The UFC is back in Brazil on Saturday night. The promotion returns to South America for UFC 301 with a lighter than usual fight card headed for Rio de Janeiro. The main event pits flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja against rising contender Steve Erceg. It’s the first time that fighters from the 125-pound division will main event a PPV since Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno did at UFC 256 in December 2020.
Pantoja gets the chance to fight at home for the first time since 2013 and the first time in the UFC. After minor setbacks against Deiveson Figueiredo and Askar Askarov in 2019 and 2020, respectively, the Brazilian has ripped off five straight wins to claim the title and score one title defense. Erceg, meanwhile, gets a title shot in just his fourth UFC appearance after debuting with the promotion in June 2023.
The undercard is lacking in a lot of ways, but it did get a boost with the addition of UFC Hall of Famer Jose Aldo. The former featherweight king will take on Jonathan Martinez in a bantamweight bout slated for the co-main event. Elsewhere, Vitor Petrino will battle light heavyweight veteran Anthony Smith, Michel Pereira will take on Ihor Potieria in a middleweight contest and another 185-pound tilt opens the PPV when Caio Borralho takes on Paul Craig.
Below is the complete fight card for UFC 301 along with the latest odds. Check back all week long for the latest news, features and other content around this massive event.
UFC 301 fight card, odds, results
- Alexandre Pantoja (c) -190 vs. Steve Erceg +160, flyweight title
- Jonathan Martinez -160 vs. Jose Aldo +135, bantamweights
- Vitor Petrino -500 vs. Anthony Smith +375, light heavyweights
- Michel Pereira -550 vs. Ihor Potieria +400, middleweights
- Caio Borralho -550 vs. Paul Craig +400, middleweights
- Joanderson Brito -150 vs. Jack Shore +125, featherweights
- Iasmin Lucindo def. Karolina Kowalkiewicz via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Myktybek Orolbai def. Elves Brener via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
- Drakkar Klose def. Joaquim Silva via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Mauricio Ruffy def. Jamie Mullarkey via first-round TKO (knee, punches)
- Dione Barbosa def. Ernesta Kareckaite via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Ismael Bonfim def. Vinc Pichel via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Alessandro Costa def. Kevin Borjas via second-round TKO (punches)
UFC 301 info
- Date: May 4
- Location: Farmasi Arena — Rio de Janeiro
- Start time: 10 p.m. ET (Main card)
- How to watch: ESPN+ PPV
UFC 301 countdown
- Staff predictions and expert picks for the main card
- Brookhouse: Best bets to consider on the main card
- Mahjouri: Pantoja hopes to recreate iconic moment in Brazil with win
- Campbell: Five biggest storylines to watch in Brazil
- Mahjouri: Aldo says fighting out contract gives him a best-case scenario
Who wins UFC 301: Pantoja vs. Erceg, and how exactly does each fight end? Visit SportsLine now to get detailed picks on UFC 301, all from the MMA expert who profited more than $1,500 on his UFC main-card picks in 2023, and find out.
KVSP