In a closely contested UFC 301 main event, Alexandre Pantoja retained his title by defeating Steve Erceg via unanimous decision, with his ability to control Erceg on the ground proving decisive.
Alexandre Pantoja had to dig deep. He was up against Steve Erceg in the UFC 301 main event, and it was no walk in the park.
It was a grueling five-round war. Both fighters had their moments, making it feel like the final round would be the decider. Pantoja, however, had a trick up his sleeve – his ground control.
This skill proved to be Erceg’s downfall. Pantoja’s dominance on the ground led to his victory, retaining his title amidst the deafening cheers of the Rio de Janeiro crowd.
The scorecards? 48-47, 48-47, 49-46. Pantoja took it unanimously.
“I’m here to fight the best,” Pantoja declared post-fight. “This guy’s one of them. Tough as nails. I gotta move my head more, though. These guys are landing too many hits. But what an opponent. Incredible.”
Pantoja came out swinging, hoping to overwhelm Erceg. But the Aussie was patient, countering effectively. Pantoja managed his first takedown with just over two minutes left in the first round, showing off his grappling skills.
Pantoja was methodical, seeking a dominant position. Erceg defended well, scrambling back to his feet.
Erceg’s jab was effective when he led with it. It backed Pantoja off, but Erceg still had to fend off the constant takedown attempts. He did land some solid punches and a slick inside elbow, though.
Erceg was best at a distance, but he had to be careful. Pantoja was firing back with heavy combinations. As Pantoja charged, Erceg countered with a well-timed elbow that sliced Pantoja’s head.
Blood started pouring down Pantoja’s face. He fought to drag Erceg to the canvas and work from there.
As the championship rounds began, Erceg worked his straight punches and jab. Pantoja responded with over-the-top punches to counter the taller, longer fighter. Erceg landed more regularly but remained patient, keeping Pantoja in his sights.
Pantoja seemed to slow down a bit, but he managed to reverse a takedown and put Erceg on the defensive. A fence grab blocked Pantoja’s attempts to drag Erceg back to the canvas, but the ref didn’t call it.
With less than two minutes left, Erceg tried for another takedown. Pantoja reversed quickly, landing on top to maintain control. He closed the fight with some ground-and-pound, securing his victory and thwarting Erceg’s upset attempt.
Erceg was understandably disappointed. He owned up to his final round mistakes, which likely cost him the fight. “I thought I could win the last round,” he said. “I just blew it.”
Despite the loss, Erceg proved he belongs near the top of the flyweight division in his fourth UFC fight. Given his performance, he’ll likely get another shot at the belt soon.
As for Pantoja, it was another tough night at the office. But that’s his style. He remains the top 125-pounder in the UFC.