Bautista has earned the right to be Aldo’s second opponent since returning from a short-lived retirement this past May, with the pair set to collide on the main card of Saturday’s UFC 307 pay-per-view.
In Rio de Janeiro earlier this year, the former featherweight king got the better of a Jonathan Martinez who admitted the Brazilian’s aura and legend status put him off on fight night.
When it comes to that danger, Bautista has little doubt about his ability to eliminate any and all admiration he has for Aldo when the cage door closes behind him…
Bautista Not Affected By Facing Legend Like Aldo
During a recent interview for UFC.com, Bautista looked ahead to the opportunity to secure the biggest scalp of his career to date in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The #11-ranked bantamweight noted that he used to enjoy watching Aldo during his WEC days and has fond memories of his UFC battles with Chad Mendes.
But while those remarks could perhaps arise worries of Bautista falling to the same fate as Martinez, the 31-year-old dismissed that as a concern.
“I don’t think it’s going to be like that,” said Bautista. “I’ve never really felt like that. Yeah, it’s going to be my first time, but I think someone trying to knock me out and fighting me, I’m not going to let it just happen. I’m not that type of person. So I don’t care who you are, if you’re trying to fight, I’m always willing and ready.
“Hey, we’re in there to fight. You’re trying to take my money. We’re fighting for the same spot. It’s my turn now. You’ve had your turn,” Bautista continued. “I’m sorry. That’s just the way I look at it. Maybe I’ll feel differently afterwards, but, as of now, I have to break him.”
Weāre deep into UFC 307 fight week, meaning it was recently time for the fighters set to be in action on October 5 to take to the stage and answer some questions.
Setting the stage for the headliners will be another title fight, with reigning bantamweight queen Raquel Pennington looking to record a first successful defense at the expense of returning former champ Julianna PeƱa.
The main card will also see the always entertaining Kevin Holland making the walk, as he shoots for the middleweight top 10 against Roman Dolidze.
As is customary during major fight weeks, the athletes took to the stage on Thursday for the pre-fight press conference. The UFC 307 edition saw every fighter set to make the walk on the main card in two daysā time with mic in hand.
Check out a full replay of the presser below via the UFCās official YouTube channel, followed by all the highlights and faceoffs.
Adesanya is only all too familiar with the devastating impact of Pereira’s strikes, particularly his infamous leg kicks, which have earned widespread acclaim for their potency.
Adesanya understands better than most that Pereiraās crushing power isnāt confined to his fists alone. Though his nickname “Poatan” means “Stone Hands,” the Brazilian’s leg kicks are equally as destructive.
Adesanya Admits ‘It’s A Different Feeling’ When Pereira’s Leg Kicks Connect
During a recent appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, “The Last Stylebender” reflected on his UFC clashes with Pereira. Adesanya specifically revisited their encounter at UFC 281, where he lost his middleweight crown to “Poatan.” He noted that he was in control for the first two rounds, but once Pereira unleashed his brutal leg kicks, the momentum shifted.
The former two-time 185-pound champion elaborated on the mechanics behind Pereira’s striking, highlighting how he executes such devastating blows. Adesanya likened the reigning UFC light heavyweight champion’s forefoot to a hammer.
“That f**king leg kick, bro,” Adesanya said. “You know what it is. If you look at this bit of his foot [forefoot], it’s like a hammer, like the back of a hammer because that’s what he kicks you with, so he doesn’t have to turn the hip over. And when he hits you with that, even because of his bone density and long legs, when he hits you with that, you just feel it like, ‘Oo, that’s bad.’”
“It’s a different feeling because I’ve been kicked by kickboxers all my life on the thigh and on the calf as well, but when he hits you with that bit, it’s just the surface so small, it travels and transfers through your whole calf, and you’re like, ‘Oh, I can’t put weight on this.’”
“Poatan” is set to defend his championship against Khalil Rountree in the main event of UFC 307, taking place this weekend at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Pereira enters this matchup on a high, following his stunning second-round knockout of Jiri Prochazka at UFC 303 this past June.
There's no one like Poatan š¹@AlexPereiraUFC looks for his THIRD title defense in 2024!
The main event will see Alex Pereira attempt to record his third successful title defense of 2024. Following on from knockout wins over Jamahal Hill at UFC 300 and JiÅĆ ProchĆ”zka at UFC 303, “Poatan” will headline another PPV, this time against a surprise challenger in #8-ranked light heavyweight Khalil Rountree.
Co-headlining will be another titleholder in Raquel Pennington, who returns nine months on from her crowning to defend the women’s bantamweight belt against fellow TUF 18 competitor Julianna PeƱa, who has been out of action for over two years.
Ahead of Saturdayās UFC 307 event, Kyle Dimond, Ryan Jarrell, Thomas Albano, Pranav Pandey, and Aakrit Sharma have provided their picks for the five matchups set for the main card.
Below, you can check out the current leaderboard through six cards.
Thomas Albano (23-6)
Ryan Jarrell (17-12)
Kyle Dimond (15-14)
Andrew Starc (8-11)
Pranav Pandey (4-6)
Aakrit Sharma (2-3)
And with that, itās time for the teamās predictions for UFC 307.
Middleweight: Roman Dolidze vs. Kevin Holland
Images: UFC.com
Kyle Dimond: Holland up at middleweight against a grappler just seems like a recipe for disaster. Considering that Dolidze has fought up at light heavyweight, that only makes me more confident in him being able to take Holland down and hold him there. Enough said. (Prediction: Roman Dolidze)
Ryan Jarrell: This is a tricky fight to pick because I can see paths both men have to a victory here. I think Holland is the more polished striker and could be able to get the better of Dolidze on the feet. But the Georgian is a wild man and can mix things up and make it very dangerous for Holland. I expect Dolidze to have the bigger moments in this fight. I want to say he wins via TKO but Holland is tough, so the pick is Dolidze by decision. (Prediction: Roman Dolidze)
Thomas Albano: After his win over Anthony Smith, questions emerged about Roman Dolidze: will he try to go for another fight among the middleweight contender scene (after a loss to Nassourdine Imavov)? Or will he try his hand at 205 pounds again? Ultimately, he chooses the 185 route, replacing an injured Chris Curtis against Holland. “Big Mouth” has lost four of his last seven, though he enters off a win over MichaÅ Oleksiejczuk at UFC 302.
Nothing to say about this one other than striker vs. grappler ā simple as that. If this fight gets to the ground, Holland is in trouble. Even if heās improved his takedown defense game, Dolidze will be able to control the fight there. If Holland keeps the fight on the feet, then heāll be able to pick Dolidze apart. Admittedly, this is a coin flip, but I think Dolidze will have the chin and endurance to outlast Hollandās strikes ā and enough strength to take Holland to the ground. (Prediction: Roman Dolidze)
Pranav Pandey: From what I can gather, this matchup promises to be a true 50/50 affair, with both fighters showcasing their unique and dynamic styles that have consistently led them to success. Dolidze seemed a bit derailed after suffering the first back-to-back losses of his career, but “The Caucasian” rebounded spectacularly with a dominant performance against Smith at UFC 303. The Georgian packs some serious power in his hands and is equally adept in grappling.
As for Holland, he enjoys a notable reach advantage and displays impressive fluidity in his footwork, complemented by solid takedown defense. However, my only concern with “Trailblazer” is that, in his recent fights, he hasnāt appeared fully invested in competing and hasn’t looked as sharp as he once did. Despite this, you can never count Holland out. That said, I believe Dolidze will take this matchup, successfully keeping Holland at bay while leveraging his strengths. (Prediction: Roman Dolidze)
Aakrit Sharma: There are ways for both Holland and Dolidze to emerge victorious here. Dolidze can utilize his size and wrestling to shut down his opponentās offense, while Holland can rely on his speed and movement to overwhelm the Georgian on the feet. Holland has only suffered one TKO loss in his career, while Dolidze has never been finished via strikes or submission. Iām predicting the fight goes the distance and Holland wins via decision. Even if he gets taken down, āTrailblazerā has the potential to pull out a submission. (Prediction: Kevin Holland)
Consensus: 4-1 Roman Dolidze
Women’s Bantamweight: Ketlen Vieira vs. Kayla Harrison
Images: UFC.com
Kyle Dimond: I struggle to see how Vieira is able to make this fight competitive once Harrison gets hold of her. The big question ahead of her debut at UFC 300 was making bantamweight and, sure, it likely wasnāt an easy cut, but she made the weight and looked good inside the Octagon. The bantamweight division needs a big performance from her and a just as important post-fight interview. I donāt see anyone causing her too many problems in this division right now. I predict she’ll find a second-round TKO in Utah. (Prediction: Kayla Harrison)
Ryan Jarrell: The odds in this fight make it pretty hard to go against the American. We all know the insane skillset that Harrison possesses. I do think Vieira is a live underdog here, and I can see her surprising the masses and pulling off the upset. But that doesnāt mean I feel confident enough to pick her to beat the two-time Olympic gold medalist. Give me Harrison to win via second-round submission. (Prediction: Kayla Harrison)
Thomas Albano: There are plenty of people who feel Harrison should have been the one challenging for the womenās bantamweight title this weekend. But PeƱa played her cards right and it paid off. So Harrison, just in her second UFC fight, has to go against another dangerous name in the womenās 135-pound division in Vieira. The Brazilian, meanwhile, has won three of her last four, though she hasnāt fought since the summer of 2023. Vieraās most recent win came against Pannie Kianzad, and her other victories were decisions over Holm and Miesha Tate. Her only loss in this span? Raquel Pennington ā the current champ.
Stylistically, this could be a really good fight considering Vieira, with her own skillset in judo and jiu-jitsu, could try to have a grappling battle with the two-time Olympic gold medalist ā or try to use striking to counter Harrisonās game. That said, Harrison is just so good all around, putting that on display against Holm after building herself up with a pair of title wins in the PFL (and coming just short of a third). Harrison should be able to win this one and lock up a guaranteed shot against the Pennington vs. PeƱa winner. (Prediction: Kayla Harrison)
Pranav Pandey: I think this could be one of the most lopsided matchups weāll witness on Saturday night. Vieira is undeniably tough and has a solid grappling foundation, but the real question is whether she can keep someone like Harrison grounded ā and if so, for how long? In my opinion, Harrisonās sheer dominance is likely too overwhelming for the Brazilian to manage, making it an uphill battle for Vieira from the start. The two-time Olympic gold medalist will bring a fierce intensity no matter where the fight unfolds. Whether it’s on the feet, on the mat, or anywhere in between, her dynamic style is set to take control at every turn. (Prediction: Kayla Harrison)
Aakrit Sharma: Now that we know Harrison can make weight for the UFC womenās bantamweight division, I do not doubt sheāll be champion by the end of 2025, especially in Nunes’ absence. Harrison should rely on the same game plan that helped her win her UFC debut against Holly Holm, the wrestling. However, fighting at altitude following a brutal weight cut could be a problem for the Olympian and she should avoid trading shots with Vieira as the Brazilian possesses decent power and accuracy on the feet for the division.
Although Vieira boasts 93 percent takedown defense in the UFC, sheās yet to face someone as powerful and experienced as Harrison. Thanks to the constant takedown threat, Vieira might not be as comfortable and fluid on the feet as well, helping Harrison get an unexpected KO victory. (Prediction: Kayla Harrison)
Ryan Jarrell: Father Time has a pretty good track record unless your Tom Brady. But this is not football, and Bautista is a hungry, young Lion looking to make his mark against the legend in Aldo. This fight will be very competitive and Aldo will have his moments, but I believe Bautista is diverse enough to win a decision in what could be Fight of the Night. (Prediction: Mario Bautista)
Thomas Albano: Just when we thought Aldoās time in the Octagon was done, he comes back earlier this year to put on a solid performance against Martinez. Now, Aldo gets a lower-ranked contender in Bautista. Despite the Brazilianās age and brief retirement, he has won four of five fights heās had since December 2020. The only loss in that span came against current bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili. Bautista, meanwhile, is sporting a six-fight win streak that includes submissions of Brian Kelleher and Benito Lopez, as well as a decision over Ricky SimĆ³n in his most recent outing.
Pranav Pandey: Thereās no slowing down the āKing of Rio.ā After his return at UFC 301 following a hiatus, Aldo reminded everyone exactly why heās held in such legendary esteem. The Brazilian icon masterfully dismantled Martinez, showcasing his trademark distance control and fluid in-and-out striking, leaving his opponent with little room to counter. Despite entering the sunset years of his illustrious career, the former 145-pound kingpin remains fully engaged, showing no signs of losing his edge. But while itās tough for me to go against Aldo, Bautista presents a serious challenge.
The American brings a well-rounded grappling game, seamlessly blending feints with takedowns, and has been on an impressive run lately. The real question, though, is whether Bautista can apply enough pressure to disrupt Aldo’s rhythm. I believe he can. Bautistaās youth, freshness, and relentless pace, coupled with the potential impact of Utahās altitude, could very well wear Aldo down and make it difficult for him to keep up with such a high-octane style. (Prediction: Mario Bautista)
Aakrit Sharma: This is my FOTN contender for UFC 307. The Bautista that showed up in the third round against SimĆ³n was truly special. The pace, the volume, the accuracy, and the timing would trouble anyone in the UFC menās bantamweight division. Bautista is dangerous because he has several tools in his arsenal. He can kick, strike, and most importantly, hurt you with knees and elbows. For the rising American prospect, the path to victory should be to keep Aldo in the clinch and land in the pocket as much as possible. He has a great ground game and takedown defense, but itās unlikely to work against Aldo, who also boasts one of the highest takedown defense rates in UFC history.
UFC Women’s Bantamweight Title: Raquel Pennington vs. Julianna PeƱa
Images: UFC/Zuffa LLC
Kyle Dimond: This one is a really tough one to call. I think PeƱa at her best is probably better than Pennington, and I think Iād lean that way if it was over three rounds. This is one Iāve gone back and forth on and I can totally see another grinding performance from Pennington to retain the title. But, Iām gonna back PeƱa. My major concern is that she doesnāt have a win over anyone in the UFC righ tnow. However, many of Penningtonās wins havenāt been massively impressive either, so maybe that will level things out. (Prediction: Julianna PeƱa)
Ryan Jarrell: The dislike these two ladies have for one another will add to the build-up of this fight. However, I think the bout itself will be somewhat of a snooze fest. Mostly, because I believe PeƱa will dominate the wrestling and grappling exchanges and spend a lot of time in top control. I expect “The Venezuelan Vixen” to win a decision here. (Prediction: Julianna PeƱa)
Thomas Albano: Itās not the most popular choice of fight, but thereās credit that has to be given out. The unpopular manner Pennington won the womenās bantamweight championship at the start of the year does not fall all on her. And though PeƱa has not fought since UFC 277, and has complained about not receiving a trilogy fight with Amanda Nunes, sheās got another opportunity at the title now. In fairness, PeƱa did score one of MMAās greatest upsets when she finished Nunes at UFC 269. There is certainly merit to her game. Pennington, meanwhile, was pretty dominant when she won the then-vacant title at UFC 297 in a fight with Mayra Bueno Silva that went the distance ā a fight that honestly showed Bueno Silva did not belong there.
These two ladies are two of the best that the UFCās 135-pound division has to offer. Both these two also have history with one another as members of Team Tate during season 18 of The Ultimate Fighter – which PeƱa won, with Pennington falling in the semifinals. Pennington is the defending champion and is on a six-fight win streak, but I feel that PeƱa just has more power, a better well-rounded skillset, and better wins and experience in terms of competition. That may probably play out on Saturday night with āThe Venezuelan Vixenā getting the gold back. (Prediction: Julianna PeƱa)
Pranav Pandey: This matchup between Pennington and PeƱa is one that, in my view, could swing in either direction at any moment. Pennington, the reigning champion, comes in riding the wave of a five-fight win streak. Known for her relentless pace, “Rocky” brings a high-volume striking game that methodically wears down her opponents over the course of a fight. However, Penningtonās lack of knockout power often pushes her bouts to go the distance, which could be a disadvantage against someone as tough and relentless as PeƱa.
“The Venezuelan Vixen” is a durable powerhouse with an unwavering pace, constantly pressuring her adversaries with ceaseless activity. Sheās not the type to let her opponents settle into their rhythm easily, and against someone like Pennington, sheāll be looking to turn this into a gritty war. The way I see it, Pennington will undoubtedly have her moments of success, but PeƱa possesses the full arsenal needed to prevail and reclaim the championship. (Prediction: Julianna PeƱa)
Aakrit Sharma: As a womenās UFC fighter, itās hard to have a bigger flex than beating Nunes. However, the rematch being a complete shutout definitely hurt PeƱaās brand, with many questioning this title shot against Pennington. I do believe PeƱa to be tough and skilled enough to grab the belt from “Rocky,” though.
“The Venezuelan Vixen” should benefit greatly from setting the pace of the fight early on and mixing things up, as taking down the UFC womenās bantamweight champion wonāt be an easy task. Sheāll have to give the champ several things to worry about for winning on the scorecards as I donāt think either of them will be finished. My pick for this one is PeƱa winning by decision. (Prediction: Julianna PeƱa)
Consensus: 5-0 Julianna PeƱa
UFC Light Heavyweight Title: Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree
Images: UFC.com
Kyle Dimond: I like watching Rountree a lot. His striking style is tons of fun to watch. He also certainly has the power and skill to knock anyone in this division out. I would have liked to have seen the Jamahal Hill fight first, though, because frankly, Iām not sure I could back anyone to beat Pereira when their best win is Anthony Smith.
Rountree is dangerous, but when youāre talking about Pereira, youāre talking about an all-time great in kickboxing. āPoatanā could get caught if heās overly aggressive, but I think heāll pick Rountree apart before ending it in the second. (Prediction: Alex Pereira)
Ryan Jarrell: Iām excited for this fight. We all know the power that both of these guys possess. It should make for an exciting finish one way or another. As much as I like Rountree, I just donāt see him as a champion. I think the four-inch reach advantage that Pereira has will be the difference in this fight. Give me “Poatan” via second-round TKO. (Prediction: Alex Pereira)
Thomas Albano: I donāt want to come off like a Rountree hater ā he has seemed like a cool dude in the interviews that he does. And stylistically, this fight can be fun considering how these two can be creative and powerful as strikers. Having said that (and yes, I know the UFCās ranking system is skewed, but neverthelessā¦) why is the #8 contender getting a title shot? I truly feel that the UFC probably wanted Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway for this card. But with that fight moved to UFC 308, and the UFC probably wanting a better headliner than Pennington vs. PeƱa, they called up Pereira to save their butts (again).
Pereira has retained the light heavyweight title against JiÅĆ ProchĆ”zka and Jamahal Hill. Rountreeās win streak, meanwhile, has seen him go through the likes of Smith, Chris Daukaus, and Karl Roberson. This will be a calculated kickboxing-style matchup as both men look for the key opportunity to land a devastating shot on the other. Unfortunately for Rountree, Pereiraās strikes are just too powerful, and heās dominated against much stronger competition. Youāll see a frenzy if Rountree gets the win (lest anything else in the second half of 2024 UFC be crazier), but Pereira should probably take this in the first six minutes or so. (Prediction: Alex Pereira)
Pranav Pandey: From where I stand, this clash is one of the most direct and explosive matchups on the UFC 307 card. With both Pereira and Rountree being strikers, I don’t foresee any room for grappling or takedowns coming into play. Rountree has proven time and again that he can weather the storm against elite-tier kickboxers, and respond with even greater force. “The War Horse” boasts a lethal kicking arsenal, complemented by knockout power in his fists. However, ‘Poatan’ is far from an ordinary kickboxer, having carved a path through several former champions during his brief yet immensely successful tenure in the Octagon.
“Poatan’s” exceptional fight IQ and thunderous striking ability allow him to methodically dismantle his opponents. Rountree will need to close the distance early to nullify Pereira’s reach, but doing so may leave him dangerously exposed to Pereira’s counters, particularly his devastating left hook. I believe Pereiraās significant reach advantage, along with the unrelenting ferocity in his attacks, will overwhelm Rountree and make it incredibly difficult for him to land his best shots. The Brazilianās calculated pressure and ability to dictate the fightās tempo will likely cause Rountree to unravel under the onslaught. (Prediction: Alex Pereira)
Aakrit Sharma: Yes, Rountree can pull off a huge upset against Pereira if he lands a good shot. Will he, though? āPoatanā just looks unstoppable at the moment, and it seems to be a matter of time before he finds his opponent’s chin one way or another. Considering Glover Teixeira corners and trains Pereira, I actually wonāt be surprised if the UFC light heavyweight champ shoots for a takedown and showcases some of his wrestling. Considering heās already mastered striking and kickboxing, Iām sure Pereira focuses a lot on filling the holes in his game to prepare for opponents like Magomed Ankalaev.
Rountreeās a great striker and his momentum through a five-fight win streak is undeniable. āThe War Horseā can trouble the champ with leg kicks and powerful shots, but I simply donāt see anyone taking out Pereira on the feet. (Prediction: Alex Pereira)
Consensus: 5-0 Alex Pereira
Thatāll do it for our UFC 307 staff picks! What do you think? Do your picks look similar? Let us know in the comments section! Also, you can check out the full UFC 307 card below.
Main Card:
Light Heavyweight Championship: Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree
Women’s Bantamweight Championship: Raquel Pennington vs. Julianna PeƱa
Joaquin Buckley recently lavished praise on Impa Kasanganay for his remarkable career resurgence following a devastating viral knockout loss.
Buckley and Kasanganay faced off at a Fight Night event in October 2020, but for ‘Tshilobo,’ his second appearance in the Octagon turned out to be disastrous. In the second round, he found himself on the receiving end of a spectacular jump spin kick to the face, resulting in a jaw-dropping knockout.
Following the setback, the 30-year-old Florida man, with a mix of one win and one loss, exited the UFC. Kasanganay then embarked on a brief journey through smaller promotions before ultimately finding his home in the PFL in March 2023.
After racking up three impressive victories, he secured the PFLās light heavyweight title and a $1 million prize in the 2023 league tournament. Kasanganay currently boasts an 8-1 record in the PFL, with his sole defeat coming by way of a narrow split decision against the undefeated Johnny Eblen this past February at the PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions event.
Buckley Says Kasanganay Transformed His Memorable Loss Into Launchpad For Success
During a recent interview with MMA journalist Kevin Iole, Buckley was prompted to share his thoughts on Kasanganay’s achievements following his departure from the UFC. “New Mansa” expressed high admiration for Kasanganay’s abilities, revealing that the former PFL champion transformed his devastating loss into a powerful source of motivation, propelling his career forward.
“Of course [I feel a kinship with him], no hate in my blood,” Buckley said. “I love what Impa was able to do; he didn’t dwell on that moment; he used that moment, and he let it fuel him. He let it push him. A lot of people will talk about whatever they want to say about his skill set because he fought me, but he’s a very talented fighter, if not a world-class fighter because he’s a world champion… Yet again for me, it also gives me a lot of light because, you know, I was able to beat a great fighter like that.”
It cannot be overstated how Alex Pereira’s success in MMA is partly down to the company that he chooses to keep.
Early on in his transition from kickboxing, “Poatan” started to work closely with the former UFC light heavyweight champion, Glover Teixeira.
As a 42-fight veteran, Teixeira was the perfect person to pass knowledge on to Pereira and the two men have become very close as a result.
The skill set that saw him become the UFC’s oldest first-time champion is also the perfect counter balance to the striking skills that the current 205-pound champion possesses.
Alex Pereira’s Training Partner Says Glover Teixeira Coaches Him Like A Video Game
In a recent interview with The Scrap, Pereira’s training partner Renato Valente provided some insight into what the relationship between “Poatan” and Teixeira is like.
He said that having Teixeira in his corner has proven to be massively beneficial for the champion because he gives him the confidence he needs in all areas of mixed martial arts.
Not only that, they have a great understanding and working dynamic with one another, which brings the best out of Pereira – something we are likely to see when he returns at UFC 307 this weekend to face Khalil Rountree.
With Teixeira’s extensive knowledge of the game being channelled into one of the most dangerous strikers we have ever seen inside the Octagon, Valente jokingly remarked that it’s like watching the now-retired former champion control a video game character.
“Definitely Glover is the guy behind the scenes, the big guy behind the scenes because heās the guy that passed all his [knowledge] , makes him feel comfortable when heās grappling. We used to say like Glover never play video games in his life, with Alex, thatās what he does, looks like heās playing video games.
“They have a really, really good relationship and that helps Alex because Alex feels comfortable with him and heās the guy right now. Alex is a busy guy so he goes everywhere but they have a connection really good like Alex don’t any train with any other gym, talk to any other coach, he makes videos and sends them to Glover and says, āHey, what do you think about that?āā
Kevin Holland is one of the most active fighters on the UFC roster and that’s something that he’s very proud of.
“Big Mouth” is back in action this weekend at UFC 307, where he will face Roman Dolidze up at middleweight.
Following his bout in Salt Lake City this upcoming weekend, he will have fought 18 times since 2020 which means he has fought, on average, every three months over the past four years.
Holland spoke about this during his media day interviews where he was asked what kind of legacy he wants to leave behind.
He used this opportunity to call out the fighters who complain about their pay but aren’t as active.
“That I’m an active m***********. At the end of the day it’s like I did a little electrical work before, my Gran and Grandpa own a janitorial business so I understood the 9-5 and clocking in hours and getting done with the job to get paid. Half these people running around talking about, ‘We don’t get paid enough, we don’t get paid enough, we don’t get paid enough.’ You don’t even fight enough. It’s like at the end of the day, you wanna get paid for s*** that you don’t do. F****** sounds like a bum to me. So just remember I wasn’t the bum like the rest of these guys.”
Kevin Holland rips "bums" on UFC roster who complain about fighter pay.
Social Media Reacts To Kevin Holland’s Comments On Fighter Pay & Activity
This comment caused some controversy online with people both agreeing with Holland and arguing against his point that fighters who complain about pay should simply fight more often.
The following post from Al Zullino (Phre on X) shows why that might not be an option for every fighter on the roster considering the sheer number of athletes that want to be active.
There aren't enough events for everybody to āfight enoughā.
~44 events per year ~12 bouts per event ~528 bouts per year ~1056 spots available per year
With +700 athletes on the roster, that's ~1.50 fights/year for each athlete. https://t.co/u4NlYgZkv2
This conversation continued with Zullino posting several more times to explain why some of the counterpoints to his initial statement aren’t relevant.
Many responses pointed to things like the UFC being contractually obliged to offer a fighter three bouts per year but as Zullino explained, fulfilling that demand if every signed fighter agreed to take those offers, isn’t a possibility.
"You're counting out injuries!"
I'm not! Holland is. How are injured fighters supposed to make a living if they can't work? If I'm at my desk at work and my chair breaks and I get injured I get paid by insurance and keep getting my salary.
People count out injuries too fast. I would say a considerable porcentage of the roster is injured at all times. And those injuries sometimes can go from 3 months to a whole year of recovery. Every available fighter has about 2 fights a year at least.
You think those are counterpoints but we're basically saying the same thing. Fighters, for one reason (no room) or another (injuries, etc) can't fight enough to gain enough money.
A PFL star has boldly predicted that Khalil Rountree will make quick work of Alex Pereira in their upcoming title showdown at UFC 307.
Rountree is slated to face reigning UFC light heavyweight champion Pereira this Saturday night in the main event of a highly anticipated pay-per-view at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
“Poatan” has been on a dominant, unbeaten tear in the 205-pound division, and he’s gearing up for his third title defense of 2024. His most recent conquest came in June at UFC 303, where he secured a thunderous second-round knockout of Jiri Prochazka in their rematch.
Meanwhile, UFC 307 marks “The War Horse’s” maiden shot at UFC gold, which explains why he’s entering the bout as a heavy underdog. Unlike most title challengers, he hasn’t battled his way to the top or earned the number one contender spot, as he’s currently ranked #8 in the light heavyweight division.
Loughnane On Rountree’s Chances Against Pereira At UFC 307: ‘He’s Hungry’
During a recent appearance on talkSPORT MMA, Loughnane shared his predictions for the Pereira vs. Rountree title fight. While the 34-year-old Englishman acknowledged the reigning champion’s formidable strengths, he emphasized that this bout represents a crucial opportunityāpossibly the sole title shotāfor “The War Horse”.
The PFL featherweight fighter expressed that this realization will likely drive Rountree to fight with determination, and he might finish the bout in the first round.
“I’m going to pick the [under]dog in this one,” Loughnane said. “I’m going to go for it. You know why? He’s hungry. He’s been around a long time; this is probably his last opportunity with age creeping up. Alex Pereira’s been an animal, but KhalilāI know him; I have trained with him. Khalil is a good fella; he’s a great fighterā¦ Let’s just really go with it.”
Rountree is poised to make his comeback following a 4.5-month suspension for testing positive for a steroid hormone this past May, and heās currently carrying the momentum of a five-fight win streak. The 34-year-old Californian’s last Octagon outing saw him secure a third-round knockout victory against Anthony Smith in December 2023.
Kayla Harrison injected some much-needed new blood into the women’s bantamweight division with her debut win at UFC 300.
After the way she was able to dominate a former champion in Holly Holm, there was a serious conversation regarding whether she should go right into the next title fight.
Instead, Raquel Pennington will look to defend the belt for the first time this weekend at UFC 307 against former titleholder Julianna PeƱa.
Though she was disappointed to not get the title shot in her second fight, she has remained clear on the idea that whoever leaves Salt Lake City with the belt will simply be looking after it for her, until her time comes.
In another example of her supreme confidence that becoming the champion is a matter of if and not when, she said in a recent interview with ESPN MMA that she would come out on top even if you lined up the other three bantamweights on this card one after the other.
āThatās because nobody cares about that fight. I mean I feel like, whatever, letās let them fight. I honestly believe that I could fight all three girls in the same night and be champion. When youāre the best in the world, youāre the best in the world and my time is now. I hope they hold on to that title real tight while they can cuz Iām coming.ā
Aldo returned from a short-lived retirement at UFC 301 this past May, fighting out his contract with another victory in front of his compatriots in Rio de Janeiro.
After the Brazilian got the better of Jonathan Martinez, considerable uncertainty surrounded his future, with a possible re-signing with the UFC sitting alongside remaining ambitions inside the boxing ring.
Freedom To Box, Three Times More Pay Not Enough To Overtake Aldo’s UFC Ambitions
During a recent fight week interview with ESPN MMA’s Brett Okamoto, Aldo looked ahead to his return to action on Saturday night, which will kick off a new multi-fight deal for the Brazilian veteran.
Aldo admitted that he had attempted to include the freedom to box in the contract, but had that request firmly shut down. Nevertheless, with another stint as UFC champ remaining his ultimate ambition, he still put pen to paper on a continued stay inside the Octagon.
“After that fight (at UFC 301), that’s when we sat down and thought, ‘Okay, now let’s hear the proposals that you have.’ Afterwards, when we saw the proposals for the new contract, I chose the UFC,” Aldo said, before being asked whether the new deal allows him to box. “No, not at all. Listen, I’ve asked for it twice. There were a couple of events I tried to get in and twice I got a, ‘No!’ So now, with all these fights on the contract, I’m really not fighting boxing.
“My dream has always been to be champion in the UFC. … That was my ultimate goal. Thinking about the contract now, looking forward with this opportunity, if anything else came about or any other proposals, I knew that was going to be locked in with the UFC,” Aldo continued. “This is my ultimate goal. I want to continue to do it and be a champion.”
Aldo added further context behind those remarks by revealing he turned down up to three times more money offered by other promotions in order to stay put in the UFC in pursuit of continuing to enhance his already stellar legacy.
However, Adesanya then corrected his own point by stating that being overly aggressive against Pereira can also play into the Brazilian’s hands.
If Rountree is to take one piece of advice from this, it’s to back his opponent up to avoid what the former two-time UFC middleweight champion describes as “drowning”.
“Khalil has to just go at him, can’t be scared, just press him back. You can, it’s possible, press him back. Watch out for the low kicks cuz that’s what he’s gonna use to stop him… Khalil attack the body, attack the legs too cuz Pereira will take them but he doesn’t get affected by them till later, much later. If Khalil is gonna win, he’s gonna have to win or try and win early but that’s a dumb game plan so don’t listen to me. Don’t try and win early cuz that’s how you get caught as well with Pereira. He can catch him with anything. Catch him with hook coming in, knee, leg kicks and then eventually, when you feel like the third one, you’re like, ‘Oh s***,’ then I can’t press him back anymore. Then it’s like a matter of time as you’re drowning.”
Adesanya would, however, go on to pick Alex Pereira to win the fight at UFC 307, in his official predictions.
Opposite “Rocky” in Salt Lake City, Utah will be a familiar face in the form of PeƱa, whom she featured with on the cast of The Ultimate Fighter 18 in 2013.
PeƱa: Pennington Not A ‘Good Representation’ Of The Division
During her appearance at UFC 307 media day on Wednesday, PeƱa assessed how Pennington has fit into the role of champion following her crowning in Toronto this past January.
The former bantamweight queen unsurprisingly had a critical take, taking aim at Pennington’s failure to promote herself and their fight adequately.
“Raquel has not been a good representation of the womenās bantamweight division,” PeƱa said. “She has not promoted. She has said no to Embedded. She has constantly done everything that she can to avoid being the face of womenās MMA and not being that big face who wants to promote and be that big representation of womenās MMA.
“That, to me, is youāre showing me nothing, but youāre telling me everything by not being that person that is letting everyone know that youāre fighting,” PeƱa continued. “I want to be that person. Thatās my role, and I can do it better, and thatās why I believe I am going to be able to seal the deal on Saturday night and get that gold again.”
While PeƱa is hoping and evidently expecting to invigorate the division with a second reign, one which she hopes draws Amanda Nunes back from retirement to complete their trilogy, Pennington no doubt has other plans.
And should “Rocky” have her hand raised in the “Beehive State,” she’d have achieved a feat that “The Venezuelan Vixen” failed when she held the gold ā recording a successful title defense.
Carla Esparza recently shared her aspiration to secure a place in the UFC Hall of Fame as she approaches her retirement fight.
Esparza is gearing up to step into the Octagon for the final time, as she is set to face Tecia Pennington on the preliminary card of UFC 307. This highly anticipated pay-per-view event will take place this Saturday at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
*RETIREMENT FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENT* I will be stepping into The UFC Octagon on Saturday, October 5th for the final time. After almost 15 years as a professional, fighting the best of the best, I feel itās time to hang up my gloves. #UFC307pic.twitter.com/NUZwPcOqxx
“Cookie Monster” began her professional journey in February 2010, securing a first-round TKO victory against Cassie Trost under the regional promotion Respect in the Cage. She fought her way through various organizations before ultimately entering the UFC as a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season 20 in 2014.
Esparza etched her name in the history books by submitting Rose Namajunas in the third round, becoming the first UFC strawweight champion at the TUF season finale. However, her reign was short-lived, as she later lost the title to Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 185 in March 2015.
Esparza endured an arduous journey of 11 fights over seven years to reclaim the 115-pound championship, ultimately securing a split-decision victory against Namajunas at UFC 274 in May 2022.
Esparza Wants To Join The Ranks Of Jedrzejczyk & Ronda Rousey To Cap Off Her MMA Career
During a recent interview with Brian Campbell, “Cookie Monster” reflected on her journey in MMA, with a particular focus on her time in the UFC. When asked about her place in the history of the division, which has significantly evolved during her tenure, the former two-time strawweight champion expressed her desire to conclude her career with an induction into the UFC Hall of Fame.
“I’d love to eventually be in the Hall of Fame. I mean, that would be so cool,” Esparza said. “I think winning the title the first time was like seeing where I was as a fighter then to where I am now; there’s been so much growth. I mean, you have to grow to still stay in this division with all these killers. Everyone is so good, and there’s young blood constantly coming through the UFC. You have to be at such a high level even just to compete with these people, so it’s cool to have been able to stay at this high level and compete with all these youngsters coming in.”
Should Esparza be inducted into the Hall of Fame, she would become just the third woman in UFC history to receive this honor, standing alongside the legendary Jedrzejczyk and Ronda Rousey.
Their contest and many other notable bouts will go down at the high altitude of Salt Lake City, Utah this weekend. But when it comes to the effect that has, the two co-headliners see things very differently…
Pennington Rejects PeƱa’s Altitude Claim Ahead Of Utah-Held UFC 307
During a recent interview with MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn, Pennington reacted to some recent remarks regarding the impact of altitude from her opponent on October 5.
PeƱa opted against heading to Salt Lake City early to acclimate, branding such a move “unnecessary” when she’s in good shape. The champ sees that decision as a “mistake.”
“Just being born and raised in altitude, yeah, I would say thatās a mistake,” Pennington said. “Altitude is not a joke. It really does affect people. You know how many people come here to visit and are like, ‘Oh my gosh, we donāt understand why weāre feeling this or weāre feeling that and weāre just standing here.’ Itās the altitude, and then when youāre pushing your body to the limit, it plays a part.
“I notice a big difference when I go anywhere else. Sometimes I have to really slow down and control my breathing because I feel like Iām actually getting too much air, and I kind of hyperventilate a little bit, so I have to train my breathing a little different,” Pennington continued. “Itās something that I think every athlete should take into consideration, especially if youāre going to go push yourself to the limit.”
Khalil Rountree comes into his first UFC title shot as a pretty sizable underdog at UFC 307, this weekend.
In what will be his 15th time stepping inside the Octagon, he will challenge Alex Pereira for the light heavyweight title in Salt Lake City.
A big reason why a lot of people believe that “Poatan” will retain his title on Saturday night is the style that his next challenger brings to the table.
The #8-ranked contender finds himself in position for a title shot because he’s able to produce devastating knockouts with his striking skills which, ultimately, makes him an ideal match-up for Pereira because of his elite kickboxing background.
Khalil Rountree Says That His Belief And Overall Ability As A Fighter Sets Him Apart
Only Israel Adesanya has been able to defeat Pereira since the Brazilian entered the UFC and he did that whilst striking with “Poatan”.
That being said, it’s hard for many to imagine Rountree out-striking the champion because though he’s very dangerous, he doesn’t have the same extensive kickboxing pedigree of either Adesanya or Pereira.
He is confident that this is the right time and place for him to capitalize on this opportunity, as he spoke about in a recent interview with ESPN MMA on fight-week.
“It’s a little bit difficult for me to say this but I’m going to do this because I should. What makes me different is my overall ability compared to the guys that he’s fought. I feel like my strength and my athletic ability and my discipline, my skills, my experience, I think that like all of that kind of plays into me and my style and I don’t think that there’s been a fighter that is as like put together as I am and feel now.
“I’ve been through a lot and I’ve spent my whole career in the UFC and this is the first time that like I can fully back myself. I don’t have to talk and yap and sometimes it’s uncomfortable for me to say, like I feel amazing. I am 100%, I have belief in myself and I don’t know who can present the same… the same stuff that I have right now. I don’t know, there’s just something that I feel in myself right now.”
In fact, she had hoped to be fighting for the title in the fight that will happen later on in the night between the champion Raquel Pennington and Julianna PeƱa.
There is potentially one scenario that could prevent this from happening, though, if a certain former champion decides that she wants her belt back.
Kayla Harrison Says She’s Happy For Amanda Nunes To Cut The Line Only After She Is Champion
Harrison has expressed some concern that PeƱa could hold the title up if she becomes champion this weekend because she isn’t the most active fighter on the roster.
Nunes announced her retirement in June last year and vacated the title in the process, meaning that she would seemingly be granted a title shot if “The Lioness” decided to step back in.
In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Harrison said that she hopes this doesn’t happen, at least until she already has the belt in her hands.
“Yeah I mean, I hope not. I just don’t think she’ll ever fight me so I don’t think that her cutting the line, beating up PeƱa again and taking another big payday and then leaving, like that would really p*** me off. So I hope that I fight for the title and then if she wants to come cut the line, she’s more than welcome.”
UFC bantamweight contender Kayla Harrison returns this Saturday night at UFC 307 to take on Ketlen Vieira in a huge fight for the division.
Harrison has been working hard on her overall MMA game in recent years to make sure that she is able to compete in all areas.
Every fight starts on the feet and developing her striking skills was always going to be an important part of her journey in the sport.
Describing it as a process of no longer “faking it till you make it”, the former PFL star is confident in her all-round MMA abilities in comparison with her opponent.
And as a two-time Olympic gold medallist in judo, there aren’t many people on the planet who can compete with her in her area of specialty either.
Kayla Harrison Fires Back At Henry Cejudo Over Fight Prediction
Cejudo made the case that with Vieira having some judo pedigree of her own, she might be able to keep the fight standing – where she could be a big problem for Harrison.
This take wasn’t particularly well received by the #3-ranked contender, who gave her response in a recent interview with Submission Radio.
Harrison believes that Cejudo’s point was meaningless due to the huge gap between a judo black belt and one of the all-time greats in the sport.
“I don’t know why the hell they’re talking about a judo black belt making a difference like there are levels. That would be like me telling Henry, ‘Oh this kid wrestling in varsity in high school so you’re gonna struggle to take him down’. Benign. Asinine. That’s all right, I look forward to showing once again why Henry is a jealous little man.”
After establishing herself as a dominant force outside MMA’s leading promotion, Harrison got her pursuit of gold in the UFC underway in strong fashion this past April with a submission win over former champ Holly Holm.
And by the sounds of things, recently retired UFC veteran Matt Brown has little doubt about who will have their hand raised in that matchup…
Brown On Harrison Joining BW Division: ‘If I’m The Champion, I’m Retiring’
During the latest episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer, Brown discussed Harrison’s successful arrival into the UFC women’s bantamweight division earlier this year.
Having seen the manner with which the Ohio native dispatched Holm, “The Immortal” doesn’t see anybody on the roster at 135 pounds capable of halting Harrison’s charge.
“I feel bad for the girls in that division. If Iām the champion, Iām retiring. If Iām Raquel Pennington or Iām Julianna PeƱa and I win the fight, Iām out. Iām pulling anĀ Eddie BravoĀ here. Win the big one and Iām done,” Brown said. “I wasnāt quite as big of a believer until the way I watched her beat Holly Holm. Because I just didnāt know about the weight cut, and how she was going to perform (after) the weight cut, and sometimes people change when they come to the UFC. Theyāre just not what we thought they were when they were in a different organization.
“I think she answered every question very clearly. Sheās going to come in, and I donāt think anybody has a chance against her,” Brown continued. “Weāre on the way to the Kayla Harrison era. I think she wrecks everybody in that division, including Amanda if she comes back. I donāt think anybody stands a chance against Kayla. I think she is a major problem for everybody in there. … She is an absolute terror for this division.”
Harrison will look to prove Brown right come fight night in Salt Lake City this weekend, when she shares the card with another “terror” in UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira.
The pair recently got familiar with one another on the mats, with Harrison teaching “Poatan” some judo moves. Her ability to take the Brazilian down is perhaps strong evidence for Brown’s prediction of dominance for the two-time Olympic gold medalist at 135 pounds.
When Alex Pereira trained with Kayla Harrison š¤
Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen doesn’t think Khalil Rountree will be buying into the reputation that precedes Alex Pereira whenever he enters the Octagon.
If “The War Horse” is to continue his winning form all the way to the light heavyweight throne, he’ll have to unseat Pereira. That’s a task that former champions Jamahal Hill and JiÅĆ ProchĆ”zkaĀ have both failed to achieve in 2024.
In part, that’s down to the mindset of Rountree. According to “The American Gangster,” the challenger won’t crumble to the “fear factor” Pereira has developed in the way that others in the division would.
“I’m telling you, Daniel, every upset has a couple of commonalities. This fight, you’ve got to keep your eyes on it,” Sonnen said. “Number one battle Khalil’s got is to show up and fight. Pereira’s gonna get to a point where guys don’t do that.
“Pereira is entering that Mike Tyson-esque fear factor, where guys are going to wilt in the back. I just don’t believe that’s Khalil,” Sonnen continued. “I think Khalil’s got one more good one in him. I think he can overcome this, and I think he is a real problem for Pereira.”
Rountree’s history of violent knockouts may also have created a “fear factor” behind his own striking game. And that might especially be the case for kickboxing standouts given “The War Horse’s” habit of stalling their charges inside the cage.
It remains to be seen whether history will repeat itself in that regard this Saturday.
He's a scary scary dude šŖ
Khalil Rountree Jr. looks to become the light heavyweight champion at #UFC307!
He may have already achieved champion status in two UFC divisions and continues to rule over the light heavyweight class through two successful defenses, but Alex Pereira insists he is still continuing to evolve as a mixed martial artist.
Since a brief reign at middleweight, Pereira has emphatically conquered some of the top names at 205 pounds. In four fights, “Poatan” has defeated three former champions in Jan BÅachowicz, JiÅĆ ProchĆ”zka, and Jamahal Hill.
Having held titles in two weight classes and established himself as a top name toward the top of the pound-for-pound ladder, some would be forgiven for forgetting that Pereira is just 13 fights and four committed years into his MMA career.
With that in mind, the Brazilian’s success has come alongside his continued growth in the sport. And as he approaches his latest outing in the cage, a further evolved “Poatan” is feeling better than ever.
Pereira Touts ‘Significant Strides’ In UFC 307 Camp
While he’s not had much time to breathe between defenses in 2024, the Brazilian kickboxing specialist and his team have still spoken highly about the progress made behind the scenes.
And in that regard, “Poatan” has seemingly had his best camp to date.
“This camp I’ve made significant strides in my overall progress and my preparation,” Pereira said. “Like I said to Glover, ‘Now I understand this game.’ And he replied, ‘I can see that.’ So it seems like something has clicked. I feel very confident and great.
Pereira will look to show those improvements come fight night in the “Beehive State” this weekend, where yet another successful title defense in 2024 could leave his case for Fighter of the Year undeniable.
There's no one like Poatan š¹@AlexPereiraUFC looks for his THIRD title defense in 2024!
The main event of UFC 307 sees the return of one of the biggest stars in the sport today, light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.
“Poatan” has put on some incredible striking displays since moving up to 205-pounds and that’s sure to be the case once again in Salt Lake City this weekend.
His challenger, Khalil Rountree, is also used to stopping his opponents with strikes when he steps inside the Octagon.
We’re sure to get a high-level game of violent chess when these two ruthless fight finishers collide this Saturday night at the Delta Center.
Volkan Oezdemir Backs Alex Pereira To Retain The Title This Weekend At UFC 307
In a recent interview with Inside Fighting, former title challenger Volkan Oezdemir gave his quick thoughts on the main event match-up.
Oezdemir fought for the title back in 2018, coming up short against Daniel Cormier after securing three big wins in the division to get a championship opportunity.
He believes that the belt will stay with “Poatan” this weekend because he’s the more efficient and polished striker of the two.
“I think Pereira for me is gonna take it. Rountree is dangerous but I think is a little bit too wild, you know, hooks and stuff. Pereira is more complete but it’s tough, it’s not going to go to the ground for sure. It’s going to be a war.”
After growing to dislike one another, their paths somehow never crossed until this weekend in Salt Lake City.
Though the champion has her own issues with PeƱa, it would appear that she isn’t the only one.
Raquel Pennington Says Some People At The UFC Are Rooting Against Julianna PeƱa
In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Pennington explained where some of her dislike of PeƱa comes from.
The champ believes that her opponent hasn’t always earned the opportunities that she has been given and casts doubts on her credentials.
As noted in the interview, the title challenger doesn’t have a win over anyone on the current roster because she’s been relatively inactive in recent years, aside from her fights with Amanda Nunes.
When Pennington spoke about how the UFC are always looking to put together the biggest fights, she mentioned that some people within the promotion are rooting against her opponent this weekend.
“I don’t understand how this girl can stay injured and then she comes back and all of a sudden she’s getting a big fight and then she’s injured and then she comes back and she’s getting something else and it’s like who’s managing you? Like what are you doing here? Whatever you’re doing, great, it’s working for you, congratulations, you had like whatever for yourself but it just doesn’t make sense to me and so I’m like alright. At the end of the day, UFC is going to do what UFC does and you know, I won’t say a name but some people in UFC have said like, ‘Hey, everybody loves watching Julianna get her a** beat for five rounds’, so why not?”
Given her history of upsetting the odds, former UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Julianna PeƱa is welcoming the underdog status attached to her this week.
For the third straight fight in her career, gold will be on the line when PeƱa makes the walk at Saturday’s UFC 307 pay-per-view, set for the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
“The Venezuelan Vixen” is set to co-headline the event in competition for Raquel Pennington’s 135-pound title. PeƱa previously won the belt and subsequently lost it in a two-fight series with Amanda Nunes.
Having not competed since her rematch with the “Lioness” in June 2022, the former champ is being counted out by some. That’s reflected in the odds, with her line currently at +136 on DraftKings.
But PeƱa has absolutely no qualms about entering her title challenge as the underdog…
While Pennington is favored to retain possession of the championship by the oddsmakers, “The Venezuelan Vixen” is more than ready to prove her doubters wrong ā again.
“It doesn’t (surprise me). I think I was an 11-1 underdog at one point when I was fighting Amanda,” PeƱa said. “If you go back to the majority of my fights, I am always the underdog. In fact, right off the top of my head, I can’t even think of a time when I was the favorite.
“It’s just kind of like, I am that underdog role. I always have been,” PeƱa continued. “At the end of the day, it’s what I believe in my heart. I don’t feel like I’m the underdog. I’m very confident in what I am able to do. So you can call me an underdog, you can call me a favorite, you can call me whatever you want. Just remember that I am Julianna PeƱa, and I’m going to go in there and get my hand raised at any and all cost.”
While it wouldn’t mark the kind of shock win she achieved back in December 2021, PeƱa will be hoping to upset the odds once again en route to the women’s bantamweight throne this weekend.
The moment she shocked the world š¤@VenezuelanVixen looks to recapture the bantamweight belt at #UFC307!
Having defended his gold successfully against both Jamahal Hill and JiÅĆ ProchĆ”zka thus far this year, “Poatan’s” reign will next meet the threat of a surprise challenger in the #8-ranked Khalil Rountree.
But for Sonnen, that line of thinking is among many reasons why he thinks an upset is “brewing” at UFC 307…
Sonnen: Pereira vs. Rountree Has All The Makings Of An Upset
During the latest episode of his Good Guy / Bad Guy show alongside Daniel Cormier on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Sonnen looked ahead to the upcoming PPV main event in Utah.
While Pereira will enter as a heavy favorite given his winning form in 2024 to date, “The American Gangster” suggested that some differences in the narratives leading up to his latest defense could present a major threat to his reign.
“This fight card has the potential to be the one. You wanna know why, Daniel? It is brewing for an upset,” Sonnen said. “I’m not giving you a prediction, but I’m telling you now, everything that could be wrong for Pereira in terms of the commonalities that everyone that’s ever been upset has faced ā finding yourself in a match that’s harder than the audience knows, finding yourself in a match that’s more dangerous than you’re aware, finding yourself in a match where this guy’s gonna play your game.
“I’m not arguing that Khalil is cleaner or more talented of a kickboxer than Pereira,” Sonnen continued. “But I will argue for you, Pereira can hit you one time and put you down, Khalil only has to hit him one time and Khalil will put him down.”
Rountree will be hoping that Sonnen is correct and those apparent pre-fight factors pave the way for his shock crowning in Salt Lake City this weekend.
He's a scary scary dude šŖ
Khalil Rountree Jr. looks to become the light heavyweight champion at #UFC307!
Julianna PeƱa recently opened up about her long-standing feud with Raquel Pennington, which has simmered since their days on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) back in 2013.
“The Venezuelan Vixen” is set to take her second shot at the womenās bantamweight crown when she faces reigning champion Pennington in the co-main event of UFC 307 this Saturday at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Although PeƱa and Pennington were teammates on The Ultimate Fighter, they were often at odds. Despite their friction, the Washington native went on to win the season with a dominant first-round knockout over Team Rousey’s Jessica Rakoczy, while ‘Rocky’ was forced to withdraw early from the competition due to injury.
PeƱa Intends To Make Pennington Regret Past Behavior At UFC 307
During a recent interview with SHAK MMA, “The Venezuelan Vixen” reflected on her time during TUF 18, when she and her now rival Pennington were roommates. The former UFC bantamweight champion revealed that she had been nothing but helpful and supportive during their stint but claimed that ‘Rocky’ was consistently rude to her.
“Raquel and I have had our history of little spats,” PeƱa said. “If you watch The Ultimate Fighter, she was doing things and saying things that I disagreed with, and it gets to be one of thoseāI don’t know if you saw that Netflix series Worst Roommate Everāwhere they just have these like terrible roommates, and Iām like, Iām doing all of your dishes, Iām giving you makeovers, Iām teaching you how to walk like a runway model. Why are you so horrible to me? Why are you making my life a living hell?””
PeƱa boldly declared that she plans to hold Pennington accountable for her past transgressions and settle their animosity when they clash inside the Octagon at UFC 307 this weekend.
“For me, it’s just one of those things where I would much rather get it over with. This has been 13 years in the making, and it’s time for the worst roommate ever to get their due justice.”
