Big nights are made for guys like him. Alex Pereirathe hitman of the UFC’s most reliable show, manages to retain his world light heavyweight title against Khalil Rountree Juniora brave candidate who ended up taking its toll on the altitude of the Utah city. After enduring the shower of blows with which the American formalized his presentation, Poatan destroyed his opponent in the fourth round of the fight with his stellar striking and a demonstration of patience that places his aspirations in the Olympus of the greatest in the company.
Khalil Rountree ignored what he promised for the fight: In the first second of combat, the American took the opportunity to attempt a takedownbefore Poatan blocked a kick to the liver area. However, the Brazilian continued with the formula, which received enormous bursts of blows from the American fighter in response, that connected Alex Pereira’s chin in a dangerous way. The champion was more selective in striking, a product of the framework that the challenger presented, with a left-handed guard with which the monarch always suffers and with a gameplan based on long combinations of blows. Atypical round for the one from Sao Paulo, who lost at the end of five minutes despite the apparent tie in the match.
The second round seemed to be a faithful reflection of the first episode: Poatan advanced with his kick to the liver area and his timid right straights, and Rountree responded, more forcefully, with long bursts of blows. towards Pereira’s face. The champion pays dearly for the timidity with which he presented his credentials in the first moments of the fight and an overhand right surprises his gameplana blow that almost sent the champion to the canvas. The challenger manages to finish the set with a great high kick and finishes ahead.
The third round It represented the beginning of the end for Khalil Rountree. The American was beginning to suffer fatigue, and his body language screamed to lower the revolutions in combat. Aware of the situation, Pereira tried more punches and connected with more precisionbefore an American without ideas, who threw punches into the air and who retreated, with a bloody face, towards the sides of the octagon, Poatan’s favorite area.
Alex Pereira confirmed the tragedy for Rountree in the fourth quarter. After a boxing masterclass by the Brazilianthe American couldn’t take it anymore: His face was a bloody poem before the champion’s accurate blowswho controlled the pace of the fight at will, facing a challenger who looked like a punching bag. Two precise and strong punches to the liver area of the main contender corroborated Alex Pereira’s third starting defense and the new record established: it is the UFC fighter who has required the least time to formalize his first trio of defenses, with 175 days. The Patatxó culture child is now a legend in the largest mixed martial arts company in the world.
Julianna Peña, incredulous champion in the turbulent night of the judges
Julianna Peña, in her winning contest against Pennington
UFC
The judges were the stars of the rest of the main poster. In the co-main event, Julianna Peña defeated Raquel Pennington by split decision in an extremely equal fightbut where the majority of those present and spectators around the globe expected a clear victory for the monarch. Incredulous, the new champion received her strap after the great controversy on the cards of those responsible at the foot of the octagon. Thus, the American He begins his second reign and is already thinking about Amanda Nunes as the next victim.
José Aldo was also a victim of the judges’ misdeeds. The Brazilian fell to Mario Bautista by split decision in a combat in which the American limited his strategy to keep the former monarch tied against the walls of the octagon, without any idea outside the situation and surpassed in beating by the King of Rio. The judges could have ended the great dream of the UFC legend, to become the company’s world champion again.
Complete results of UFC 307 in Denver
Main poster:
- Alex Pereira defeated Khalil Rountree Jr. by technical knockout in round 4 for the UFC light heavyweight title
- Julianna Peña defeats Raquel Pennington by split decision for the UFC women’s bantamweight title
- Mario Bautista defeated José Aldo, bantamweight, by split decision
- Roman Dolidze defeated middleweight Kevin Holland by technical knockout in round 1
- Kayla Harrison defeated bantamweight Ketlen Vieira by unanimous decision
Preliminary poster:
- Joaquín Buckley defeated welterweight Stephen Thompson by technical knockout in round 3
- Iasmin Lucindo defeated Marina Rodriguez, strawweight, by split decision
- Alexander Hernandez defeated Austin Hubbard, lightweight, by split decision
- Cesar Almeida defeated Ihor Potieria, middleweight, by unanimous decision
- Ryan Spann defeated Ovince Saint Preux, light heavyweight, by submission in round 1
- Tecia Pennington defeated Carla Esparza, strawweight, by unanimous decision
- Court McGee defeated welterweight Tim Means by submission in round 1
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