Flyweight champ Alexandre Pantoja looked to make the second title defense of his reign atop UFC 301, where he faced off with Australia’s Steve Erceg.
Erceg was the unlikely, unassuming challenger who seemingly flew a little under the radar outside of hardcore fight fans, at least until he’d landed the title shot. Ranked #10 in the weight class, Erceg’s arrival at the top was in part timing, in part skill, but there was little question he was a dangerous foe for the Brazilian champ.
A quick start to the UFC 301 main event saw Pantoja come out aggressive, firing hands and chasing Erceg, looking for a takedown. Erceg fought that off, tying things up along the fence. They broke, moved to center, and settled into a more maintainable pace. Erceg then popped off a slick combo, firing at angles and capping it off with a high kick that was blocked. And when the champ closed the distance again, Erceg clinched off and fought off the takedown attempt.
Erceg, however, did not come out of the round unscathed. A knee appeared to have opened up a slight cut on the forehead. Pantoja was having a fair amount of success in close, and finally did score a takedown with two minutes left on the clock. Erceg pushed him off, scrambled partway up, but ate a knee to the body, and wound up on his back again, Pantoja on top. As Erceg stood up again, he had Pantoja nearly on his back; dragged back down, Erceg had to contend with Pantoja in side control, looking to take the back. And again, when Erceg did make it to his feet, Pantoja was on him, clinching the waist.
One final scramble back up to his feet, and Erceg found some space. But after a strong start for the challenger, Pantoja had likely won back the round.
Another scrappy start kicked off round two, and again Pantoja used an early exchange to take the fight to the fence and pursue a takedown. Erceg had to contend with a knee but pushed the champ off. A front kick to the body landed for the challenger. Pantoja fired a low kick. Erceg fired a jab. A clinch at center led to a Pantoja takedown, and he stepped into mount within seconds, and with three minutes plus on the clock. Erceg scrambled and reclaimed half-guard. Erceg then reversed, and utilized a front choke to get back to his feet, moving back to range and firing a hook.
Closing the distance, Erceg changed levels for a takedown, but the attempt was slow, telegraphed, and easily stuffed. A left hand landed for Erceg a moment later; Pantoja fired back with a right. Erceg than clipped the champ with a left, forcing Pantoja to shoot! Erceg fought off that attempt, and marched back to war, looking to land low kicks, elbows, and his jab. Alexandre Pantoja, however, would finish the frame with a bodylock takedown. His fifth takedown in two rounds.
Erceg opened round three with another elbow over the top. The challenger looked sharp, slipping a Pantoja punch; the champ went to the body, perhaps looking to sap Erceg’s energy. In a clinch along the fence, Erceg was struck low with a knee, but chose to keep fighting. Back at range, both men landed. Erceg fired a teep to the body; Pantoja ripped the body with punches. Erceg then cracked open a nasty cut on Pantoja with an elbow; the champ went straight into takedown mode. Erceg would survive that, and Pantoja was seen holding his head walking back to his corner at the end of the third.
Pantoja’s body language on the stool between rounds was not great. Erceg, meanwhile, came out taking a big swing, but missing. Erceg then went after a takedown that was again easily evaded by the champ. Given his success with the elbows in particular, the pursuit of a takedown was a bit puzzling at best. Erceg worked his jab, and Pantoja landed a right as the round progressed. The jab then began landing for Steve Erceg again, as the round passed the midway mark. Pantoja had slowed, but was still returning fire.
Another Erceg takedown was stuffed by a sprawling Pantoja; the champ’s cut had opened again, forcing him to continually wipe it away to clear his vision. Pantoja would eat a late blow from Erceg, then fail to land a takedown in a round that likely went to the challenger.
The fifth and final round could easily have the parties tied. It could easily be 3-1 for either man, given the close nature of the rounds and the wonky nature of MMA judging.
Steve Erceg scooped up the champ and landed a takedown early in round five, but in a scramble, Pantoja was able to take the back, seated. Erceg powered up to this feet, but Pantoja was still on him with a bodylock. The crowd reacted with displeasure to a fence grab; Pantoja would eventually drag Erceg down, but couldn’t keep him there.
Half the round was still on the clock as the pair got back to work on the feet. Erceg fired a kick high that was blocked. The champ attacked Erceg’s lead leg, and fired a left that connected. Erceg then shot a takedown again, only to be reversed. Again with his success on the feet, the option to take Pantoja to the ground was a puzzling one. Erceg tried to scramble, but was stuck on his back. He would finish the fight there, and those questionable takedown attempts loomed large as it came time for the scores to be read.
Official Result: Alexandre Pantoja def. Steve Erceg by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46)
