UFC 307 roundtable: Where does Alex Pereira go with another big win?

Alex Pereira is the person of the hour.

No fighter has seen their inventory soar fairly like Pereira’s over the previous few years as he’s gone from kickboxing champion to UFC go-to man with titles in two divisions to his title. This Saturday, he sees a real check of his star energy as he defends his gentle heavyweight belt towards the damaging, however calmly regarded Khalil Rountree in the primary occasion of UFC 307. Ought to “Poatan” placed on one other legend-building efficiency, does one other marquee matchup await him?

UFC 307 additionally sees the return of the polarizing Julianna Peña as she challenges bantamweight champion Raquel Pennington. The speedy implications of this grudge match are clear, however may the results of the co-main occasion—and a key undercard matchup between Kayla Harrison and Ketlen Vieira—additionally coax ladies’s MMA GOAT Amanda Nunes again into motion?

MMA Combating’s Mike Heck, Alexander Ok. Lee, and Damon Martin ponder these questions forward of Saturday’s card at Delta Heart in Salt Lake Metropolis.

1. What’s subsequent for Alex Pereira with a win on Saturday?

Martin: Champ-champ standing.

That’s not the reply Magomed Ankalaev needs to listen to because the rightful No. 1 contender within the gentle heavyweight division, however the actuality is Pereira has bailed out the UFC so many instances in 2024 that he ought to get his want for no matter he needs subsequent and it definitely looks as if he’s chasing gold in one other division. Pereira already acknowledged that he plans to return right down to 185 kilos for some inexplicable motive to problem Dricus du Plessis for his middleweight title. That truly looks as if a nasty thought, but when that’s what Pereira needs, so be it.

The extra fascinating problem lies at heavyweight the place Pereira may doubtlessly make Jon Jones postpone his retirement for yet another combat if he will get via Stipe Miocic at UFC 309. Pereira has to know that dealing with Jones could be the largest, most significant, and most profitable combat obtainable to him within the UFC. Outdoors of Conor McGregor preventing once more, Pereira vs. Jones may really be essentially the most promotable combat the UFC may stage.

There’s additionally a world the place Pereira can’t maintain Jones from calling it a profession so he challenges Tom Aspinall as an alternative and there’s one other marquee matchup within the heavyweight division. Both means, Pereira will get to name his shot and meaning both middleweight or heavyweight in his speedy future.

Heck: Regardless of the hell he needs.

Whereas it’s not as a lot of a narrative this time round, Pereira has stepped in to save lots of the UFC once more right here. With all due respect to Pennington and Peña, that simply isn’t the primary occasion Salt Lake Metropolis is paying for. And as worthy of a challenger as Rountree is, it’s Pereira that’s—to cite the legend Jon Anik—the person with whom this card is constructed round.

A technique or one other, this combat goes to be electrical. There’s no means will probably be boring, or unhealthy, or a slog in any means. The various, many followers who complained in regards to the UFC 306 most important occasion between Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley will really feel the precise reverse when this combat is over. Both Pereira obliterates Rountree in seven minutes or much less to maneuver to 3-0, or we get one other completely gorgeous card ender.

My guess is the previous, and the choices are aplenty. May Pereira combat Magomed Ankalaev if he’s victorious at UFC 308? Yeah, and I’d be down for that one. Would middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis be an possibility? Positive looks as if it. Plus, there’s that likelihood at historical past, and successful a 3rd belt. I do know Jon Jones is saying his combat with Stipe Miocic will doubtless be his final, however I don’t imagine that for a second if Pereira wins on Saturday. I’d be keen to guess a few weeks value of Dunkin’ coffees that Jones calls Pereira out in the event that they each win. However no matter Pereira, himself, decides to do subsequent, he would get.

Lee: Tommy Aspinall, come on down!

No, Aspinall doesn’t convey the historic significance of Jon Jones or Stipe Miocic and sure, Magomed Ankalaev is the rightful challenger at 205 kilos (assuming he beats Aleksandar Rakic, which I’m). The issue is that Pereira has as a lot leverage as anybody proper now and he deserves to make the most of it. Which means calling for a heavyweight title alternative. And meaning Pereira vs. Aspinall.

Jones and Stipe, get pleasure from your little title combat at Madison Sq. Backyard. The environment goes to be electrical and if we do see a double retirement, I’ll shed a tear or two. I’m not product of stone. However I’m not overly sentimental both and I’ll be prepared to maneuver on by Sunday morning, which implies elevating Aspinall to undisputed standing (he’s already the No. 1 heavyweight so far as the true rankings are involved) and setting him up towards Pereira, who will likely be ready for the decision after dispatching Rountree.

The UFC’s gears grind extra effectively than ever lately, so Dana White and co. will gratefully give Jones and Miocic their reward basket and ship them on their means earlier than reserving Pereira vs. Aspinall for someday within the first half of 2025.

As the youngsters say, “Chama!”

2. What end result at UFC 307 may result in Amanda Nunes making a comeback?

Lee: Uh, is it unhealthy kind to say there isn’t one?

To not be the turd within the punch bowl proper off the bat, however I develop more and more assured with every passing day that Nunes’ #MMARetirement is one that may really stick. Don’t get me fallacious, I used to be with just about everybody else when she hung up the gloves 15 months in the past (feels longer than that, doesn’t it?) in considering that she was merely taking a well-deserved break whereas additionally leaving the door open for brand spanking new challengers to emerge.

That situation hasn’t precisely performed out, with Raquel Pennington—an opponent Nunes crushed at UFC 224—changing into the primary post-Nunes champion and Kayla Harrison not making her UFC debut till this previous April. Oh, Julianna Peña remains to be round, too.

The combo simply doesn’t really feel fairly proper for a Nunes comeback. Not solely was Nunes’ first combat with Pennington decisive, the 2 are pals and never in any rush to sq. off once more. Harrison ought to go after the UFC title with a win Saturday, not chase after an inactive fighter. Oh, Julianna Peña remains to be round, too.

Then there’s the likelihood that Ketlen Vieira upsets Harrison, and if that occurs? Let’s simply say that within the jungle, the mighty jungle, “The Lioness” will sleep properly tonight.

Martin: A few Tetris items should fall in place for Nunes to take one other step in direction of her return to the octagon.

First up, Harrison must go full Kennedy Blades and simply launch Vieira throughout the octagon and demolish her — as most count on the two-time Olympic gold medalist to do. Then Pennington must efficiently defend her title by dispatching Peña within the co-main occasion to arrange a future combat towards Harrison.

You could be considering wouldn’t Peña successful make Nunes extra after they break up a pair of previous fights? Wouldn’t a trilogy to settle the rating with Peña persuade Nunes to return again?

Right here’s the factor: Nunes loathes Peña and by no means giving her the satisfaction of a 3rd combat most likely means extra to the ladies’s GOAT than really beating Peña up once more. However enjoying the lengthy sport to arrange a possible showdown towards a former teammate in Harrison — assuming she beats Pennington to turn into champion — could be simply the trick to get Nunes’ consideration.

Nunes and Harrison have been as soon as pals and skilled beneath the identical coaches at American Prime Staff in Florida. Nunes finally break up with the gymnasium and began doing her personal factor, however some feedback she made about her former workforce didn’t sit properly with Harrison. That instantly sparks a rivalry and the potential for an enormous combat — each elements that would play an element in Nunes deciding to return again.

Heck: Immediately? Completely nothing that occurs on Saturday brings Nunes again to the octagon, however momentum doubtless strikes ahead in direction of it taking place.

I’m not right here to mince phrases, Ketlen Vieira beating Kayla Harrison could be one of the surprising outcomes of the 12 months in MMA, and there’s an actual case it could be essentially the most surprising. Harrison doubtless runs over Vieira to set her up for the winner of the title combat between Pennington and Peña.

Now, if Pennington wins, she’ll doubtless play the, ‘I’m prepared for whoever the UFC provides me’ card, or immediately simply say that she’s prepared for Harrison. What else can she do? If Peña regains the title, she’ll name for Nunes — which is able to go over so silently, you’ll be capable of hear a pin drop within the extremely elevated enviornment. I additionally may see her calling for a rematch with once-again flyweight queen Valentina Shevchenko. Neither will occur, and she or he’d haven’t any selection however to combat Harrison.

After Harrison will get her shot, then we will revisit.

3. Which veteran fighter wants a win essentially the most on the undercard?

Heck: Simple, one of many top-5 fighters of all-time — Jose Freaking Aldo. After finishing his earlier UFC contract at UFC 301 in Might, Aldo elected to stay with the group. And in his first combat beneath the brand new deal, he will get to combat in elevation, in the identical place the place he was booked within the worst piece of matchmaking in UFC bantamweight historical past when he misplaced to Merab Dvalishvili. He ought to’ve fought for the belt, finish of story.

However I digress.

Aldo now faces Mario Bautista, who’s on a pleasant run, however to go from Jonathan Martinez to Mario Bautista is just not the sort of leap up the ladder of the rankings, or title worth most have been in search of. If Aldo wins, an enormous combat awaits — possibly even with the likes of a Cory Sandhagen, or, maybe, Sean O’Malley. A loss would just about put an finish to Aldo’s hopes to win a second divisional title, and certain result in a reserving towards one other 135-pounder on a win streak that not lots of people find out about.

Lee: For the sake of all of our sanities, Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, please beat Joaquin Buckley.

It makes all of the sense on the planet for Buckley to make use of that spectacular physique of his to wrestle Thompson to the mat for 3 rounds and depart Salt Lake Metropolis with a choice and one other absurd callout in hand. Time waits for no man, and the streaking Buckley is on the cusp of changing into a real risk to problem for UFC gold if he beats Thompson, a two-time title challenger.

And that’s why Thompson must deal with enterprise, so we don’t have to listen to Buckley name out Belal Muhammad. So we don’t have to listen to how he’s extra deserving of a championship alternative than Shavkat Rakhmonov, Jack Della Maddalena, Sean Brady, Ian Machado Garry, or every other variety of abilities which can be forward of him within the pecking order. The place they need to be.

Thompson is seemingly not contemplating retirement, so win or lose he needs to be fantastic. It’s the remainder of us which may contemplate taking a break from MMA if we have now to listen to Buckley ship one other eye-rolling post-fight promo.

Martin: Possibly this finally ends up as an unpopular reply, however Carla Esparza successful her last combat could be a feel-good second for UFC 307.

As a result of she was by no means the loudest fighter or the flashiest competitor scoring dramatic finishes, Esparza’s lengthy listing of accomplishments sort of get swept beneath the rug. However Esparza was a pioneer for the strawweight division after she grew to become the first-ever 115-pound champion for Invicta FC. Accidents to each her and her potential opponents prevented Esparza from defending her belt and she or he finally left the all-women promotion to signal with the UFC the place she was made the No. 1 seed on season 20 of The Final Fighter, which featured a event to crown the corporate’s inaugural strawweight champion.

Esparza received that as properly after mauling Rose Namajunas within the finals. She misplaced the title to Joanna Jedrzejczyk one combat later, however via trials, tribulations, wins and losses, Esparza someway received again to the belt seven years later when she beat Namajunas once more to turn into a two-time UFC champion.

Heading into UFC 307, Esparza introduced her matchup towards Tecia Pennington could be the ultimate combat of her profession. It’s so uncommon {that a} former champion like Esparza goes out on a win with a contented reminiscence to depart behind. Esparza getting her hand raised earlier than using off into the sundown could be the proper bookend to her Corridor of Fame profession.