UFC 301 Results: Alexandre Pantoja Retains Flyweight Gold; Jose Aldo Delivers Vintage Performance

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UFC Flyweight Champion Alexnadre Pantoja outworked Steve Erceg to retain his belt in the headliner of UFC 301: Pantoja vs. Erceg event in front of the Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Sunday (May 5).

The fifth numbered event of 2024, which recorded 14,514 fans in attendance, saw 6 of 12 fights, including the headliners go the distance, while 6 fights ended in stoppages. Among the 6 stoppages, 2 were submission finishes, and 4 were either knockout (KO) or technical knockout (TKO).

While there was no fight of the night award for the evening, four fighters - Alessandro Costa, Mauricio Ruffy, Caio Borralho and Michel Pereira took home the performance of the night bonus for their respective stoppage wins on the card. Here is the recap from UFC 301:

UFC 301 Recap

In the main event, UFC flyweight champion Pantoja and unlikely contender, No. 10 ranked Erceg went all five rounds in a gruelling back and forth fight. There were rounds that Erceg did damage in the stand up, but Pantoja's takedowns and control sealed the deal.

And following the successful defence, Pantoja said, "I need to move my head a little bit more, but my grappling is the very best. These guys (team) got me to the top, and took me to where I am today."

On his opponent Erceg, the flyweight champion added "What an incredible opponent. I need a little bit of a break. I've fought three times in the last year. But I'm still coming!"

In the co-main event, the King of Rio, former champion and UFC Hall of Famer Jose Aldo engaged in a brilliant homecoming fight with No. 12 ranked Jonathan Martinez.

From the start, Aldo was on point and showing his elite striking skills to the delight of the crowd. Martinez stayed in the fight and never backed down, taking it all the way to decision.

Aldo earned the unanimous decision and said, "I'm really happy, I was really focused and I want to thank my team. I couldn't imagine this in my wildest dreams, to be back here in the city I live in, the city I love, with all these people here.

"I'm so flattered. I said that this wasn't going to be my last fight. I can still go forward, so maybe I can come back and become the champion."

Also on the main card, Anthony Smith and Michel Pereira forced their respective opponents Vitor Petrino and Ihor Potieria to tap out in the first round via guillotine choke, while Caio Borralho stopped Paul Craig in the main card opener via knockout in the second round.

Earlier in the preliminary card, Joanderson Brito closed the card with a leg kick stoppage after opening up Jack Shore's left shin, while Iasmin Lucindo, Myktybek Orolbai and Drakkar Klose earned decision wins.

The early prelims, on the other hand, saw Mauricio Ruffy and Alessandro Costa claimed stoppage wins, while Ismael Bonfim and Dione Barbosa earned decisions in their respective bouts. Here is a look at the final results from UFC 301:

UFC 301 Results

• UFC Flyweight Championship Bout: Alexandre Pantoja defeated Stephen Erceg by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46)
• Bantamweight Bout: Jose Aldo defeated Jonathan Martinez by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Light Heavyweight Bout: Anthony Smith defeated Vitor Petrino by submission (guillotine choke) at 2:00 of Round 1
• Middleweight Bout: Michel Pereira defeated Ihor Potieria by submission (guillotine choke) at 0:54 of Round 1
• Middleweight Bout: Caio Borralho defeated Paul Craig by KO (strikes) at 2:10 of Round 2
• Featherweight Bout: Joanderson Brito defeated Jack Shore by TKO (leg kicks) at 3:35 of Round 2
• Women's Strawweight Bout: Iasmin Lucindo defeated Karolina Kowalkiewicz by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Lightweight Bout: Myktybek Orolbai defeated Elves Brener by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
• Lightweight Bout: Drakkar Klose defeated Joaquim Silva by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Lightweight Bout: Mauricio Ruffy defeated Jamie Mullarkey by TKO (strikes) at 4:42 of Round 1
• Women's Flyweight Bout: Dione Barbosa defeated Ernesta Kareckaite by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Lightweight Bout: Ismael Bonfim defeated Vinc Pichel by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Flyweight Bout: Alessandro Costa defeated Kevin Borjas by TKO (strikes) at 1:35 of Round 2