Alexandre Pantoja defends title in close, grueling fight against Steve Erceg in UFC 301 main event
The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to us tonight, May 4, 2024, for UFC 301, going down live from the Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Headlining the event is a flyweight title bout between Alexandre Pantoja (28-5) and no. 10 ranked Steve Erceg (12-2).
UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja aimed to make the second defense of his title tonight, coming into the bout on a five-fight win streak with an overall promotional record of 11-3.
Former Eternal MMA flyweight champion Steve Erceg on the other hand came into tonight’s main event on an 11-fight win streak, going a perfect 3-0 inside the octagon to date.
Continue reading to see how our flyweight championship main event of the evening went down:
Official Result: Alexandre Pantoja def. Steve Erceg via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46)
Pantoja opened up the bout very aggressively, first landing a solid leg kick to begin the bout, following it up with heavy combinations while marching forward. He ended up securing a takedown midway through the opening round and mauled Erceg on the ground through much of it.
Pantoja got Erceg back down to the mat in the second, assuming mount soon after, though Erceg was able to return to his feet quickly. Erceg got to work with his striking from here, piecing Pantoja up with beautiful boxing combinations until he was taken down again in the final seconds.
The two traded shots through the opening half of round three, each man having success. Erceg landed a nasty elbow followed by a left hook, Pantoja immediately storming forward for a takedown, which he secured and remained on top for the final minute of the third.
The elbow Erceg landed opened up a nasty cut on Pantoja’s forehead, he was bleeding all over the challenger.
Erceg handily won the fourth with his striking, Pantoja seemingly taking the round off.
Pantoja was more aggressive in the fifth and final round, opening up with a boxing combination. Erceg continued landing good combinations on the champion, as well as a couple more elbows, and was able to secure a takedown. Pantoja ended up being the one in top position after a scramble however, and that’s the story of this fight; Erceg winning the stand up exchanges, and Pantoja negating further damage with his wrestling and grappling.
This was a tricky one to score, but we learned two things in this fight.
One, Pantoja is still the best flyweight in the world. Two, Erceg is far better than his no. 10 ranking suggests.
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