Watch MMA Fighting's UFC 307 Timeline video for an in-depth look at how both headliners got to this weekend's pay-per-view in Salt Lake City.

"Poatan" became the UFC middleweight champion in short order after stopping long-standing rival Israel Adesanya at UFC 281 in November 2022. After Adesanya exacted revenge five months later at UFC 287, Pereira's journey led to the light heavyweight division, where he captured his second divisional title two fights later. His reign extended into an unforgettable 2024 campaign, where he saved the UFC to earn knockout wins on the massive UFC 300 and UFC 303 events.

Rountree gets his first shot at UFC gold, doing so as a sizable underdog. The 34-year-old has had a rollercoaster ride from season 23 of The Ultimate Fighter, to an opportunity to pull off one of the most stunning upsets in UFC history.

Will the incredible rise of Pereira continue, or does the era of Rountree begin?