UFC 301: Alexandre Pantoja vs. Steve Erceg Preview, Breakdown, and Analysis

If you thought that UFC 300's success and scale was the pinnacle of highly anticipated professional mixed martial arts in 2024, you'd be mistaken. Brace yourself for a showdown on Brazilian soil as Dana White and Co. descend upon Brazil in two weeks. This monumental event is set to ignite a sense of national pride and privilege among MMA fans, particularly those with a fondness for Brazilian fighters.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is making a triumphant return to the Marvelous City (Cidade Marahilhosa), bringing with it a stellar lineup of top Brazilian talent. This homecoming is sure to deliver an unforgettable spectacle.

The Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro, a legendary venue known for its electrifying atmosphere, will be swarmed by South American MMA fans on May 4, 2024. This is a rare chance for Brazilian fans to experience the thrill of a top-tier battle of styles live. Let's delve into the event's spotlight bout between the defending champion, Alexandre Pantoja, and the challenger, Australia’s Steve Erceg.

UFC 301 Information

• When: Saturday, May 5, 2023 – 06:00 PM ET
• Where: Jeunesse Arena, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Scheduled Bouts: 14
• Main Event: Alexandre Pantoja vs. Steve Erceg
• Co-Main Event: Jose Aldo vs. Jonathan Martinez

UFC 301 Main Event Profiles

Alexandre “The Cannibal” Pantoja

Pantoja, a seasoned fighter at 34, is currently riding a streak of five successive wins. His professional record boasts an impressive 27-5, with 18 of those victories earned through stoppage (10 submissions and 8 TKO/KO). Pantoja's upcoming bout against Erceg will mark his second title defense, following his triumph over Brandon Moreno in the co-main event of UFC 290 in July 2023.

Pantoja's first title defense occurred in the co-main event at UFC 296 when he faced off against Brandon Royval in December 2023. After a four-month absence, the hardworking Brazilian native is making a comeback for his first main-event chance at a pay-per-view event, which is particularly advantageous since it occurs in his place of birth.

After defeating Royval, Pantoja requested UFC CEO Dana White for a chance to compete in Brazil, and his request was approved. Now, with an opportunity to build on his legacy in front of a home crowd, you best believe we’ll get a peak performance from “The Cannibal.”

Pantoja Combat Sports Accomplishments

• UFC Flyweight Champion (One time, current, one defense)
• UFC Fight of the Night (Twice) vs. Figueiredo and Moreno
• UFC Performance of the Night (Thrice)
• Tied for third most Post-Fight bonuses in UFC Flyweight history (5)
• Tied for third most finishes in UFC Flyweight history (6)
• Third most wins in UFC Flyweight history (11)
• Tied for second most submissions in UFC Flyweight history (4)

Steve “AstroBoy” Erceg

Erceg, 28, has a professional record of 12 wins and 1 loss. As a UFC competitor, he has won all 3 of his fights, and his only career loss was in his second professional bout back in 2017.

The Aussie native is on track for a swift transformation, given that this will be his chance to compete for a championship title. In his most recent bout, which took place in March, Erceg achieved a technical knockout victory against Matt Schnell.

While some may dispute Erceg's eligibility for a championship shot, the chance might be attributed to fortuitous timing and circumstances. Pantoja has previously triumphed against four individuals who have higher rankings than Erceg.

He has won two matches against Royval and Moreno. Nicolau and Perez, both of whom Pantoja has previously defeated, are set to engage in a bout that could potentially establish the next contender for the championship, provided that Pantoja successfully overcomes Erceg. Amir Albazi has the third position in the rankings, but he is now recuperating from neck surgery. Additionally, Kai Kara France, who is placed fifth, cannot compete due to an injury.

Erceg's eagerness to return to the octagon quickly to provide an adversary for Pantoja's battle in Brazil may have been crucial in gaining the position, alongside the aforementioned scheduling conflicts.

Erceg Combat Sports Accomplishments

• UFC Performance of the Night (Twice) vs. Matt Schnell and David Dvorak
• Eternal MMA Flyweight Champion (One time, former)

UFC 301 From a Betting Perspective

The defending champion currently sits at -240 on the moneyline pricing with leading sportsbook apps in the U.S. The comeback on Erceg is a huge dog price of +200, and while I understand the temptation bettors may experience with such a valuable option to back a fighter who’s undefeated in eleven straight contests, don’t forget to factor in the level of competition he’s faced to date.

UFC 300 Main Event: Tale of the Tape

	Alexandre Pantoja	Steve Erceg
Age	34	28
Height	5’5”	5’8”
Reach	68”	68.5”
Nationality	Brazil	Australia
Affiliation	American Top Team	Wilkes MMA
Current Streak	5 wins	11 wins
Pro Record	27-5-0	12-1-0
UFC Record	11-3	3-0

UFC 301 Pantoja vs. Erceg: Styles Make Fights

While putting up valiant performances to date, Erceg is taking a huge step up in competition at UFC 301. That goes without mentioning the fact that he’ll be fighting on hostile territory and in the first five-round bout of his promotional tenure.

Momentum backed up with an 11-fight win streak, is undeniably in Erceg’s favor. However, despite owning a credible and well-balanced fight style, where he typically finds most of his success in grounded positions, the skill set of Pantoja is an entirely different realm from what he’s used to.

Yes, Erceg will, like most combatants, enter Rio with a puncher's chance. He mixes up his grappling and striking skills well, but whatever attributes he brings to the table, Pantoja does it better.

The Brazilian flyweight champ has a relentless pace and doesn’t tire easily. He doesn’t waste energy and will adapt throughout contests to counteract the incoming attack and pinpoint the opposition's weaknesses. Whether it’s scrambling to stronger positions on the ground, offensive or defensive wrestling, or delivering a fast-paced, high output of strikes on the feet, “The Cannibal” is a man possessed when the cage door closes, and it’d be very surprising to see him leave his native country on May 5th without the championship.

UFC 301 Complete Main Card

• Alexander Pantoja vs. Steve Erceg – UFC Flyweight Title Bout
• Jose Aldo Jonathan Martinez – UFC Bantamweight Bout
• Anthony Smith vs. Vitor Petrino – UFC Light Heavyweight Bout
• Ihor Potieria vs. Michel Pereira – UFC Middleweight Bout
• Paul Craig vs. Caio Borralho – UFC Middleweight Bout

UFC 301 Complete Preliminary Card

• Joanderson Brito vs. Jack Shore – UFC Featherweight Bout
• Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Iasmin Lucindo – Women’s UFC Strawweight Bout
• Elves Brener vs. Myktybek Orolbai – UFC Lightweight Bout
• Jean Silva vs. William Gomis – UFC Featherweight Bout
• Jamie Mullarkey vs. Mauricio Ruffy – UFC Lightweight Bout
• Dione Barbosa vs. Ernesta Kareckaite – UFC Women’s Flyweight Bout
• Ismael Bonfim vs. Vinc Pihcel – UFC Lightweight Bout
• Alessandro Costa vs. Kevin Borjas – UFC Flyweight Bout