Alex Pereira emerged as the champion at UFC 307 after a tough battle against Khalil Rountree Jr., with both fighters earning Fight of the Night honors, while Joaquin Buckley and Ryan Spann received Performance of the Night bonuses for their impressive finishes.
Alex Pereira walks out of UFC 307 as a champion. But hey, Khalil Rountree Jr.? He’s got nothing to hang his head about.
The challenger gave Pereira a real run for his money in Saturday’s main event in Salt Lake City. Standing toe-to-toe with the feared knockout artist for three rounds—before getting caught by a flurry from Pereira in the fourth. Every exchange had the Delta Center crowd roaring like it was the Fourth of July! And guess what? They snagged the Fight of the Night award, pocketing an extra $50,000 each.
Performance of the Night bonuses? Those went to Joaquin Buckley and Ryan Spann. Both delivered jaw-dropping finishes on the prelims.
Buckley? He landed a thunderous knockout on Stephen Thompson in round three. That’s two-time welterweight title challenger Stephen Thompson, mind you. This win bumps him up to 5-0 since dropping to 170 pounds. Oh, and it’s his fifth Performance of the Night bonus too!
Meanwhile, Spann bagged his third bonus with a slick first-round submission of veteran Ovince Saint Preux. After rocking Saint Preux with a right hand, he swiftly transitioned into a guillotine choke, forcing the tap. In his post-fight interview, Spann cheekily dubbed it “The Superman-otine.”