Alex Pantoja (28-5) was chosen by the UFC to lead its numbered event in Rio de Janeiro. One of the great Brazilian champions, but by far the least in the media. At UFC 301, the story changes. Pantoja agreed to pair up with young Australian Steven Erceg (12-2) and survived a war to defend his flyweight belt, the lowest division in the main mixed martial arts league. ‘The Cannibal’ responded to all of his young rival’s attempts at him and showed how a fight should be won.
Because it was a fight that went through all the phases. He went out with Pantoja looking for a video of better moments, determined to knock out and get that big hit. For a round and a half, it was the tone, but Erceg had an answer. Under that good guy appearance, he threw elbows and all kinds of blows that touched Pantoja, cut them, and opened an unexpected battle. He seemed to have it live and under the gaze of the judges of the fight as well, since they were all 2-2 (in rounds won) before the fifth and last. Erceg was able to knock out Pantoja, but Pantoja’s strategy took the battle to the last round.
Pantoja did not allow any more Erceg parties. She knocked him down on several occasions; she even managed to put in a dangerous knee lock, and the urgency that she had to appear in the Australian did not seem to show. ‘The Cannibal’ changed the pace. From suffering standing to dominating it on the ground. Controlling, punishing, and scoring an assault to decide the battle on the cards. Two 48-47s and one 49-46 give him his second defense of the title and his fifth consecutive victory. After that war, anyone argues that he is a star.
The King of Rio
The one who already had an absolutely phenomenal victory is José Aldo (32-8). The ‘King of Rio’, who is probably the greatest featherweight of all time. Aldo returned to the UFC with doubts because many pointed out that it was for a contractual issue and to get some best-selling fights in boxing, but he blew them all up.
He dominated Jonathan Martínez (19-5), 14th on the bantamweight lists, completely. Aldo used his stand-up game with a very different distance than boxing. He started making contact, and in the second round, he raised his proposal to end up making contact with a knee that was damaging.
Martínez tried to fight and control, but Aldo had solutions. A phenomenal uppercut in the third round secured the victory by unanimous decision. In 2011, he was already champion; in 2024, he continues to win. The ‘King of Rio de Janeiro’ returns under his authority; he will always be a legend of the UFC.
