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 identify. This Saturday, he sees a real check of his star energy as he defends his gentle heavyweight belt in opposition to the damaging, however evenly regarded Khalil Rountree in the principle 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 quick 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 girls’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 like he’s chasing gold in one other division. Pereira already said that he plans to return all the way down to 185 kilos for some inexplicable motive to problem Dricus du Plessis for his middleweight title. That really looks like a nasty thought, but when that’s what Pereira needs, so be it.

The extra attention-grabbing problem lies at heavyweight the place Pereira may doubtlessly make Jon Jones postpone his retirement for yet another battle if he will get via Stipe Miocic at UFC 309. Pereira has to know that going through Jones could be the largest, most significant, and most profitable battle accessible to him within the UFC. Outdoors of Conor McGregor combating once more, Pereira vs. Jones would possibly truly be probably the most promotable battle 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 manner, Pereira will get to name his shot and meaning both middleweight or heavyweight in his quick 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 principle 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 method or one other, this battle goes to be electrical. There’s no manner will probably be boring, or dangerous, or a slog in any manner. The numerous, many followers who complained concerning the UFC 306 important occasion between Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley will really feel the precise reverse when this battle is over. Both Pereira obliterates Rountree in seven minutes or much less to maneuver to 3-0, or we get one other completely beautiful card ender.

My guess is the previous, and the choices are aplenty. Might Pereira battle 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? Certain looks like it. Plus, there’s that likelihood at historical past, and successful a 3rd belt. I do know Jon Jones is saying his battle with Stipe Miocic will seemingly be his final, however I don’t consider 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. Meaning calling for a heavyweight title alternative. And meaning Pereira vs. Aspinall.

Jones and Stipe, get pleasure from your little title battle 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 fabricated from stone. However I’m not overly sentimental both and I’ll be prepared to maneuver on by Sunday morning, which suggests elevating Aspinall to undisputed standing (he’s already the No. 1 heavyweight so far as the actual rankings are involved) and setting him up in opposition to Pereira, who can be ready for the decision after dispatching Rountree.

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

As the youngsters say, “Chama!”

Photograph by Carmen Mandato/Getty Pictures

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

Lee: Uh, is it dangerous type 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 can truly stick. Don’t get me mistaken, 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 new challengers to emerge.

That state of affairs hasn’t precisely performed out, with Raquel Pennington—an opponent Nunes crushed at UFC 224—turning 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 battle with Pennington decisive, the 2 are buddies 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 chance that Ketlen Vieira upsets Harrison, and if that occurs? Let’s simply say that within the jungle, the mighty jungle, “The Lioness” will sleep effectively tonight.

Martin: A few Tetris items need to 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 anticipate 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 battle in opposition to Harrison.

You is perhaps 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 come back again?

Right here’s the factor: Nunes loathes Peña and by no means giving her the satisfaction of a 3rd battle in all probability means extra to the ladies’s GOAT than truly beating Peña up once more. However taking part in the lengthy sport to arrange a possible showdown in opposition to a former teammate in Harrison — assuming she beats Pennington to grow to be champion — is perhaps simply the trick to get Nunes’ consideration.

Nunes and Harrison have been as soon as buddies and educated underneath the identical coaches at American High Group in Florida. Nunes ultimately break up with the gymnasium and began doing her personal factor, however some feedback she made about her former crew didn’t sit effectively with Harrison. That instantly sparks a rivalry and the potential for a large battle — each elements that might play an element in Nunes deciding to come back again.

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

I’m not right here to mince phrases, Ketlen Vieira beating Kayla Harrison could be some of the stunning outcomes of the yr in MMA, and there’s an actual case it will be the most stunning. Harrison seemingly runs over Vieira to set her up for the winner of the title battle between Pennington and Peña.

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

After Harrison will get her shot, then we are able to revisit.

Photograph by Leandro Bernardes/PxImages/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Pictures

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

Heck: Straightforward, 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 battle underneath the brand new deal, he will get to battle 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 type of leap up the ladder of the rankings, or identify worth most have been on the lookout for. If Aldo wins, an enormous battle awaits — perhaps 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 in opposition to one other 135-pounder on a win streak that not lots of people learn 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 turning 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 skills which might 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 ought to be fantastic. It’s the remainder of us that may take into account taking a break from MMA if we now have to listen to Buckley ship one other eye-rolling post-fight promo.

Martin: Perhaps this finally ends up as an unpopular reply, however Carla Esparza successful her closing battle 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 type of get swept underneath the rug. However Esparza was a pioneer for the strawweight division after she turned the first-ever 115-pound champion for Invicta FC. Accidents to each her and her potential opponents prevented Esparza from defending her belt and he or she ultimately 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 gained that as effectively after mauling Rose Namajunas within the finals. She misplaced the title to Joanna Jedrzejczyk one battle later, however via trials, tribulations, wins and losses, Esparza one way or the other obtained again to the belt seven years later when she beat Namajunas once more to grow to be a two-time UFC champion.

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