Now we have you coated for all of tonight’s UFC 301 outcomes, together with the lads’s flyweight title struggle between Alexandre Pantoja and Steve Erceg.
Pantoja (27-5 MMA) can be returning to motion for the primary time since scoring his first profession title protection with a unanimous determination win over Brandon Royval at UFC 296 this previous December. ‘The Cannibal’ captured the lads’s flyweight title in July of 2023 when he defeated Brandon Royval by means of cut up determination.
In the meantime, Steve Erceg (12-1 MMA) will enter his first profession UFC title struggle sporting an eleven-fight win streak, along with his three most up-to-date wins coming within the Octagon. In his most up-to-date effort this previous March, the Aussie defeated Matt Schnell through second-round knockout.
Just one will be the champ 👑@PantojaMMA vs Steve Erceg
[ LIVE on @ESPNPlus PPV | #UFC301 ] pic.twitter.com/xMIgwxhQCN
— UFC (@ufc) Might 5, 2024
Spherical one of many UFC 301 most important occasion begins and Alexandre Pantoja lands a tough low kick to start out. He blitzes in with a flurry. Erceg ties him up and forces the clinch. The champ with a knee after which breaks free from the maintain. Each males with good low kicks. Pantoja rips the physique with a proper hand. Steve Erceg with a very good jab. He lands a pleasant mixture. That appeared to stun the champ. The fighters clinch up and trade knees. Alexandre Pantoja with a pleasant 1-2 after which a knee up the center. Erceg with a jab. Pantoja counters with a proper hand excessive. The Brazilian with a low kick. The Aussie solutions with considered one of his personal. Alexandre Pantoja with a pleasant proper hand after which dives in and secures a takedown. A giant knee to the physique from the champ because the challenger makes an attempt to scramble as much as his ft. Pantoja strikes to take the again. He drags Erceg again to the bottom after which rolls into high place. He’s working from facet management now. A giant knee to the ribs from the champ. He’s touchdown some heavy floor and pound. The Aussie scrambles again to his ft however Pantoja nonetheless has his again. He drags the challenger again down. Steve Erceg scrambles and will get again to his ft. The horn sounds to finish spherical one.
Spherical two of the UFC 301 most important occasion begins and Steve Erceg comes ahead with a flurry. Alexandre Pantoja appears to be like to dive on a takedown however is unable to get the struggle to the canvas. Pantoja leaps in with a jab. The flyweights commerce low kicks. Erceg making use of strain. He lands a very good jab. Pantoja with a very good proper hand excessive. He shoots in and scores a giant takedown. He lands in half guard after which strikes to full mount. Erceg appears to be like to scramble and will get again to half guard place. The Aussie explodes and is ready to get again to his ft. Erceg lands a very good left hook. He comes ahead with a 1-2. He makes an attempt a takedown however can’t safe it. Underneath 2 minutes stay within the second body. A giant mixture from the challenger. The champ solutions with a very good 1-2. Huge photographs from the challenger. He lands a pleasant standing elbow. Alexandre Pantoja shoots in for a takedown. He can’t get it. Erceg again to vary and lands a crisp jab. Pantoja unloads a mixture however will get clipped within the course of. The champ shoots in and secures a lte takedown. He lands a few good photographs to shut out the spherical.
Spherical three of the UFC 301 most important occasion begins and Steve Erceg lands a pleasant standing elbow after which a jab. Alexandre Pantoja with a very good knee to the physique. The Aussie replies with a low kick. Erceg with the ahead strain now. Pantoja lands a very good low kick. He leaps in with a flurry of photographs to the physique. Erceg with a pleasant left hook. He tosses out a excessive kick that misses the mark. Pantoja with a low kick however will get countered with the jab. Alexandre Pantoja with a pleasant 1-2. He shoots in and forces the clinch. The fighters separate and trade large photographs within the pocket. Steve Erceg with a giant left. Pantoja eats it and forces the clinch. The champ is busted up. Nonetheless, he manages to safe one other takedown. It was a giant elbow from the challenger the busted open the champ. Pantoja strikes to the again. He lands some large photographs from the again place. Erceg again up however is put proper down.
That is as clear of a slicing elbow and left hook combo by Steve Erceg as you’ll see in MMA.
Pantoja is so rattling robust. Walked proper by this combo, however the reduce is leaking unhealthy. pic.twitter.com/LpPikPESYw
— AFeldmanMMA (@afeldMMA) Might 5, 2024
Spherical 4 of the UFC 301 headliner begins and Steve Erceg comes ahead with a entrance kick to the physique. He lands a very good counter proper because the champ throws a low kick. A pair of low kicks from the challenger. He shoots in for a takedown however can’t get it. Alexandre Pantoja again to vary. He makes an attempt a takedown. It’s not there however he lands a physique kick on the break. Erceg with a pleasant mixture. He tags the champ with a clear jab. A pleasant three-punch mixture from Pantoja. The challenger continues to attach along with his jab. He’s successful this spherical up to now. Alexandre Pantoja with a shot to the physique. Erceg solutions with a very good 1-2. Extra good photographs from the challenger. He shoots for a takedown, however the champ defends. Good photographs within the pocket from each males. It is a very tight struggle. Erceg with an uppercut that partially connects. Pantoja with a left to shut out spherical 4.
The fifth and closing spherical begins and Steve Erceg comes ahead rapidly. He lands a jab. Alexandre Pantoja returns hearth with a 1-2. The challenger shoots in and scores a takedown. Pantoja scrambles and is ready to explode and take high place. The champ takes the again of the challenger. The Aussie is ready to stand. Pantoja appears to be like to pull the struggle again to the canvas, however ‘Astro Boy’ grabs the fence and stays up. The referee missed that one. Steve Erceg is ready to break away and get again to his ft now. Simply over two minutes stay within the struggle. Alexandre Pantoja with a very good 1-2. Erceg returns hearth with a jab after which a standing elbow. That strike seems to have opened one other reduce on the champ. Pantoja with a giant left after which a low kick. The Aussie responds with one other elbow. He shoots for a takedown. Pantoja scrambles and is ready to take high place. One minute stays. Pantoja stays on high and lands some first rate floor and pound to shut out the spherical.
Official UFC 301 Outcomes: Alexandre Pantoja def. Steve Erceg by unanimous determination (48-47 x2, 49-46)
Who would you wish to see Pantoja struggle subsequent following his determination victory over Erceg this night in Rio de Janeiro?