Undisputed flyweight champion, Alexandre Pantoja is ready for his return to the Octagon later this summer season – on dwelling soil in a title combat protection towards present quantity ten ranked contende, Australia’s Steve Erceg at UFC 301 on Could 4. in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from the Jeunesse Area.
Pantoja, the present undisputed flyweight champion, most just lately co-headlined UFC 296 again in December, efficiently defending his title in a rematch win over latest UFC Mexico Metropolis headliner, Brandon Royval – in flip lodging his first profitable title protection.
As for Erceg, the three-fight Octagon veteran seems to have earned his first crack at organizational gold off the again of a second spherical KO win over Matt Schnell earlier this month at UFC Vegas 87 – which additionally landed him a Efficiency of the Night time bonus.
Alexandre Pantoja meets Steve Erceg at UFC 301
The promotion’s official UFC Brasil account confirmed the pairing of Alexandre Pantoja and Steve Erceg for the Could pay-per-view card in South America this Friday evening.
“Foremost combat confirmed,” the UFC Brasil account posted tonight, as translated by Google Translate. “The flyweight champion @PantojaMMA fights at dwelling and defends his belt towards Steve Erceg at #UFC301, in Rio de Janeiro.”
Initially profitable gold again in July of final 12 months throughout Worldwide Combat Week, Pantoja turned in one other profession win over defending champion, Brandon Moreno, to land the championship in a break up resolution success.
The victory got here as a part of a powerful present 5 combat profitable run for Rio native, Pantoja, who beforehand landed wins over Alex Perez, the above-mentioned, Royval, and a choice success towards the highly-touted, Manel Kape.
12-1 as knowledgeable, submission knowledgeable, Erceg landed within the Dana White-led promotion again in June of final 12 months with a choice win over David Dvorak, earlier than besting Alessandro Costa at UFC 295 in one other judging win in Madison Sq. Backyard in November final – previous to his knockout of Schnell earlier this month.
Who leaves Brazil with gold after UFC 301: Alexandre Pantoja or Steve Erceg?
