Any UFC card that features Alex Pereira in the main event automatically becomes must-see TV. And, as expected, Pereira delivered a violent performance against the resolute Khalil Rountree Jr. in defense of his light heavyweight championship. Pereira stole the show in Salt Lake City with an impressive win over Rountree. But how well did the rest of UFC 307 fare with a card that included a Hall of Famer (José Aldo), a future Hall of Famer in her retirement fight (Carla Esparza) and a pair of high-stakes fights in the women's bantamweight division?
After each pay-per-view, we break down and assess the quality of each fight and the fight card as a whole based on skill displayed, competitiveness and what is at stake.
Light heavyweight: Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree Jr.
Result: Pereira def. Rountree by fourth-round TKO
Grade: A
The result was far from the one-sided drubbing that many anticipated. Instead, Pereira versus Rountree was something far more frightening and violent. Rountree answered the call with a spirited effort, raising eyebrows with his resolve and power. The challenger was explosive and matched Pereira in the power department.
Rather than engage in heated exchanges of leather, "Poatan" calmly deployed crippling leg kicks and a thudding jab that left Rountree's face covered in cuts and bruises. It was methodical yet enthralling as Pereira and Rountree entertained until multiple body punches ended the fight. This was a far different outing than Pereria's previous wins, adding to his remarkable career.
Welterweight: Stephen Thompson vs. Joaquin Buckley
Result: Buckley def. Thompson by third-round TKO
Grade: B
For most of the fight, Buckley charged at Thompson and launched fight-ending power shots while "Wonderboy" used counterstriking to pick off his powerful opponent. It worked for 12 minutes, leading to an exciting encounter where a hush swept over the crowd whenever Buckley charged in. And then it didn't. Thompson had narrowly avoided a fight-ending sequence until he backed himself into the fence, where Buckley plunged a devastating right hand that sent Thompson to the canvas and Buckley picked up the biggest win of his career. This was a fun fight with an exciting finish.
Light heavyweight: Ryan Spann vs. Ovince Saint Preux
Result: Spann def. Saint Preux by first-round submission
Grade: B
This is the Ryan Spann we have been waiting for. "Superman" made short work of Saint Preux with a first-round submission and looked like the fighter who had immense potential when he debuted in the UFC in 2018. Spann and Saint Preux threw punches in the middle of the Octagon until Spann cracked "OSP" with a right hand. A wobbled Saint Preux shot for a takedown but found himself trapped in a tight guillotine. It was only 90 seconds long but showed us what a dialed-in Spann can accomplish.
Women's bantamweight: Raquel Pennington vs. Julianna Peña
Result: Peña def. Pennington by split decision
Grade: B-
This championship scrap was never expected to be a barnburner. However, it delivered some drama regardless of how you felt about the result. Pennington and Peña engaged in a high-stakes battle of who could impose their will. Pennington's standup was both clean and precise while Peña's grappling was powerful and authoritative. It boiled down to what the judges liked more and the individuals tasked with the outcome rewarded Peña's takedowns and heavy top control. Some moments caused a stir during the 25-minute encounter: Peña fishing for a rear naked choke in Round 4 and Pennington sending Peña to the canvas in the fifth round. The fight managed to exceed expectations for excitement, which were relatively low.
Welterweight: Court McGee vs. Tim Means
Result: McGee def. Means by first-round submission
Grade: B-
In a battle of seasoned veterans out to prove they still have something left, McGee ended his three-fight losing streak with his first finish in just under 14 years by submitting Means in Round 1. If there was going to be a finish, few thought it would come from McGee but the 39-year-old used his wrestling to drag the fight to the canvas early and worked in a neck crank before Means could get out of first gear. This wasn't a finish that will make any highlight reels, but seeing "The Crusher" pick up his first win inside the distance since Oct. 23, 2010, gets extra credit points.
Women's bantamweight: Kayla Harrison vs. Ketlen Vieira
Result: Harrison def. Vieira by unanimous decision
Grade: C+
It wasn't the dominant performance that people expected from Harrison, but the two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo dealt with adversity while going the distance. Although Vieira didn't win, she poked holes in Harrison's veil of invincibility by defending takedowns and unleashing a vicious elbow that caused a nasty hematoma on the former PFL champion's forehead. When the fight hit the canvas, Harrison showcased some nasty ground and pound. Harrison is still the favorite to claim the women's bantamweight title but we saw some vulnerability.
Men's bantamweight: Jose Aldo vs. Mario Bautista
Result: Bautista def. Aldo by split decision
Grade: C+
This fight was heading toward an A in the early rounds as Bautista's hectic pace met Aldo's sturdy and powerful jab. But Bautista played it smart, using constant movement and pressure to stifle the 38-year-old former champion. There were fireworks when Aldo moved the fight into the center of the Octagon. The second round showcased Aldo's brilliant striking as he slashed Bautista's face with his jab and slammed a brutal knee to counter a takedown attempt. Bautista's ability to hold Aldo against the cage may not have been exciting, but it was effective as he left the Delta Center with the biggest win of his career.
Lightweight: Austin Hubbard vs. Alexander Hernandez
Result: Hernandez def. Hubbard by split decision
Grade: C+
Hernandez was excellent early on, neutralizing Hubbard's advances behind solid takedown defense and a left hook. But Hubbard cranked up the pressure in the final round, marking up Hernandez's face with a variety of strikes. After the fight, It seemed pretty clear that Hernandez would get the unanimous decision nod but a judge scored the fight 30-27 for Hubbard. On the strength of an action-packed third round, this fight bumped up from a grade C affair to a C+.
Women's strawweight: Marina Rodriguez vs. Iasmin Lucindo
Result: Lucindo def. Rodriguez by split decision
Grade: C
Lucindo neutralized Rodriguez's kickboxing background and did just enough to squeeze out a narrow victory. There was nothing flashy about the fight. Instead, this was simply two fighters looking to execute their game plans and play to their strengths. At 22 years old, Lucindo showed tremendous patience, eventually closing the distance and pulling the fight to the canvas in Round 2. But top control is not a recipe for an exciting fight. It was a solid but unspectacular fight.
Women's strawweight: Carla Esparza vs. Tecia Pennington
Result: Pennington def. Esparza by unanimous decision
Grade: D+
If you've seen one Esparza fight, you've seen them all. However, considering this was the final fight of her career, it added some intrigue as she faced Pennington, a fellow "The Ultimate Fighter" alum. As expected, Esparza was successful in the takedown department, but Pennington kept the fight close in the standup, landing several leg kicks that slowed "Cookie Monster" down. This bout was extremely tough to score, but it felt like the judges got it wrong by giving Pennington a unanimous decision. If nothing else, it's worth watching for Esparza's video package and post-fight speech that had UFC commentator Joe Rogan choked up.
Middleweight: Cesar Almeida vs. Ihor Potieria
Result: Almeida def. Potieria by unanimous decision
Grade: F
Blame referee Dave Seljestad for this grade because he was awful in this encounter. Between ignoring blatant eye pokes and breaking up clinches far too early, this fight was impossible to watch. Almeida won but nobody will remember how. Instead, we'll remember the atrocious officiating that distracted from the work done by the fighters.
Middleweight: Kevin Holland vs. Roman Dolidze
Result: Dolidze def. Holland by first-round TKO
Grade: Incomplete
Even though Dolidze will officially have a stoppage victory over Holland, the fight will end up with a rare "Incomplete" due to how it ended. With not much happening in Round 1, Dolidze shot and secured a takedown. Holland initiated a scramble and injured his ribs while attempting to improve his position from the bottom. With his opponent compromised, Dolidze transitioned to full mount and pursued a finish with ground and pound. Holland survived but was unable to answer the bell for the second round.
UFC 307 fight card grade: B-
Anchored by a stellar main event and an exciting welterweight clash, UFC 307's highs almost balanced its lows. Go out of your way to watch the masterful (and extraordinarily violent) performance of Pereria versus Rountree and Buckley's wicked finish of "Wonderboy" Thompson. The rest of the card was fine but nothing to write home about.