Alexandre Pantoja decisions Steve Erceg in UFC 301 main event

The flyweight title was up for grabs in the UFC 301 main event on Saturday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  

Champion Alexandre Pantoja faced tenth-ranked Steve Erceg in the fight card’s main event at Farmasi Arena.  It was Pantoja’s second title defense.  He entered the match riding a five-fight winning streak and held the hardware.  

Erceg made the walk to the octagon on an eleven-fight winning streak and fresh off ‘Performance of the Night’ knockout win over Matt Schnell in March.  The knockout punched his ticket to a title fight. 

Pantoja came out aggressive and landed a leg kick followed by a left hand.  Pantoja rushed forward with punches and Erceg briefly tied him up.  Erceg connected with a left kick and pressed forward.  Erceg landed a combination.  Pantoja rushed forward and landed to the body.  Pantoja clinched long enough to deliver a knee.  Erceg pressured and Pantoja landed a left hand and took Erceg down.  Erceg tried to stand and Pantoja delivered a knee to the body.  Pantoja moved to side control with a minute remaining in the round.  Pantoja delivered a series of left hands as Erceg stood.  Pantoja drug him back to the ground.  Erceg scrambled to his feet and separated.  MMAWeekly scored the first frame 10-9 for the champion.  

Pantoja connected with a right hand and pressed froward.  They clinched and worked for position along the cage.  The second round started fast.  Pantoja separated and Pantoja rushed in with a wild combination.  Erceg landed a counter right hand as Pantoja closed the distance.  Pantoja secured a takedown and quickly moved to the mount.  Erceg got to half guard and reversed Pantoja.  The scrambled to their feet and separated at the midway mark.  

Erceg moved in with a right hand and looked for a takedown.  Pantoja defended the attempt and pushed Erceg away.  Pantoja moved in with a right hand.  Erceg landed right a right hand.  He connected with a left as Pantoja moved forward.  Pantoja looked to get the fight to the ground.  Erceg shook off the attempt and pressured the champion.  Erceg landed combination and Pantoja rushed in but missed.  Pantoja closed the distance and ate an elbow but secured the takedown.  Erceg definitely did more damage that round but Pantoja scored two takedowns.  MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Pantoja.  

Erceg landed an elbow to start the third.  They clinched and Pantoja delivered knees to the body before separating.  Erceg pressed forward.  He landed his jab and Pantoja responded with a leg kick.  Pantoja targeted the body and Erceg responded with a left hand.  Erceg landed his jab to keep Pantoja on the outside.  Pantoja rushed forward and clinched.  Erceg circled free with two minutes remaining in the round.  Both landed shots.  As Pantoja pressed forward, Erceg connected with an elbow that may have stunned Pantoja.  It opened up a cut on Pantoja.  Pantoja quickly went for a takedown and got it.  Pantoja took Erceg’s back.  The round ended.  MMAWeekly scored the round for Pantoja.  

Erceg’s corner told him, ‘you’re probably down three.  You need to go and try to finish this,’ before the fourth frame.  Erceg inched forward and landed a right hand.  They exchanged jabs.  Erceg changed levels and looked for a takedown.  Pantoja stuffed the attempt.  Erceg landed an elbow that had Pantoja looking for a takedown.  Erceg shook off the attempt and landed an uppercut.  

Pantoja stepped forward and connected with a right hand.  Erceg connected with his jab and right hand.  Erceg stalked Pantoja.  Pantoja moved in with a combination.  Erceg went for a takedown and Pantoja successfully sprawled.  Erceg landed to the body.  Pantoja’s cut began leaking into his eyes.  Erceg landed a left and Pantoja clinched.  They separated and Pantoja landed a left.  MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Erceg.  

Pantoja’s corner told him that he’s ‘won at least three’ before coming out for the final round.  Erceg landed his jab followed by a leg kick.  Pantoja pressed forward and Erceg changed levels and took him down.  Pantoja scrambled to his feet and took Erceg down.  Erceg got to his feet but Pantoja stayed on him.  Erceg looked to have grabbed the fence to stay on his feet.  Pantoja drug him to the ground.  Erceg quickly got to his feet and separated.  

Erceg pressed forward and landed a short uppercut.  With two minutes remaining, Pantoja landed to the body but was hit with an elbow.  A second cut opened up on Pantoja.  Erceg looked for a takedown and Pantoja reversed him and gained top position.  Erceg tried to scramble but Pantoja maintained top control.  He moved to side control and Erceg briefly gave up his back.  He rolled and Pantoja stayed on him.  MMAWeekly scored the final round 10-for Pantoja.  

The judges scored the fight for Pantoja.  The scorecards read 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46.