The UFC flyweight championship takes center stage on a pay-per-view event for the first time in a long time. Alexandre Pantoja defends the 125-pound title against Steve Erceg at UFC 301 on Saturday, the first PPV headlined with the flyweight title since Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno at UFC 256.
UFC 301 has big shoes to fill after an all-time great UFC 300 card. Pantoja rides a five-fight win streak, including a win over former titleholder Brandon Moreno and twice defeating top contender Brandon Royval. The champ makes his second title defense on home soil in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil against a well-rounded Australian challenger. Erceg got the title shot sooner than expected having only fought three times in the UFC. Erceg currently sits at No. 10 in the UFC’s official rankings.
“I’ve never fought in Brazil for the UFC. Now, 10 years later I’m coming back like the king with the belt,” Pantoja told CBS Sports. “That’s why I feel so happy. Everyone feels that. Everybody in my life feels that moment with me. Everybody is super happy. But I know that isn’t going to happen if I don’t win that fight.”
Elsewhere on the card, UFC Hall of Famer and former featherweight king Jose Aldo is back in a homecoming bout when he takes on rising contender Jonathan Martinez. Aldo, who retired from MMA after a 2022 loss to Merab Dvalishvili, is fighting out his contract and will become a free agent after the bout is over. Plus, Michel Pereira is set to take on Makhmud Muradov and veteran light heavyweight Anthony Smith is set to battle Vitor Petrino.
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
- Alexandre Pantoja (c) -190 vs. Steve Erceg +160, flyweight title
- Jonathan Martinez -160 vs. Jose Aldo +135, bantamweights
- Michel Pereira -550 vs. Makhmud Muradov +400, middleweights
- Vitor Petrino -500 vs. Anthony Smith +375, light heavyweights
- Caio Borralho -550 vs. Paul Craig +400, middleweights
- Joanderson Brito -150 vs. Jack Shore +125, featherweights
- Iasmin Lucindo -420 vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz +320, women’s strawweights
- Myktybek Orolbai -275 vs. Elves Brener +225, lightweights
- Jean Silva -135 vs. William Gomis +115, catchweights
- Drakkar Klose -160 vs. Joaquim Silva +135, lightweights
- Mauricio Ruffy -180 vs. Jamie Mullarkey +155, lightweights
- Dione Barbosa -220 vs. Ernesta Kareckaite +180, women’s flyweights
- Ismael Bonfim -550 vs. Vinc Pichel +400, lightweights
- Alessandro Costa -130 vs. Kevin Borjas +110, flyweights
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
- 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.
