When the UFC makes its return to Salt Lake City, Utah in October, a little over a year since its last visit, there will be no shortage of stars stepping into the octagon.
Something UFC president Dana White made sure of when he announced on Friday that light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira would be defending his belt against Khalil Rountree Jr. to headline UFC 307.
The bout will mark Pereira’s third title defence in 2024 and comes roughly three months after he knocked out Jiří Procházka at UFC 303 despite taking the fight on short notice.
“Poatan” might be the promotion’s top star at this point after beating Procházka twice — and knocking out former light heavyweight champ Jamahal Hill at UFC 300 in between — amid a four-fight win streak.
His path to a third consecutive title defence won’t be easy, however, as Rountree is arguably in the best form of his career. The 34-year-old enters the matchup on a five-fight win streak, four of which he ended by knockout. Most recently, Rountree sent Anthony Smith down to the canvas in December, earning a performance bonus for his effort.
“The War Horse” will also be motivated as the contest offers redemption after he lost his previous opportunity to join the title picture when he was suspended and removed from a UFC 303 co-main event bout against Hill.
Rountree claimed to have inadvertently taken DHEA, a substance banned by the UFC, and reported the incident immediately to Jeff Novitzky, UFC senior vice president of anti-doping compliance, and Donna Marshall, UFC vice president of anti-doping compliance.
The time off seemingly worked out for the American who’ll now be jumping to the front of the line for a title shot when he returns.
Fight fans at the Delta Centre and home will see if the decision was warranted or if the UFC just threw the eight-year vet into the lion’s den against Pereira. Either way, expect fireworks and an early finish as the two have a combined 18 knockouts between them.
White wasn’t done there as he also announced that bantamweight champion Raquel Pennington and Julianna Peña would duke it out as the co-main event.
Pennington claimed the vacant belt in January at UFC 297 in Toronto following a decision win over Mayra Bueno Silva. October’s bout will mark the first UFC title defence for “Rocky.”
Meanwhile, Peña, the No. 1 contender in the divison, hasn’t stepped into an octagon since losing her rematch and title to Amanda Nunes at UFC 277 over two years ago.
Other fights on the card that have been announced include a 135-pound bout between the ageless José Aldo and rising star Mario Bautista. Aldo made his return to the UFC in May after retiring in 2022, for UFC 301 in his native Brazil, and showed no signs of rust as he dismantled Jonathan Martinez for a win. Bautista will also be making his second appearance of the year, aiming to win a seventh consecutive fight.
The card will also include a featherweight matchup between unbeaten Movsar Evloev and former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling, Kayla Harrison taking on Ketlen Vieira and Roman Doldize stepping in for an injured Chris Curtis to take on Kevin Holland.
Meanwhile, former two-time UFC strawweight champ Carla Esparza announced she will compete in the UFC for the final time on Oct. 5 in a retirement bout against Tecia Pennington, the wife of Raquel Pennington.
Last, but certainly not least, Stephen “Wonderboy” Thomspon is going to make his first UFC appearance of the year when he takes on Joaquin Buckley.
Thompson last fought at UFC 296 as he was submitted by Shavkat Rakhmonov in the second round. Now the 41-year-old will look to bounce back against Buckley who’s a flawless 4-0 since dropping down to welterweight. Most recently, “New Mansa” picked up a unanimous decision victory over Nursulton Ruziboev in May.