UFC 301 Results: Winners And Losers From Pantoja Vs. Erceg Fight Card

On May 4th, 2024, Alexandre Pantoja of Brazil won against Steve Erceg of Australia in a UFC flyweight championship bout held during the UFC 301 event at Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The image shows Alexandre Pantoja's reaction after his victorious fight. The photo, captured by Alexandre Loureiro from Zuffa LLC via Getty Images, depicts an exciting moment for both Pantoja and his fans.

The recent UFC 301 event was marked by a renowned fighter ending his UFC contract on a high note by securing a victory. Additionally, an athlete hailing from the same city as the event successfully defended his UFC flyweight championship title in the headline match.

At the top of the UFC 301 card, Alexandre Pantoja fought Steve Erceg in a grueling five-round match in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It was Pantoja's first time fighting in the UFC roster in Rio, but he managed to hold onto his flyweight championship belt with a victory by decision. Meanwhile, in the co-main event, legendary fighter Jose Aldo returned from retirement to take on rising star Jonathan Martinez, completely dominating the fight and winning all rounds according to the judges' scorecards.

Anthony Smith surprised the audience with a remarkable performance by submitting Vitor Petrino, who had never lost before, in the first round, just before the main contests began. In addition, Michel Pereira, who always knows how to entertain the crowd, secured another stoppage win in the first round of the event that same evening.

On Saturday, May 4th, the UFC hosted their 301st event at Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The primary fights were broadcasted on ESPN+ PPV while the preliminary matches were shown on ESPN2 and the early stages of the event were streamed on UFC Fight Pass.

We analyze who came out on top and who didn't fare as well at UFC 301. Additionally, we provide the complete list of outcomes from the fight card as well as the individuals who earned bonus honors at the occasion.

Alexandre Pantoja successfully defended his UFC flyweight championship title by winning a unanimous decision in a closely fought battle against Steve Erceg.

Pantoja successfully defended his title by employing his typical fighting methods such as pressure, aggression, takedowns, and ground skills to secure the victory. Pantoja's striking abilities were not impressive in the fight, but this is not unexpected based on his previous matches. His defense in this area was sometimes inefficient and not up to par, but he can be powerful when he successfully lands a blow.

Pantoja executed effective tactics by putting pressure on Erceg, forcing him to focus on defending against takedowns, and dominating him on the mat by maintaining top position. Pantoja's triumph now adds to his impressive record of six consecutive wins, including two successful defenses of his title.

Jose Aldo made a comeback from retirement to support the UFC 301 pay-per-view using his name and reputation as a UFC Hall of Famer. There were doubts from some, including myself, whether his appearance was only a strategy to benefit the UFC while finishing his UFC contract. However, Aldo's incredible skills as a fighter were on full display over 15 minutes, which proved that he is still a formidable opponent despite being 37 years old.

Aldo put on an impressive performance in his victory over Jonathan Martinez by winning with a unanimous decision. He utilized his quickness, knowledge, abilities, and tactics to control the fight.

It's hard to say what's next for Aldo, but his showing on Saturday is a good sign that he's got other opportunities out there. It's probable that plenty of interested parties will be vying for his attention.

Anthony Smith was considered a big underdog in his fight with Vitor Petrino, but he surprised everyone by putting up an impressive performance at UFC 301. Despite his recent TKO defeat against Khalil Rountree Jr., Smith exploited Petrino's lack of experience, ultimately defeating him with a guillotine choke submission after Petrino left his neck open during a takedown attempt. This is undoubtedly one of Smith's most outstanding UFC fights.

Smith's professional journey may be coming to a close, but he is an experienced veteran who has overcome more obstacles than some of the emerging, inexperienced competitors.

Last Saturday's triumph was a remarkable act of resilience for the veteran Smith who is 35 years of age.

Michel Pereira put on an impressive show in his short-lived UFC 301 matchup against Ihor Potieria. In just 54 seconds, he managed to deliver a lot of action and kept the crowd entertained throughout the bout.

Pereira punched Potieria and knocked him down. Then, in a unique way, he did a backwards somersault with a turn to end up in a superior position on the mat. This allowed him to apply a guillotine choke hold and win the fight.

Pereira won for the third consecutive time by first-round stoppage, and this victory also helped him maintain his unbeaten run of eight matches.

The victory was marred by a dispute, as it appeared that Pereira's knee might have made contact with Potieria's head during his flip. This could have resulted in a penalty for hitting a downed opponent with the knee.

Caio Borralho displayed impressive disregard for Paul Craig's striking during their middleweight fight. Borralho didn't act concerned about Craig's striking ability, which allowed him to apply more pressure and advance forward. Craig's lack of defense and failure to protect his chin made it even easier for Borralho to dominate their bout.

Borralho improved his record to 6 wins and 0 losses after defeating Craig with a knockout in the second round.

Joanderson Brito entered the octagon with a fervent energy, quickly launching an assault on Jack Shore through savage and painful kicks aimed at his legs. Brito managed to maintain control by pinning Shore against the fence, never allowing him to take control of the fight. The match ultimately ended when Shore suffered a deep cut on his shin and the doctor intervened to ensure that the injury was not a broken leg, prompting the match to end.

After claiming victory, Brito has now won five consecutive fights, all of which were halted before the scheduled end.

Iasmin Lucindo was a strong contender and ultimately won against Karolina Kowalkiewicz at UFC 301.

Lucindo's hands are speedy and strong, yet due to her youthful and inexperienced nature, she tends to exert full power in all her moves, leaving room for a defensive-minded opponent to exploit her weaknesses.

Looking at the bright side, Lucindo remained concentrated and didn't fall for Kowalkiewicz's deceptive movements. Additionally, she effectively retaliated and successfully executed a series of attacks whenever Kowalkiewicz approached her.

After securing the victory, Lucindo stands a good chance of ranking among the top 15 fighters in the strawweight division by next week. Her current record in the UFC now stands at 3 wins and 1 loss while also enjoying an impressive streak of three consecutive wins.

Myktybek Orolbai switched to the 155 weight category following his successful UFC debut in November at 170, where he claimed a victory by submission against Uros Medic. His strength remained prominent even after transitioning to the lower weight class.

During the UFC 301 match, Orolbai was able to harm his opponent Elves Brener with his striking numerous times. Although he couldn't finish the fight standing up, he utilized his takedowns to bring the game onto the mat. Here, he accumulated points by hitting on the ground.

It's worth mentioning that Orolbai faced difficulty when he was forced down on the ground. It's an area that he and his team must concentrate on improving.

Drakkar Klose showcased his physical prowess, aggression, and spiritedness during the primary phase of the match. However, he lost his energy and vitality as the match progressed. This provided Joaquim Silva with the opportunity to gain impetus and almost win the final verdict.

Klose has won four fights in a row, following this latest victory.

Joaquim Silva didn't secure consecutive victories since his first three fights with the promotion, as he suffered a defeat by decision against Drakkar Klose at UFC 301.

Even though Silva didn't win the fight on Saturday night, he made it exciting in the third round when it seemed like he almost had a chance to end it. Despite not coming out victorious, Silva still put up a good fight.

Mauricio Ruffy made an impressive mark during his first fight in UFC. The 27-year-old fighter from Brazil displayed remarkable composure and concentration. He demonstrated swift striking, remarkable strength, flexibility in using his techniques, solid defense, and smart fighting intuition, which led to his victory over Jamie Mullarkey in the opening round.

Take notice, Mauricio Ruffy's upcoming match is definitely something you shouldn't miss.

Ismael Bonfim performed impressively in his 15-minute clash with Vince Pichel. The 28-year-old displayed excellent agility throughout the fight, particularly when putting pressure on Pichel to disrupt his rhythm. Bonfim refused to give his adversary any breathing space, keeping his dominance intact.

The most important lesson from this match was Bonfim's fighting intelligence. When he caused damage to Pichel but couldn't end the fight right away, Bonfim stepped back, saved his energy, and prepared for his next attack.

Although it might be too soon to dub Bonfim as a noteworthy flyweight, his showing in this bout piqued my curiosity.

After winning, Bonfim has won 2 matches and lost 1 in the UFC, with his only defeat being against Benoit St. Denis.

Alessandro Costa engaged in an energetic opening round against Kevin Borjas in their flyweight fight. They both executed various striking combinations, but what caught people's attention was their amazing defense during the initial five minutes of the match.

At the start of the second round, Costa took control of the fight as he landed a series of painful low kicks that caused Borjas to be hurt. Unable to guard himself and seemingly incapable of changing his position, Borjas was knocked down to the ground by Costa, who ended the fight with attacks on the ground.

In the world of UFC matches, Costa's current record stands at two wins and two losses.

After competing in only four UFC bouts, it was evident that Steve Erceg deserves to be included in the top tier of flyweight fighters in the UFC. Nevertheless, it was also apparent that he still has some lessons to learn.

Erceg has an impressive ability to strike, but in the fifth round of a tight championship fight, his choice to try for takedowns demonstrated a lack of awareness of the situation.

Erceg appeared disappointed when the scores were announced, as the entire fight's outcome came down to just one round. He is likely to reflect on this with displeasure, especially when recollecting the events of the fifth round.

Jonathan Martinez, who is recognized for his brutal leg kicks, suffered defeat on Saturday night, ending his victorious streak of six fights due to Jose Aldo's effective counterstrategy. Although Martinez's performance was not poor, Aldo's constant pressure and takedown of his opponent's leg kicks made it clear that Martinez must diversify his fighting options and develop an alternative tactic for instances when leg kicks are not viable.

Martinez was only able to make seven leg kicks against Aldo. But, in his last fight, where he won by decision against Adrian Yanez, Martinez managed to hit 29 leg kicks.

Vitor Petrino, an undefeated fighter, was highly favored to win his UFC 301 match against Anthony Smith. However, in just two minutes into the fight, Petrino suffered his first defeat and learned a valuable lesson.

During the fight, Smith used a guillotine choke to submit Petrino. This happened because Petrino exposed his neck when trying to take Smith down. There are two possibilities that may have led to Petrino's defeat - he could have been overconfident due to his young age and unbeaten record, or he could have made a technical mistake. Regardless of the reason, it is expected that Petrino will take this experience as a lesson and learn from it, as it is his first professional loss.

Paul Craig has experienced defeat in four of his last five fights. Despite being skilled in grappling, his limited ability in striking holds him back from taking on top-notch MMA competitors.

Jack Shore couldn't keep up with Brito's fast striking and leg kicks.

Karolina Kowalkiewicz, who is 38 years of age, unfortunately had her winning streak of four fights come to an end when she lost to a much younger fighter, 22-year-old Iasmin Lucindo. In the fight, Kowalkiewicz was unable to keep up with her opponent's speed.

Elves Brener, unfortunately, lost his three-match winning record on Saturday against Myktybek Orolbai. He had trouble handling Orolbai's punches, but he managed to excel when he moved the fight to the ground and got the upper hand. If Brener had made more efforts to use his wrestling skills earlier in the fight, perhaps he would have won.

Vinc Pichel gave it his all to keep up with his opponent, Ismael Bonfim, who is younger than him. However, Pichel lost his energy and couldn't keep up with Bonfim's agility, force, and determination. This resulted in Pichel's record going down to 7-4 in the UFC. Losing two fights consecutively for the first time in his career was a disappointment and a setback for him.

In the match between Kevin Borjas and Alessandro Costa, Borjas had a good start. He showed a great defense in the first five minutes of the round. However, things didn't go well for him in the second round when Costa hit him with a painful low kick. Borjas didn't change his stance even though he was injured, and this gave Costa an opportunity to dominate the match. Eventually, Costa won the fight in the second round.

Borjas suffered his second consecutive loss in the UFC and now has a record of 0-2.

Full Results Of UFC 301

Alexandre Pantoja emerged victorious over Steve Erceg after a unanimous decision was declared by the judges. The scores were 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46 in favor of Pantoja.

Jose Aldo emerged victorious over Jonathan Martinez in a unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the fight 30-27.

Anthony Smith wins the fight against Vitor Petrino in the first round by making him submit at the 2-minute mark. Smith executed a Guillotine choke in clinch, leading to his victory.

In the first round of the fight between Michel Pereira and Ihor Potieria, Pereira emerged as the winner through a submission at just 54 seconds into the fight. Pereira was able to secure the victory with a standing Guillotine choke, leaving Potieria unable to continue fighting.

In the boxing match, Caio Borralho emerged victorious over Paul Craig by delivering punches to his head at a distance and knocking him out at precisely 2 minutes and 10 seconds of the second round.

In the second round, Joanderson Brito won against Jack Shore by TKO at 3:35. The doctor had to end the fight early due to a leg injury.

Iasmin Lucindo emerged victorious over Karolina Kowalkiewicz after a unanimous decision was reached by the judges, with all three scoring the bout 30-27 in Lucindo's favor.

Myktybek Orolbai wins against Elves Brenner by a unanimous decision (29-27 on all three judges' scorecards).

In the recent fight, Drakkar Klose emerged victorious over Joaquim Silva with a unanimous decision from the judges with scores of 29-28 across the board.

Mauricio Ruffy emerged victorious over Jamie Mullarkey by delivering powerful blows to his head from a distance, resulting in a technical knockout at the 4 minute and 42 second mark of the first round.

Dione Barbosa emerged victorious over Ernesta Kareckaite by a unanimous decision (all three judges scoring 29-28).

Ismael Bonfim emerged as the victor over Vinc Pichel with a unanimous decision from the judges, scoring 30-27 on all three scorecards.

Alessandro Costa won the fight against Kevin Borjas by technical knockout in the second round, with punches to the head while in a mount position.

Winners Of UFC 301 Bonus

Four combatants were awarded a cash prize of $50,000 for their exceptional performances in the competition.

Mauricio Ruffy obtained a victory via TKO in the first round against Jamie Mullarkey.

Alessandro Costa was able to secure a second-round victory over Kevin Borjas by technical knockout (TKO).

Congratulations to Michel Pereira for securing a victory in the first round by submission against Ihor Potieria.

Congratulations to Caio Borralho for his incredible victory by knockout during the second round against Paul Craig.

The initial predictions for the foremost and secondary matches of UFC 302 are now available for betting. The highly-anticipated main event features two top-rated fighters going toe-to-toe in an intense battle for supremacy. Likewise, the co-main event showcases two equally talented fighters vying for glory. The betting odds are subject to change depending on new developments leading up to the event, but enthusiasts can grab this opportunity and cast their bets as early as now. It’s an exciting time for UFC fans and a great opportunity for betting enthusiasts to show their support for their favorite fighters.

The upcoming UFC 303 event has Conor McGregor listed as the favored fighter in the betting odds against Michael Chandler.

Ticket prices have been established for the upcoming UFC 303 fight between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler. Fans can expect to pay a certain amount for entry to the highly anticipated event.

Professional fighter Jake Paul has proposed a $10 million fight to MMA A-listers Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz. This gesture has caused quite a stir, and many fight fans have taken to social media to express their opinions on the matter. The fight would undoubtedly be a massive draw for combat sports enthusiasts. However, it remains to be seen if Masvidal and Diaz will accept the offer.

Is Jose Aldo interested in participating on the same card as Paul and Tyson after UFC 301?