a two-time champion, and helped establish the women’s strawweight division.
Though her fighting style was never fan-friendly, Esparza earned the respect of the MMA world, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see her inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame someday.
