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

In her post-fight interview, new women’s bantamweight champion Julianna Pena snubbed any insinuation that Kayla Harrison is next in line for a title shot – instead calling on Amanda Nunes to come out of retirement to set up a trilogy bout.

Kayla, who convincingly beat number two ranked Ketlen Vieira earlier in the night, was far from impressed.

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

Julianna Pena def. Raquel Pennington via split decision for the women’s bantamweight title (48-47, 48-47, 47-48)

Mario Bautista def. Jose Aldo via split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)

Roman Dolidze def. Kevin Holland via first round TKO (rib injury, 5:00)

Kayla Harrison def. Ketlen Vieira via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Joaquin Buckley def. Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson via third round knockout (overhand right, 2:17)

Alexander Hernandez def. Austin Hubbard via split decision (29-28, 29-29, 27-30)

Iasmin Lucindo def. Marina Rodriguez via split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)

Cesar Almeida def. Ihor Potieria via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Ryan Spann def. Ovince Saint Preux via first round submission (guillotine, 1:35)

Tecia Pennington def. Carla Esparza via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Court McGee def. Tim Means via first round submission (rear naked choke, 3:19)

Conor McGregor thinks he has the answer.

Alex Pereira has played down talk of an immediate move to middleweight or heavyweight after racking up his third successful title defence at 205.

“We saw that Dricus is going to be fighting Sean Strickland. He’s a training partner of mine so I don’t want to get in his way,” he said.

“I could go up to heavyweight but this division is great, I feel great with this weight cut and this is where I’m at.”

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)

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.

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.