UFC 301 Pantoja Vs. Erceg

Our first PPV in the 300's was an amazing card. We might have been a little spoiled with Dana blessing us with UFC 299 and 300. 301 may not have had the star power, but Rio never disappoints.

The fight to kick the Main Card off was Paul Craig facing against Caio Borralho. The first round started with Borralho landing successfully on a lot of his countershots. Craig, wanting to take the fight to the ground, was constantly looking to pull guard or take down Borralho. With every counter shot that Borralho was landing, the fight was slowly slipping away from Craig as they went to the stools for round two. In the second round, Borralho landed a right jab that rocked Craig, then went for a flying knee and almost gave Craig a new hairline. They stood up and Borralho landed a left hook behind the ear and rocked Craig again, and then a left straight to flatten and finish the Scottish warrior. This performance netted Borralho a Performance of the Night bonus.

To follow up a performance like that, you ask for none other than Michel Pereira and Ihor Potiera. Both of these men are very talented and fun to watch. The fight started very fast with Pereria knocking Potiera with a jab. He then followed up with a very unorthodox backflip that may have kneed a grounded opponent (the judges said he didn't). Then settled into a very tight guillotine choke and finished the fight. This performance won Pereira a Performance of the Night bonus.

The fight before the Co-Main Event was a great matchup between Vitor Petrino and Anthony Smith. The fight started with both men landing strong punches on the feet and countering when the opportunity showed itself. Petrino went for a double-leg takedown and Smith countered by jumping for the guillotine. Petrino slammed Smith down, but the choke was too tight, and Smith upset the big favorite in just 120 seconds.

The Co-Main Event featured the return of the King of Rio, Jose Aldo facing against Jonathon Martinez. This fight was one I was looking forward to. Aldo started by feeling Martinez out and using good distance management. Both men hit each other with crushing leg kicks, and Aldo landed most of his strikes and combinations. In the second round, Aldo was still landing good punches and check hooks, with Aldo controlling the pace he won most of the striking exchanges. Into the third round, both men were landing good strikes and countering. Aldo landed a combination that rocked Martinez and landed a huge takedown that sealed the fight. With all of Brazil behind him, Aldo won via Unanimous Decision.

We had a great matchup in the Main Event of Erceg vs Pantoja. Pantoja started the first round off very aggressively with Erceg getting some good counters and jabs working for him. Pantoja went for a takedown and spent the rest of the time scrambling in dominant positions. In the second, Pantoja was still working with the blitzes, and Erceg countering with his crisp boxing. The third round was very aggressive from Pantoja was landing good knees and elbows in the clinch. Erecg landed an elbow that opened a massive cut that Pantoja immediately grabbed in pain. The round ended on the ground with Pantoja in a dominant position. The fourth round was all Erceg, as he was landing consistent counters and starts to work the ground game and opens the cut again. The final round started with Erceg landing a takedown but Pantoja ended up on the back. Erceg opened another cut with an elbow but went for a takedown that got countered and Pantoja finished the round in dominant positions again. In a very close fight, it went to Pantoja unanimously.

Thank you for reading and I will talk to you guys on the punchline. Tune in and thank you.