By: Frank Hyden, MMATorch Senior Columnist
UFC 307 was this past weekend and it featured some exciting fights and finishes as well as some controversial moments. Who won and who lost?
Let’s get to the rundown.
UFC 307
UGLY- Repeated eyepokes from Cesar Almeida
I promise I won’t take too long with this but Almeida (6-1) beat Ihor Potieria (20-7) by decision on the Prelims. However, Almeida poked
Potieria in the eye numerous times without so much as a warning. It
was ridiculous. At one point, Almeida fouled Potieria four times in two minutes. That’s absurd. He should have been disqualified. I think
he should have been disqualified after the second eyepoke, let alone
the third and then the fourth later. I don’t know what to say other than this is one of the worst things I’ve seen in quite some time.
GOOD- Ketlen Vieira vs. Kayla Harrison
They start off with some tentative striking before Vieira escapes a Harrison trip attempt and they go back to exchanging strikes and clinching. They continue working in the clinch until Harrison gets a
takedown and works some ground-and-pound until the first round ends.
The second round begins with the two fighters trading kicks. Harrison tries a few more times to get a trip or takedown but can’t complete
it. Harrison is landing more strikes but Vieira has managed to bloody
Harrison. They continue trading strikes in close until the second
round ends. The third round starts with Harrison trying for multiple takedowns but Vieira fights them off. Harrison eventually gets one and
starts pounding away on Vieira. Harrison punishes her opponent with
big punches and elbows but Vieira survives and the fight ends. We go to the judges to render their verdict.
Harrison wins the decision to improve to 18-1 and has won 3 straight
fights while Vieira drops to 14-4. Good win for Harrison.
GOOD- Roman Dolidze stops Kevin Holland
Holland starts off with kicks and punches before Dolidze gets a
takedown. Dolidze starts throwing punches as Holland fights off his
back until something happens and Holland appears to have been hurt.
Dolidze pounds away until the first round ends. Holland immediately
points to his rib as he stands up. Holland’s coach calls the fight off so as not to risk further injury to his fighter and this is over after the first round.
Dolidze improves to 14-3 while Holland drops to 26-12 with 1 No Contest. Good win for Dolidze.
GOOD- Jose Aldo vs. Mario Bautista
They start with kicks before mixing in some punches as well. Bautista
can’t get a takedown and they trade knees and shoulder strikes in close as Bautista keeps trying for a takedown. Bautista is content to
grind away in the clinch and Aldo’s return fight is underwhelming so
far as the first round ends. The second round begins with them
fighting at more of a distance this time. Well, for a while anyway as Bautista tries for a takedown and starts grinding away in the clinch.
Aldo tags Bautista with several punches before the second round ends.
The third round starts with Aldo landing several more high impact strikes. Bautista keeps trying for a takedown but Aldo stymies him
each time and the fight ends. We go to the judges to render their verdict in this close fight.
Bautista wins the Split Decision to improve to 15-2 and has won 7 straight fights while Aldo drops to 32-9. I disagree with the decision
but good win for Bautista.
GOOD- Raquel Pennington vs. Julianna Pena
Pennington was looking to defend her UFC Bantamweight Championship
here for the first time after winning it in January. They start off
jabbing each other and this continues for the whole first round until
they hit each other with heavier strikes as the first round ends. The second round begins with more of the same until Pena gets a takedown.
Pena controls her until Pennington gets back to her feet. Pena stays
attached to Pennington until the second round ends. The third round
starts with more punches being exchanged along with the occasional
kick. Pena eventually gets another takedown and locks in a face crank but Pennington survives until the third round ends.
The fourth round opens with more punches and some kicks. Pena is using
her jab and trying to combo while Pennington wings out powerful
strikes that eventually drop Pena but Pennington can’t finish Pena and
the fourth round ends and we’re possibly tied here. The fifth round begins with more striking exchanges. Pennington seems to be landing
more and with power but Pena is right in there battling as well.
Pennington wobbles Pena with some power strikes and she tries for a
finish but Pena is tough and survives and the fight ends. We go to the judges to render their verdict.
Pena wins the Split Decision and is the new UFC Bantamweight Champion
as she improves to 12-5 while Pennington drops to 16-9 and has his 5
fight winning streak snapped. I disagree with the decision but good win for Pena.
GOOD- Alex Pereira stops Khalil Rountree Jr.
Pereira successfully defended his UFC Light Heavyweight Championship
for the third time here. They start off trading strikes, Pereira
utilizing kicks while Rountree favors punches. Pereira starts throwing
some punches as well but Rountree is having good success as the first
round ends. The second round begins with more heavy striking exchanges
that look fight-ending but both men show good toughness. Pereira gets
dropped to a knee from a Rountree right hand but he shakes it off as the second round ends. The third round starts with Rountree again
hurting Pereira with a powerful left hook. Pereira’s leg kicks are
paying off as Rountree’s leg looks a little weakened by them. His punches, however, are still coming in hot and damaging Pereira. The
champion is firing back and doing a lot of damage of his own, though,
and the third round ends.
The fourth round opens with more kicking exchanges. Pereira is doing some real damage with his leg kicks. His punches are also finding
their mark. Rountree is battling back but Pereira pours it on,
mangling Rountree’s face as some parts swell and his eyebrow is cut
open in a very nasty way. Rountree is hurt and Pereira keeps coming
forward with bad intentions. Pereira is tearing into Rountree with repeated strikes that drop Rountree and the referee has to jump in to
stop the fight four and a half minutes into the fourth round.
Pereira improves to 12-2 and has won 5 straight fights, with 3 title defenses this year alone, while Rountree drops to 13-6 with 1 No Contest and has his 5 fight winning streak snapped. Good win for Pereira.
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Comments and suggestions can be emailed to me at
hydenfrank@gmail.com and you can follow me on Twitter at @hydenfrank.
Thanks for reading and have a good day.
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