UFC® RETURNS TO UTAH
WITH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLEHEADER
FEATURED BOUTS:
(C) ALEX PEREIRA vs. (#8) KHALIL ROUNTREE JR.
(C) RAQUEL PENNINGTON vs. (#1) JULIANNA PEÑA
UFC® 307: PEREIRA vs. ROUNTREE JR.
TICKETS ON SALE THIS FRIDAY, AUGUST 23;
UFC® returns to Utah with a stacked Pay-Per-View event, headlined by a pair of thrilling championship bouts. UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira goes for his third successful title defense of 2024 when he collides with No. 8 ranked contender Khalil Rountree Jr. in a battle of KO artists. Also, UFC bantamweight champion Raquel Pennington defends against former titleholder and No. 1 ranked contender Julianna Peña in a grudge match dating back to The Ultimate Fighter season 18 more than a decade ago.
UFC® 307: PEREIRA vs. ROUNTREE JR. is the result of a continued partnership with Utah Sports Commission and Smith Entertainment Group. The event announcement comes on the heels of Utah being awarded the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, solidifying its reputation as The State of Sport.
“We are headed back to Utah for the third year in a row,” said UFC President and CEO Dana White. “The last two events have been an incredible experience with two of the most iconic knockouts ever. And this main event for the light heavyweight title is between two of the hardest punchers in the division. The fans at the Utah events have been amazing and this is one of the nicest arenas I’ve ever been to. I want to thank the Utah Sports Commission and Smith Entertainment Group for their continued support. Get ready, everybody – UFC 307 is going to be a fun one!”
“This is another great opportunity for Utah: The State of Sport to partner with UFC on one of its premier events,” said Jeff Robbins, president and CEO of the Utah Sports Commission. “UFC is at the crossroads of sport and entertainment and has been a key partner in helping Utah become a global sports destination. The Utah Sports Commission has played a role in bringing over 1,100 key sporting events to the state over the last two decades, as well as playing a key role in bringing back the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games to Utah.”
“Delta Center is one of the best destinations for premier sporting events in the world,” said Ryan Smith, founder of Smith Entertainment Group, the parent company of the Utah Jazz and Utah Hockey Club. “We’re excited to welcome UFC fans back to Utah to experience the amazing environment inside Delta Center and to continue this partnership with UFC. Not only does it showcase Utah as one of the best destinations for sports, it also creates incredible economic contribution for our community.”
UFC® 307: PEREIRA vs. ROUNTREE JR. takes place Saturday, Oct. 5 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City with the main card at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on ESPN+ PPV. The prelims will be available on ESPNEWS and ESPN Deportes, as well as simulcast in English and Spanish on ESPN+, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The night’s action will start at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT with early prelims on ESPN+ (English and Spanish) and UFC Fight Pass.
UFC® 307: PEREIRA vs. ROUNTREE JR. tickets will go on sale Friday, August 23 at 10 a.m. MT and are available for purchase at Ticketmaster.com. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. UFC Fight Club® members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets Wednesday, August 21 at 10 a.m. MT via the website UFCFightClub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, August 22 starting at 10 a.m. MT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com.
Pereira (11-2, fighting out of Danbury, Conn. by way of Sao Paulo, Brazil) aims to continue his reign atop the 205-pound division. A decorated kickboxer, he has taken MMA by storm with spectacular finishes over Jamahal Hill, Jiri Prochazka and Israel Adesanya. Pereira now plans to halt Rountree Jr.’s momentum and retain his belt by securing another jaw-dropping KO.
Rountree Jr. (13-5 1NC, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) intends to shock the world in his first UFC title opportunity. Currently riding a five-fight win streak, he has netted thrilling knockout wins against Anthony Smith, Chris Daukaus and Modestas Bukauskas. Rountree Jr. now intends to dethrone Pereira and achieve his dream of capturing UFC gold.
Pennington (16-9, fighting out of Colorado Springs, Colo.) is looking to secure her first successful title defense in dominant fashion. Currently riding a six-fight win streak, she has earned impressive victories over Mayra Bueno Silva, Ketlen Vieira and Macy Chiasson. Pennington now hopes to keep her spot atop the 125-pound ladder by getting the last laugh against Peña.
Peña (12-5, fighting out of Chicago, Ill. by way of Spokane, Wash.) intends to settle the score with Pennington by delivering a vintage performance. The winner of The Ultimate Fighter season 18, she holds memorable wins against Amanda Nunes, Sara McMann and Nicco Montano. Peña now plans to steal the show and recapture the UFC bantamweight belt.
Additional bouts on the card include:
- A pivotal bantamweight contenders’ bout sees No. 2 ranked Ketlen Vieira (14-3, fighting out of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil) square off with two-time Olympic gold medal judoka and No. 3 Kayla Harrison (17-1, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.)
- No. 9 ranked welterweight contender Stephen Thompson (17-7-1, fighting out of Simpsonville, S.C.) faces rising No. 11 Joaquin Buckley (19-6, fighting out of St. Louis, Mo.)
- UFC Hall of Fame inductee and No. 9 ranked bantamweight contender Jose Aldo (32-8, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) meets No. 12 Mario Bautista (14-2, fighting out of Phoenix, Ariz.)
- No. 10 ranked middleweight contender Roman Dolidze (13-3, fighting out of Batumi, Georgia) collides with Kevin Holland (26-11 1NC, fighting out of Fort Worth, Texas)
- Undefeated No. 6 ranked featherweight contender Movsar Evloev (18-0, fighting out of Sunzha, Republic of Ingushetia, Russia) locks horns with former UFC bantamweight champion and No. 8 featherweight Aljamain Sterling (24-4, fighting out of Uniondale, N.Y.)
- No. 6 ranked strawweight contender Marina Rodriguez (17-4-2, fighting out of Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil) takes on No. 14 Iasmin Lucindo (16-5, fighting out of Fortaleza, CE, Brazil)
- Cesar Almeida (5-1, fighting out of São Paulo, Brazil) faces Ihor Potieria (20-6, fighting out of Kiev, Ukraine) in a middleweight bout
- Former two-time UFC strawweight champion Carla Esparza (20-7, fighting out of Irvine, Calif.) battles Tecia Pennington (13-7, fighting out of Colorado Springs, Colo.)
For the latest information on additional bouts for this event, please visit UFC.com. All bouts are live and subject to change.
About UFC®
UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and 283 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 975 million households across more than 170 countries. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 75 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.
About Utah Sports Commission
The Utah Sports Commission was created to be a catalyst for Utah in its sport and Olympic legacy efforts and to help enhance Utah’s economy, image, and quality of life through the attraction, promotion, and development of national and international sports. Since the 2002 Olympics and Paralympics, the Utah Sports Commission has attracted nearly 1100 major events to the state. The Sports Commission works closely with communities, sports entities, and organizations to provide event services ranging from the bid process, on-site logistics, volunteer coordination, sponsorships and promotional opportunities, and other related services. It is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 charitable organization and 501(c)6 Utah Sports Commission Foundation governed by an all-volunteer Board of Trustees consisting of statewide sports, business, community, and government leaders. For more information, visit UtahSportsCommission.com or follow @stateofsport on social media.
About Smith Entertainment Group
Smith Entertainment Group (SEG) is a sports, entertainment, real estate, and technology investment group focused primarily on the state of Utah. SEG’s portfolio includes the Utah Jazz (NBA), Utah Hockey Club (NHL), Delta Center, SEG Media, The Shops at South Town, Real Salt Lake (MLS), Utah Royals (NWSL), America First Credit Union Field, Salt Lake City Stars (NBA G League), Utah Jazz Gaming (NBA 2K League), Real Monarchs (MLS NEXT Pro), and other Utah-centric business ventures.
About Delta Center
Located in downtown Salt Lake City, Delta Center is home of both the Utah Jazz NBA franchise and the Utah Hockey Club NHL franchise and serves as the region’s premier sports and entertainment venue. Hosting more than 320 days of sports and entertainment events each year, ranging from NBA and NHL games to concerts by world-renowned musicians and other sporting spectacles, Delta Center welcomes approximately 1.8 million guests annually. With the capability of hosting 18,206 fans at Utah Jazz games, nearly 16,000 fans at Utah Hockey Club games, and 13,898 at concerts, the electrifying atmosphere inside the bowl captivates audiences and creates an unforgettable experience. Since its debut in 1991, Delta Center has hosted the 2023 and 1993 NBA All-Star weekends, 2002 Olympic Winter Games, NCAA men’s basketball tournament, and two NBA Finals. For more information about Delta Center, an entity of Smith Entertainment Group, visit www.deltacenter.com.
About ESPN+
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About ESPN
ESPN, the world’s leading sports entertainment brand, features eight U.S. television networks, direct-to-consumer ESPN+, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, endeavors on every continent around the world, and more. ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst.