UFC 307's big winners are in line for more big fights

Val Dewar

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UFC 307's big winners are in line for more big fights image

 Alex Pereira

Alex 'Poatan' Pereira had his hardest test to date as UFC light-heavyweight champion but he still passed with flying colors by stopping Khalil Rountree in the fourth round. Pereira's next fight has seemingly already been decided.

Everyone assumes Magomed Ankalaev will fight him next, but that would be dismissive of Aleksander Rakic, who looked better than ever for about seven minutes before being caught and losing to an iron-chinned Jiri Prochazka.

Either way, the winner of that fight will be next for the champion at 205-lbs, and either man has a strong chance against Pereira with their wrestling abilities, but so too does Alex have the touch of death to put either man out, both of whom have been dropped before in the UFC.

Pereira's Next Fight: Winner of  Ankalaev/Rakic

 

Julianna Pena vs Kayla Harrison

The co-main event of UFC 307 ended in controversial split decision as Julianna Pena took the belt home on Saturday night. 

Raquel Pennington will likely be back in a title fight soon in the shallow women's bantamweight division, but for now the next title challenger is obvious: Kayla Harrison.

Harrison opened the main card with her second win in as many fights since joining the UFC after leaving PFL, and her win against #2 Ketlen Vieira gives her the resume she needs to fight for a belt so quickly.

Pena's Next Fight: Kayla Harrison 

 

Mario Bautista

Most fans of mixed martial arts are not a fan of the decision of Bautista's fight with Jose Aldo, or of Bautista himself after his clinchwork late in the bout. However, they cannot change the outcome; Mario Bautista won the fight.

He will now move up from his rank of eleventh at bantamweight. His seven fight winning streak should now put Mario Bautista in a good spot for a compelling matchup with Song Yadong, likely as a Fight Night main event.

Bautista's Next Fight: vs Song Yadong

 

Roman Dolidze & Kevin Holland

Unfortunately, the contest between these two middleweights had scarcely begun before it was over from a Kevin Holland rib injury incurred in a scramble. Though Dolidze got the win on paper, a rematch is necessary to determine the true victor.

Next Fight: Roman Dolidze vs Kevin Holland 2

Val Dewar

Val Dewar Photo

Val was initiated into Steelers Nation from the moment he was born — his first memory is a game vs. New England from when "Slash" was QB — and doing sports writing has always been a dream career for him. In 2022 he broke into the industry by writing about combat sports for Cageside Press, and now has the opportunity to continue that work with TSN as an MMA writer, as well as get his feet wet on the Steelers beat.