Takeaways from UFC 307: Alex Pereira’s scary run, the need for ‘Queen’ Kayla

A 12-fight card at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City featured two title fights. In the co-main event, Julianna Peña regained the title she took from Amanda Nunes when her split decision victory over Raquel Pennington earned her the women’s bantamweight belt. Will it be Peña vs. Kayla Harrison next? To make sense of it all, Andreas Hale and Brett Okamoto offer their final insights on a dramatic fight night.

The spooky season of Poatan

Healthy: It seems fitting that this fight began in October, when Alex Pereira, with his ability to stalk his opponents while wearing an expressionless mask on his face, resembled Michael Myers, the relentless antagonist from the slasher film series “Halloween.”

Pereira doesn’t need the mask, but the relentlessness feels just as scary.

Few thought he would lose to Khalil Rountree Jr., and most expected it to end in a light heavyweight title fight. The predicted result came true, but the methodical manner in which Pereira defeated a strong challenger with disciplined calf kicks and jabs in the face of adversity from a stubborn opponent was mesmerizing.

Rountree was fearless and posed a clear and present threat with his power. He caught the attention of Pereria early when he briefly dropped the champion with a counter right hand in the second round. But Pereria never panicked. Instead, he stuck to his game plan, pressurizing Rountree’s gas tank while limiting his mobility with calf kicks. He was never eager to finish the fight, although he surprisingly trailed 29-28 on all three judges’ sheets before the fourth round.

Sensing that Rountree was exhausted, he finished with a series of powerful punches, including two body shots that brought down the challenger.

It’s frightening to watch his opponents melt before his power.

While this championship run may not be as notable as Ronda Rousey’s run in 2014-15, when she defended the women’s bantamweight championship four times without a bout lasting more than 66 seconds, Pereira’s run is more devastating. Four wins, all by overwhelming knockout.

Pereria could look to make history by moving up to heavyweight to fight for the title in a third weight class. Or he could move back to middleweight to face champion Dricus Du Plessis. He has hinted at both options before, but in his post-fight interview he expressed contentment that he can stay where he is – perhaps knowing that challenging light heavyweight grappler Magomed Ankalaev will be viewed as unfinished business . Once that task is completed, he can train other weight classes.

Kayla Harrison is the queen the women’s bantamweight division needs

Okamoto: Kayla Harrison didn’t have the easiest fight on Saturday, but she got the job done – and for the sake of the women’s bantamweight division, it’s a good thing she did.

I say this with respect, but I wonder what state the women’s bantamweight division would be in now if Harrison hadn’t transferred from the PFL in January.

With all due respect to Pennington and Peña, this department is on life support without Harrison. Their five-round title fight was riveting and hard-fought, but lacked any real drama – not just on Saturday, but all week long. It’s not her fault. Amanda Nunes has left a huge goat-shaped hole in this division, but it will take something special to come close to filling that hole, and Harrison is the only fighter who has a chance.

I don’t think The UFC would get rid of it completely, but I can’t say with 100% certainty that they wouldn’t do it either. Just look at some of the names that are out there rank in this department. According to the UFC rankings, Chelsea Chandler is 6-3 and is ranked 15th. Germaine de Randamie fought once every four years… and lost. She is ranked 13th. Yana Santos is 1-3 in her last four games. She is in the top 10.

This division barely exists if we are honest. Even Nunes couldn’t say much after Harrison narrowly beat Ketlen Vieira, as all she did was throw a lion and wink emoji at Harrison calling herself the queen – and whether you like her or not – she’s not wrong. Without them, I’m not sure this department will survive another year.

The worthy finale of Cookie Monster

Okamoto: In the end it was a worthy conclusion. Carla Esparza’s last appearance in the UFC was a challenge to score, and it didn’t go her way. But the crowd in Salt Lake City gave her a very positive send-off, as did the UFC with a nice in-house video package.

Esparza was unapologetically one of the least entertaining fighters in UFC history. Really. And I don’t say that in a derogatory way. she got known for their lack of emotion during strikes and Bruce Buffer announcements. Many of her most significant victories and losses came by split decision, as judges struggled to understand her ability to neutralize her opponents’ offense but not always dominate it with their own. Arguably the biggest win of her career, a split decision over Rose Namajunas in their title fight rematch in 2022, is considered one of the worst MMA fights of all time.

And yet the history books will remember Esparza and show great respect for the 19 victories she achieved in her 14-year career. As an Invicta champion, she gave the women’s strawweight division an identity before it even existed in the UFC and became a two-time champion despite a very long, difficult road back to the top after initially losing her belt in 2015. She wasn’t the most fan-friendly champion, but she more than earned the respect of the sport and never shied away from who she was. It won’t be a surprise to see her in the UFC Hall of Fame one day.