UFC 307 LIVE: Alex Pereira knocks out Khalil Rountree in brutal main event

Round four

Rountree is getting more and more beat up as this fight goes on. Suddenly, the tank is running empty.

Pereira starts the round by landing a stiff jab on his right eye, which becomes busted open. The Brazilian drives forward with a vicious combination.

Poatan smells blood and is LAYING in warheads on the skull of Rountree. The challenger is exhausted and is taking repeated heavy, brutal shots

Rountree is drenched in his own crimson and up against the fence, he takes two seismic body shots before an uppercut finally crumples him to the mat.

Warrior’s spirit from ‘The War Horse’, but he could only take so much punishment. Pereira was taking zero prisoners, devastating stuff. AND STILL!

Alex Pereira def. Khalil Rountree via fourth round TKO (body strikes and uppercut, 4:32)

Round three

Big body shots for Rountree to start to the round, Pereira responds with a head kick.

Another overhand counter gets through for Rountree, who is marshalling Poatan in the first half of the third.

But as the round enters the final minute, Pereira begins to close the gap and punishing Rountree with jabs. He follows up with a jumping knee before initiating a clinch and laying in more knees from close range as the buzzer goes.

We’re getting championship rounds.

Round two

Beautiful right hand counter from Poatan who is beginning to land more and more. Leg kicks also increasingly becoming a factor, and you can see the damage on Khalil’s calf.

Overhand right gets through for Rountree on the back of the ear. Khalil’s counters for much of this fight have been that little bit short - but as Pereira goes for an overzealous high kick, Rountree ducks it lands a counter shot flush on the nose to drop the champion!

Poatan gets up very quickly and appears unfazed - but he remains under the cosh and gets hit with a heavy head kick as the round comes to a close.

That could very well be 2-0 Rountree after two rounds.

Round one

Here we go. Five rounds sanctioned for the light heavyweight title. Surely we won’t get more than a couple.

Poatan stares a hole through Rountree before charging at him from the clap. No three second KO here though, Rountree catches the kick and Pereira ends up on the ground.

Big left hand by Rountree but as he goes for a similar shot moments later, Poatan counters with a nice right hand. Pereira also utilising his trademark calf kicks early on.

Right hand then gets through for Rountree as part of a combination. The challenger is swinging and landing. Another right overhand clips the champ.

Rountree has showcased lightning speed in this round - but as the buzzer goes, he’s already breathing heavy. He’s not going to be able to keep up this explosiveness for long, especially at altitude.

The main event of the evening is upon us.

Alex Pereira is arguably the scariest man in MMA today and will be eager to keep his stock sky-high as he squares off against Khalil Rountree in tonight’s headliner.

Rountree, who has been thrown straight into the title picture by Dana White after serving a four-month suspension for a failed drug test, is a versatile fighter with immense knockout power.

He has pedigree of finishing some of the best kickboxers on the planet - and while he walks into the Octagon as the heavy underdog, you would be naive to write Rountree off.

We’ve had a fair few decisions tonight. I’d be shocked if this makes it beyond the second round. Fireworks incoming.

Julianna Pena has snubbed any insinuation that Kayla Harrison is next in line for the women’s bantamweight title - instead calling on Amanda Nunes to come out of retirement to set up a trilogy bout.

“What I’d really like is for Amanda Nunes to quit ducking and come back to this Octagon to settle it,” she said.

“We’re one and one, that would be the biggest fight in mixed martial arts history in the bantamweight division.

“I do not believe that she’s done. I want to see her back inside the Octagon so we can settle the score once and for all.”

Round five

Both fighters are throwing punches but the altitude is taking its toll. They’re tiring.

Out of the two, Pennington has the more energy but is making what seems to be a mistake by actually initiating a clinch with Pena, who would prefer to get the fight to the ground. However, the challenger doesn’t seem to have anything left in the tank to even try and take the champ down.

Pena then gets rocked with a right and is being pushed back. She responds well with a couple jabs but nothing to put Pennington in too much danger. We go the full 25 minutes and, once again, the judges are required.

Julianna Pena def. Raquel Pennington via split decision (48-47, 48-47, 47-48)

And newwwwww! Pena edges it on the scorecard to reclaim the throne at women’s bantamweight.

Round four

We’re into the championship rounds and we start with the most significant strike of the bout so far. Pennington throws a head kick and connects foot with face, stunning Pena who does well to stay her feet.

Pennington also finally starts to utilise low kicks, targeting the front leg of Pena. However, it’s boxing that the champ wants to rely on - and with two minutes to go, we see why. She slips Pena before landing a crushing overhand right to earn the first knockdown of the fight.

Pennington then makes the decision to go to the ground, which given Pena’s grappling acumen put the ball back in her court and allowed the challenger to weather the storm.

Pena survives to the buzzer. Fifth and final round required.

Round three

Stiff right from Pena to start off the third, Pennington responds with a left hook.

Pena then does well to close the gap and get the takedown once again, and this time she’s looking to damage. She’s laying in the ground and pound.

Pena then scrambles to get the back and goes for a choke. For a second it looks locked in, but she’s only squeezing the face of Pennington who is able to escape.

Round two

Pennington enjoying success whenever she goes for the calf kick, targeting the front leg that Pena is standing so heavily on.

Pena closes the gap, connects her hands behind Pennington’s back and takes her to the mat, where she possesses the advantage.

Pennington manages to get to her feet but Pena takes the back and is looking for a body triangle. The pair are up against the fence, but little damage is able to be done.