Steve Erceg was perhaps one round away from pulling off the upset at UFC 301. However, the opportunity slipped away from the game Australian in the fifth round against Alexandre Pantoja, when the reigning champion countered a takedown and assumed top position, ultimately bleeding out the clock to clinch his victory from there.
Alexandre Pantoja lengthened his reign atop the Ultimate Fighting Championship flyweight division but left the cage with a few battle scars for his troubles.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship returned to Brazil for UFC 301. The pay-per-view featured a flyweight title fight between Alexandre Pantoja and Steve Erceg and the return of Jose Aldo.
Steve Erceg (12-2) wasn’t even supposed to make it this far. The 10th-ranked flyweight entered tonight’s card with his fourth fight in the UFC. Normally, a fighter that doesn’t have many fights within the promotion can’t thrive, right?
Go big with Caesars Sportsbook promo code MHS1000 for UFC 301. New bettors who take advantage of this offer will be eligible for a four-figure promo on UFC 301 or any other available market this weekend.
While some would argue that Steve Erceg won't have a lot of pressure on him going into his UFC 301 title fight just 11 months after his promotional debut, "Astroboy" couldn't disagree more.
The flyweight title is on the line when the promotion returns to Rio de Janeiro on Saturday night
UFC 301 edges near, happening at the Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro. Brazilian flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja makes his second title defense in the main event.
Action Network's Sean Zerillo breaks down Alexandre Pantoja vs. Steve Erceg, the UFC 301 main event in Brazil on Saturday.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship built its first post-UFC 300 pay-per-view with the sole purpose of thrilling a home crowd. Taking to Rio de Janeiro for the first time in more than a year, matchmaking was intentional, as each bout features a Brazilian against a foreign opponent.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to Brazil for its next pay-per-view event. Headlining UFC 301 is a flyweight title fight between Alexandre Pantoja and Steve Erceg.
The last time, the UFC put on a pay-per-view event, it was a fever dream of star power and expert hijacking. However, this time the premier brand in mixed
Steve Erceg represents a rare breed of competitor in the Ultimate Fighting Championship—those who have had their case at a title shot expedited. Erceg travels into hostile territory to take on Alexandre Pantoja for the undisputed flyweight championship in the UFC 301 headliner this Saturday at Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro.
Alexandre Pantoja (27-5) will be warmly welcomed at UFC 301. He’s returning to his home crowd in Brazil with the UFC Flyweight Championship in hand. The hometown fighter is also starring in the main event, with a chance to walk away victorious.
Alexandre Pantoja is back to his roots. For the first time in over a decade, the UFC Flyweight Champion will fight in his native country of Brazil. Pantoja headlines UFC 301 from Rio de Janeiro this Saturday with his next title defense set against an unlikely challenger in Steve Erceg.
Steve Erceg isn’t your typical UFC main-event fighter. The native of Perth, Australia, looks like a guy who came straight out of an office job. While Erceg doesn’t punch in numbers and file reports, he does punch faces in and file knockouts in the UFC ring.
UFC 301 heads to Brazil in May and today, the promotion announced the fight that will headline the show. It was announced that the Brazilian flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja (27-5) will defend his flyweight title against Australia’s Steve Erceg (12-1).
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!