Brazil’s own Alexandre Pantoja will defend his title in the main event of UFC 301.
Officially confirmed by the UFC, Pantoja will put his flyweight title on the line for a second time later this year vs. Steve Erceg.
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UFC 301 is scheduled for May 4 from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and the Farmasi Arena. Several other fights have been announced for the card, which marks the 12th trip to Rio and first since UFC 283.
Pantoja, a 33-year-old from Brazil, has won five straight including a 2023 decision over Brandon Moreno for the belt. He successfully defended the title vs. Brandon Royval this past December.
Overall, Pantoja is 27-5 with 11 wins coming in the UFC.
Erceg stretched his Octagon win streak to three with a second round knockout of Matt Schnell in March. The Australia native is 12-1 overall and also owns UFC victories over Alessandro Costa and David Dvorak.
UFC 301 Fight Card Headlined By Alexandre Pantoja Title Defense
Along with Pantoja vs. Erceg, Michael Pereira meets Makhmud Muradov and Anthony Smith tangles with Vitor Petrino in featured bouts.
Several other Brazilian fighters are on the current lineup including Joanderson Brito and Joaquim Silva. Karolina Kowalkiewicz meets Iasmin Lucindo in a women’s strawweight battle.