Tag: UFC 307

Chris Curtis forced out of UFC 307 bout vs. Kevin Holland due to injury

UFC 307 has lost a fun fight.

[autotag]Chris Curtis[/autotag] won’t be healthy enough for UFC 307.

After he was spotted Tuesday in a walking boot cornering teammate Mansur Abdul-Malik during Dana White’s Contender Series, Curtis (31-11 MMA, 5-3 UFC) officially revealed Wednesday on X that he won’t be ready for his fight vs. [autotag]Kevin Holland[/autotag] (26-11 MMA, 13-8 UFC) due to a foot fracture.

The middleweight bout was expected to take place Oct. 5 as part of UFC 307 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

“I’m fine, guys,” Curtis wrote. “Bit of a fracture in my left foot, caught @BorralhoCaio on the knee, at the very end of the last round of sparring . The bigger problem is I have something called a lisfranc injury as well, which means I’m not even supposed to be walking without crutches for… the next 4 to 5 weeks, which sucks but had it been any worse, it would have possibly been surgical. So count your blessings there. Hopefully, I’ll be OK for December. If not, I’ll see you all next year. Thanks for all the comments and concerns.”

It’s unclear if Holland will remain on the card or be rebooked for a later date vs. Curtis or someone else. Holland reacted with a quick Instagram in which he said, “F*cking Chris.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/C-of9WPJ8KL/

Curtis had just resumed full training after a hamstring injury suffered in his most recent appearance, a split decision loss to Brendan Allen in April. Curtis is 1-1 with one no contest in his most recent three outings.

Holland most recently competed in June when he defeated Michal Oleksiejczuk by first-round submission. The victory snapped a two-fight skid.

With the change, the current UFC 307 lineup includes:

  • Movsar Evloev vs. Aljamain Sterling
  • Jose Aldo vs. Mario Bautista
  • Kayla Harrison vs. Ketlen Vieira
  • Chris Curtis vs. TBA
  • Carla Esparza vs. Tecia Pennington
  • Iasmin Lucindo vs. Marina Rodriguez
  • Cesar Almeida vs. Ihor Potieria

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 307.

Former champ Carla Esparza says UFC 307 vs. Tecia Pennington is her retirement fight

After nearly 15 years in MMA, and more than two decades in combat sports, a pioneer has decided her next fight will be her last.

After nearly 15 years in MMA, and more than two decades in combat sports, a pioneer has decided her next fight will be her last.

Inaugural UFC women’s strawweight champion [autotag]Carla Esparza[/autotag] (19-7 MMA, 10-5 UFC) announced Friday on Instagram that her upcoming fight against Tecia Pennington (13-7 MMA, 9-7 UFC) at UFC 307 will be her final one.

Esparza cited a chance to go out her way to start spending more time with her family.

“*RETIREMENT FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENT* I will be stepping into The UFC Octagon on Saturday, October 5th for the final time,” Esparza posted. “After almost 15 years as a professional, fighting the best of the best, I feel it’s time to hang up my gloves. This choice is made for my body and my family; 20+ years doing combat sports takes its toll.

“I wanted to give my ‘Cookie Monster’ fans, who have never been there to watch me live, one final opportunity. It feels bittersweet to leave this sport that I love so much, but I’m happy to be doing it on my own terms. #UFC307”

https://www.instagram.com/p/C-K6SIKJxbT

Esparza, who will turn 37 in October, fought on the regional scene early in her career, but the two shots she had at the bigger level for Bellator came up short. But after a win over Felice Herrig, she made her way to Invicta and won the strawweight title against Bec Rawlings.

When the UFC opened up “The Ultimate Fighter” for women’s strawweights, she made it to the show, then won it by submitted Rose Namajunas to become the promotion’s first 115-pound champ. And though she lost it in her first attempted title defense against Joanna Jedrzejczyk in 2015, she eventually worked her way back to a five-fight winning streak and upset Namajunas in 2022 to win the title for a second time.

Later that year, though, Esparza ran into another two-time champion in Zhang Weili and was submitted to surrender the belt. A little less than a year later, Esparza had her first child. This will be her first fight after giving birth.

UFC 307 (pay-per-view/ESPN/ESPN+) takes place Oct. 5 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 307.

Kayla Harrison books second UFC bout, will fight Ketlen Vieira at UFC 307

Kayla Harrison said she was willing to “smash another skull” before fighting for a UFC title, and she will get that opportunity.

[autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] said last month that she was willing to “smash another skull” before fighting for the UFC women’s bantamweight championship, and she will get that opportunity.

Harrison, No. 3 in the official UFC rankings at 135 pounds, is set to meet No. 2 Ketlen Vieira on Oct. 5 at UFC 307. Both fighters have confirmed the matchup on social media after MMA reporter Leo Guimaraes first reported the matchup on X.

After Harrison took care of business and finished former champ Holly Holm in her promotion debut this past April at UFC 300, there was talk of the former two-time PFL champion jumping straight into a title shot. But with current champ Raquel Pennington yet to defend her title against Julianna Peña as expected, Harrison will have to get past another formidable foe to earn her shot.

Vieira is 4-3 in her past seven bouts, although she’s more recently won three of her past four. Her last fight was a unanimous decision win over Pannie Kianzad in July 2023. Prior to that victory, Vieira lost a split decision to Pennington.

With the addition, the current UFC 307 lineup includes:

  • Movsar Evloev vs. Aljamain Sterling
  • Kayla Harrison vs. Ketlen Vieira
  • Chris Curtis vs. Kevin Holland
  • Jose Aldo vs. Mario Bautista
  • Iasmin Lucindo vs. Marina Rodriguez
  • Cesar Almeida vs. Ihor Potieria

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Jose Aldo return targeted for UFC 307 vs. Mario Bautista

“The King of Rio” Jose Aldo will return at UFC 307.

“The King of Rio” will return at UFC 307.

Former UFC featherweight champion [autotag]Jose Aldo[/autotag] will battle [autotag]Mario Bautista[/autotag] in a three-round bantamweight bout Oct. 5 at Delta Center.

Both fighters confirmed the booking on social media, although the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. Ag. Fight first reported the matchup Thursday.

Aldo (32-8 MMA, 14-7 UFC) returned from a near-two-year MMA retirement in May when he defeated Jonathan Martinez by unanimous decision. The bout was his first since a July 2022 loss to Merab Dvalishvili by unanimous decision. During his MMA hiatus, Aldo competed in three professional boxing matches and went 2-1. He was also inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2023.

Bautista (14-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC) enters his biggest fight to date on a six-fight winning streak. In January, he defeated Ricky Simon by unanimous decision. Bautista is a longtime member of the MMA Lab, training under coach John Crouch and alongside the likes of Sean O’Malley, Kyler Phillips, and more.

With the addition, the UFC 307 lineup includes:

  • Movsar Evloev vs. Aljamain Sterling
  • Jose Aldo vs. Mario Bautista
  • Chris Curtis vs. Kevin Holland
  • Iasmin Lucindo vs. Marina Rodriguez
  • Cesar Almeida vs. Ihor Potieria

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 307.

Former champ Carla Esparza fights Tecia Pennington at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City

Carla Esparza and Tecia Pennington meet again over a decade after their “TUF 20” clash.

[autotag]Carla Esparza[/autotag] and [autotag]Tecia Pennington[/autotag] squared off in an exhibition bout during “The Ultimate Fighter 20” nearly a decade ago.

Ten years later, the two will fight again, this time in a three-round pro strawweight contest Oct. 5 at UFC 307 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

Two people with knowledge of the targeted matchup recently informed MMA Junkie of the booking but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. Verbal agreements are in place with bout agreements expected to be signed in the coming days.

Esparza (19-7 MMA, 10-5 UFC) has not competed since a title challenge loss to Zhang Weili by TKO in November 2022 snapped a six-fight winning streak. She gave birth to a baby boy in September and resumed sparring in July.

Pennington (13-7 MMA, 9-7 UFC) aims to snap a two-fight skid. Prior to back-to-back defeats against Mackenzie Dern and Tabatha Ricci, Pennington compiled three-straight wins over Brianna Foutinho, Sam Hughes, and Angela Hill.

The two fighters were “TUF 20” cast members in 2010. The season was coached by Anthony Pettis and Gilbert Melendez. Esparza defeated Pennington (nee Torres) by two-round unanimous decision. Esparza went on to win the season and become the first-ever UFC women’s strawweight champion.

With the addition, the UFC 307 lineup includes:

  • Movsar Evloev vs. Aljamain Sterling
  • Jose Aldo vs. Mario Bautista
  • Kayla Harrison vs. Ketlen Vieira
  • Chris Curtis vs. Kevin Holland
  • Carla Esparza vs. Tecia Pennington
  • Iasmin Lucindo vs. Marina Rodriguez
  • Cesar Almeida vs. Ihor Potieria

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 307.

Chris Curtis vs. Kevin Holland: Salt Lake City gets middleweight banger for UFC 307

A pair of middleweights who hit more like heavyweights are set to collide this fall at UFC 307.

A pair of middleweights who hit more like heavyweights are set to collide this fall at UFC 307.

[autotag]Chris Curtis[/autotag] (31-11 MMA, 5-3 UFC) will take on [autotag]Kevin Holland[/autotag] (26-11 MMA, 13-8 UFC) at the event expected for Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Oct. 5. People with knowledge of the matchup told MMA Junkie it is set. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the UFC has not formally announced the matchup.

Curtis needs to get back on track after a main event loss to Brendan Allen in April. Allen outworked him for a unanimous decision over five rounds in a rematch. Curtis knocked Allen out in 2021 and got a bonus for it, but Allen avenged things three months ago. Curtis had been trying to build on a January win over Marc-Andre Barriault.

Holland moved back to middleweight in June and finished Michal Oleksiejczuk with an armbar at UFC 302. That snapped a two-fight skid of welterweight losses to Jack Della Maddalena and Michael Page in his UFC debut. The win also gave him his eighth post-fight bonus in the UFC.

With the addition, the UFC 307 lineup now includes:

  • Movsar Evloev vs. Aljamain Sterling
  • Chris Curtis vs. Kevin Holland
  • Iasmin Lucindo vs. Marina Rodriguez
  • Cesar Almeida vs. Ihor Potieria

For more on the matchup, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 307.

UFC 307 adds Movsar Evloev vs. Aljamain Sterling in crucial featherweight bout

This is a big fight in the UFC featherweight division that could have title implications.

A big one in the UFC’s 145-pound division is set for Oct. 5.

At an event expected to be UFC 307, former UFC bantamweight champion [autotag]Aljamain Sterling[/autotag] continues his featherweight quest against top contender [autotag]Movsar Evloev[/autotag]. While the event has not yet been announced, it’s expected to take place in Salt Lake City.

Two people with knowledge of the matchup recently informed MMA Junkie of the booking but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

Sterling (24-4 MMA, 16-4 UFC) and Evloev (18-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) have gone back-and-forth in recent weeks. Both expressed interest in the fight, but a date was debated. Now, it seems they’ve found common ground.

Sterling lost the promotion’s bantamweight title to Sean O’Malley by TKO in August 2023 after three title defenses as champion. He moved to featherweight and debuted at UFC 300, when he defeated Calvin Kattar by unanimous decision.

Evloev enters the fight undefeated, with his three most recent wins against Arnold Allen, Diego Lopes, and Dan Ige. A former M-1 champion, Evloev has won all eight of his UFC fights by decision.

No other bouts have been announced or reported for UFC 307 at this time.

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