UFC is back! This weekend, the action returns to the Delta Center for a jam-packed fight card, headlined by Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. for the Light Heavyweight title.
The co-main event features Raquel Pennington facing Julianna Pena for the Women's Bantamweight belt, and there is a packed undercard to complete an exciting weekend.
Here are our expert betting tips and bet predictions
● Total Odds: 15.27
● Booking Code: QK1465
Alex Pereira vs Khalil Rountree Jr — Light Heavyweight Title
Alex Pereira's reputation as a formidable fighter continues to grow. Since claiming the light heavyweight title with a second-round victory over Jiri Prochazka at Madison Square Garden, Pereira has successfully defended his belt twice - against Jamahal Hill at UFC 300 and Prochazka again at UFC 303.
His UFC record now stands at 11-2, but there are some who believe the Brazilian is yet to face a top level challenger, particularly Russian fighter Magomed Ankalaev.
Regardless of the doubters, Pereira remains one of the most feared fighters in the UFC.
His impressive speed and ability to alter the course of a fight with a single blow makes him a safe pick for our online betting community.
Khalil Rountree Jr. arrives in Salt Lake City on a five-fight winning streak, winning four of those in utterly dominant fashion.
In his last outing, the 34-year-old produced a strong performance, stopping Anthony Smith in the third round with a devastating left hand that sent him crashing to the canvas.
Rountree may be the underdog on paper, but we certainly won’t write him off, especially given his current form. Although the underdog story is optimistic, Pereira is the better fighter, with the better track record and or bet prediction is for the champ to win.
Raquel Pennington vs Julianna Pena – Women's Bantamweight
Raquel Pennington enters UFC 307 with a 16-8 record and a strong chance of defending her title. She's a durable, tenacious fighter - eight of her last ten fights have gone the distance.
This grinding approach earned her the UFC Women's Bantamweight title against Bueno Silva, and we expect more of the same at UFC 307.
Julianna Pena is a talented fighter with a respectable 11-5 record, but this is her first fight since losing to Amanda Nunes in July 2022.
A 14-month hiatus means the 35-year-old Venezuelan could suffer from ring rust, handing the edge to the much sharper Pennington.
Our bet prediction for this one is a win for Pennington.
Jose Aldo vs Mario Bautista
Jose Aldo (32-8-0) faces Mario Bautista (14-2-0) in a highly anticipated matchup in UFC 307. This fight was promoted to main event after an injury forced the Aljamain Sterling vs. Movsar Evloev fight to be rescheduled.
Aldo, 38, is a former UFC champion and will make his 22nd appearance in the franchise. He came out of retirement this year with an impressive win against Jonathan Martinez at UFC 301 and will be aiming two make it two out of two.
One thing is certain, Bautista won't be an easy opponent. The American is riding a six-fight winning streak, and 14 wins in total, with three coming via knockout and six through submission.
The 31-year-old enters this fight with tremendous confidence and momentum. will be looking to claim the biggest win of his career this weekend in Salt Lake City.
Bautista is younger, quicker and his high-volume striking approach could overwhelm Aldo. The smart bet prediction is Baustista to win.
Roman Dolidze vs. Kevin Holland
Roman Dolidze is coming off an impressive win against Anthony Smith, improving his record to 13-3. However, his next challenge comes in the form of Kevin Holland, who looked utterly dominant in his UFC 302 victory over Michal Oleksiejczuk.
At 37, Dolidze is past his prime, especially considering he's dropped two of his last three fights. Holland, on the other hand, is in fine form and enjoys a significant height advantage over his opponent. He also excels at striking from distance while defending against incoming attacks.
While you can never write off a veteran fighter like Dolidze, Holland looks in better shape and we're backing the 'Trailblazer' to take the win.
Stephen Thompson vs Joaquin Buckley
This fight pits two competitors at different stages of their careers in what should be a thrilling bout for UFC fans and the online betting community. Stephen Thompson, 41, is nearing the end of his career, while 29-year-old Joaquin Buckley is just hitting his prime.
Thompson has lost 3 of his last 4 and his decline was visible in the defeat to current welterweight champion, Gilbert Burns.
Buckley is on the longest winning streak of his UFC career, with four straight wins, including two knockouts. He’s known for his striking, but his wrestling skills could be the key to victory here. With a 69% takedown defense and 1.69 takedowns per 15 minutes, Buckley has the tools to control this fight.
Ketlen Vieira vs Kayla Harrison
Ketlen Vieira returns to the Octagon after a 14-month layoff. Her last fight was in July 2023 when she beat Piannie Kianzad via unanimous decision.
Her previous loss to Raquel Pennington now looks even more respectable, given Pennington's current reign as UFC women's bantamweight champion.
Vieira is coming up against a formidable opponent in Kayla Harrison, a two-time Olympic gold medallist, making serious noise in the UFC.
Harrison's impressive resume includes 13 stoppages (six knockouts, seven submissions) in her 17 wins. She’s also been talking big in the buildup, and we think she can back it up.
Marina Rodriguez vs Lucindo Lasmin
Marina Rodriguez aims to get back on track after losing three of her last four fights. Her latest setback was a split decision loss to Jessica Andrade at UFC 300.
She faces Iasmin Lucindo, who has an impressive 16-5 record at just 22 years-old, and has won three straight since her UFC debut defeat to Yazmin Jauregui.
Rodriguez has struggled since her TKO loss to Amanda Lemos in November 2022, and she must be prepared for an even tougher test here.
Our bet of the day is for Lucindo to win. The Brazilian has boundless energy and stamina, and this will be a good measure of how far she’s come.
Cesar Almeida vs Ihor Potieria
Cesar Almeida is looking to bounce back from his first MMA loss, a split decision defeat to Roman Kopylov at UFC 302. Before that, he was on a five-fight winning streak after making the transition from kickboxing.
Almeida's kickboxing background is impressive - 47 wins and just 8 losses. He earned a UFC contract through the Contender Series and now sits at 5-1 in MMA.
Next up, he faces Ihor Potieria, a Ukrainian fighter who's had a tough time in the UFC, losing four of his six fights. Potieria's got power and some submission skills, but his technique is a bit rough around the edges.
This one's got all the makings of a thrilling fight. Almeida's kickboxing skills should give him the edge and we are solidly behind him for this one.
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