With two title fights, UFC 307 in Salt Lake City is shaping up to be a fighter (and fan) favorite.

SALT LAKE CITY – A year ago, Stephen Thompson went through a full week of prep training, photo shoots and media – including whether or not the UFC fighter on the other side of the 40 would soon be hanging up his gloves – just to make his fight UFC in Salt Lake City was canceled after his opponent Michel Pereira failed to make weight at Friday’s official weigh-in.

When the promotion announced a return to Salt Lake City for a third consecutive pay-per-view event, the mixed martial artist known as “Wonderboy” knew he had to be there.

After getting all the DMs and personal messages from fans eager to see him succeed — and some who wanted to see “the nicest guy in the UFC” fail — Thompson made it happen.

He will face Joaquin Buckley in a welterweight bout as part of the preliminary round of Saturday’s UFC 307 at Delta Center (4:30 p.m. MDT, ESPN+ PPV).

“I owe them one because I didn’t come fight last time,” Thompson said.

“Of course I want to win the fight, but I also want to put on a good show,” he added. “Hopefully me and Joaquin can do it this Saturday.”

UFC 307 marks the promotion’s fourth visit to Salt Lake City and third consecutive pay-per-view event, which has brought dozens of spectacular moments to combat sports fans in Utah’s capital city.

It’s a chance for MMA to solidify its presence on the Wasatch Front, where thousands of fans flock to local and regional promotions weekly.

The event will feature a total of 12 fights with two title fights for the first time in the Salt Lake City promotion’s limited history.

Alex Pereira, whose current four-fight winning streak began with a split decision victory over Jan Blachowicz in Salt Lake City last year, will defend his light heavyweight title against Khalil Rountree Jr. for the third time.

Likewise, Raquel Pennington (16-8, fighting from Colorado Springs, Colorado) will defend the women’s bantamweight title against challenger Julianna Pena (10-5, fighting from Spokane, Washington) in the first fight in Utah for the “Venezuelan Vixen.” since a unanimous decision loss to Utah Valley University graduate DeAnna Bennett at a Showdown Fights event at the UCCU Center in Orem.

There will also be a local son of Utah in attendance when 39-year-old Ogden native Court McGee (21-13, fights out of Orem) takes on Tim Means (33-16-1, fights out of Albuquerque, New Mexico). wants to break its three-game losing streak in front of its home crowd.

Three years ago, Jeff Robbins, CEO of the Utah Sports Commission, stood before a group of mostly national media outlets and tried to convince them that MMA would find a home in the Wasatch Mountains.

That wasn’t the case on Wednesday.

“Now you’re back,” he told many of those reporters, “and it’s great to be back.”

The promotion has already set records, including a $6.5 million gate receipt that set an arena record for UFC 291 a year ago. The promotion also has growing fans of fighters outside the Beehive State, including UFC President Dana White.

They also include Saturday’s UFC 307 fighters.

Rountree (13-5-0, fight outside Las Vegas) started a training camp in Park City earlier than usual to get used to the altitude and spend a little more time in the mountains.

He and several other fighters attended a Utah Hockey Club preseason game at the Delta Center, but otherwise he said he “came here” for the first time to attend Wednesday’s media day and check-in in Salt Lake City.

“Salt Lake City and Park City are among my ten favorite places in the world right now. This place is beautiful,” Rountree said. “We had a great time at the Utah Hockey Club game; great audience and a great team. They put up a strong fight for an exhibition game. The fans support us so much.”

“Great cafes, great food,” he added. “I love skiing, so I’m a fan of seeing all the ski slopes in Park City and what’s out there. I’ll be back.”

For its opponent, Utah occupies a unique position in his career.

Pereira (11-2, fighting out of Bethel, Connecticut) was coming off a second-round knockout loss to Israel Adesanya before his split decision win over Blachowicz.

That earned him a shot at Jiri Prochazka at UFC 295 in November, and his victory with a left hook-to-hammerfist and elbow strike secured him the light heavyweight title, which he has defended twice since.

After switching weight classes, Pereira is now considered “the final opponent” in Rountree’s title fight.

“I think it’s kind of cool,” Rountree said. “It’s definitely a fun way to look at it, especially from the fans’ perspective when they see Alex as the final boss. And I can take my chance on the final boss.”

In fact, the UFC in Utah has come a long way since an ill-fated Fight Night in August 2016 that grossed just $481,033 and was attended by 6,689 fans — which most involved considered a failure.

The promotion – and its fan base in Utah – is in a very different state eight years later, with iconic moments like Leon Edwards’ “kick heard ’round the world” that upset Kamaru Usman and Justin Gaethje’s backflip from the cage after a second-round knockout of second-ranked lightweight fighter Dustin Poirier in front of a sellout crowd at UFC 291.

“If you look at some of the magical moments (at the UFC in Salt Lake City), there is clearly something there,” said Robbins of the Utah Sports Commission. “We think it fits the community; the community supports it. And it fits into this sports portfolio that we have created.”

“UFC has become an important global company,” he added. “I definitely think the UFC is a good fit for Utah.”