
Sat Oct 05 22:00:41 UTC 2024: ## UFC 307: Pennington Upsets, Pereira Defends Title
**Salt Lake City, UT** – UFC 307 delivered a night of surprising results, with Julianna Peña shockingly reclaiming the women’s bantamweight title and Alex Pereira successfully defending his light heavyweight crown.
**Pennington’s Dominance Turns to Upset:**
Despite a dominant performance, Raquel Pennington fell victim to a split decision in the main event against Julianna Peña, who claimed her second bantamweight title. While Pennington appeared to control the fight, with strong striking and grappling, Peña capitalized on key moments, particularly in the third and fifth rounds.
**Pereira’s Dominance Continues:**
In the co-main event, light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira showcased his power and precision, stopping Khalil Rountree in the fourth round to retain his title. Pereira’s relentless pressure, combined with a series of debilitating calf kicks, eventually broke down Rountree, who put up a valiant fight despite a significant beating.
**Notable Wins:**
* **Court McGee** returned to the win column after three consecutive losses, submitting Tim Means via neck crank in the first round.
* **Ryan Spann** ended his three-fight losing streak with a dominant first-round submission victory over Ovince Saint Preux via guillotine choke.
* **Joaquin Buckley** delivered a highlight-reel knockout of Stephen Thompson in the third round, ending Thompson’s impressive run.
* **Kayla Harrison** continued her dominance in women’s bantamweight, securing a unanimous decision victory over Ketlen Vieira.
* **Mario Bautista** pulled off a stunning upset over legend Jose Aldo via split decision, solidifying his status as a rising contender.
* **Roman Dolidze** scored a TKO victory over Kevin Holland after a rib injury forced Holland to withdraw in the second round.
**Controversial Judging:**
The event was marred by several controversial judging calls, including the Peña-Pennington main event and the Alexander Hernandez-Austin Hubbard lightweight bout. Many fans and commentators expressed their frustration with the inconsistent scoring, highlighting the need for improved judging standards in the UFC.
**Looking Forward:**
UFC 307 will be remembered for its surprises and contentious judging. As the organization gears up for future events, the judging controversy will likely continue to be a hot topic for debate. However, the exciting performances from fighters like Pena, Pereira, and Bautista promise an even more captivating fight season ahead.