The promotion announced on Friday that Alexandre Pantoja (27-5) will be putting his flyweight strap on the line against Australia’s Steve Erceg (12-1) at UFC 301. The 125-pound championship affair will not likely serve as its main event, although additional championship bouts or other matches that could be the headliner have not yet been announced. This will be Pantoja’s second attempted defense of his 125-pound title while serving as the first time he has competed in his home country of Brazil since joining the promotion in 2017.
Pantoja has pounded through the flyweight ranks since 2021, stringing together five wins over elite opposition to get him a title shot in 2023. At UFC 290, “The Cannibal” rematched former foe Brandon Moreno and captured a split decision to go up 3-0 over Moreno, including an encounter on the 24th season of “The Ultimate Fighter.” Pantoja successfully defended his throne at UFC 296 in December, staving off hard-charging contender and past adversary Brandon Royval by unanimous verdict.
“Astro Boy” Erceg shoots into the orbit of the championship picture courtesy of three wins inside the Octagon. Erceg debuted in mid-2023 to upset David Dvorak on the scorecards, and he went on to beat Alessandro Costa over three rounds later that year. Erceg stamped his golden ticket in March by annihilating Matt Schnell with one punch at UFC Fight Night 238. The knockout of Schnell served as just the second in the 28-year-old’s career.
UFC 301 will occur at the Rio Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The main attraction for the May 4 show has not yet been decided, although likely in the co-headlining spot will be a 125-pound championship tilt between Alexandre Pantoja and Steve Erceg. Other key fights on the billing include Anthony Smith vs. Vitor Petrino at light heavyweight, as well as newly announced pairings of Michel Pereira vs. Makhmud Muradov in the middleweight division and Karolina Kowalkiewicz-Iasmin Lucindo in a battle of the strawweights.
Reference: https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/UFC-301-Update-Alexandre-Pantoja-to-Defend-Flyweight-Belt-Against-Steve-Erceg-192979
.svg)
.svg)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.svg)