The UFC heads again to Brazil on Saturday evening to comply with up on the wildly profitable UFC 300 card. Though UFC 301 will not carry the star energy of the occasion that preceded it, Rio de Janeiro will welcome dwelling two of its heroes as UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja will defend his title towards Steve Erceg in the principle occasion and UFC Corridor of Famer and former featherweight champion Jose Aldo comes out of retirement to face Jonathan Martinez in a bantamweight showdown.
This shall be Pantoja’s second title protection, and it’ll come towards an unlikely opponent. Erceg is the UFC’s No. 10-ranked flyweight. Since making his debut with the promotion lower than a yr in the past, he has collected three wins — together with a blistering knockout of Matt Schnell in March — and with a lot of the flyweights within the high 10 unavailable, Erceg appears to be like to grab the second and change into the lowest-ranked fighter to win a title for the reason that UFC launched the rankings system in 2013.
Aldo steps again into motion after a quick hiatus from the game in 2022. The previous featherweight kingpin tried his hand at boxing in 2023 with a majority draw towards Jeremy Stephens and a unanimous determination win over Esteban Gabriel Espindola. However with one battle left on his UFC contract, Aldo returns dwelling to check himself towards the surging Martinez and his six-fight profitable streak.
ESPN MMA reporters Brett Okamoto and Andreas Hale highlight the highest storylines to comply with and matchups to observe through the fights this weekend.
Steve Erceg’s likelihood to drag off a historic upset
Hale: Erceg is not presupposed to be right here. Not this quickly, no less than. However after simply three fights, he is getting the chance of a lifetime because the lowest-ranked fighter to problem for a UFC title since Dan Henderson confronted Michael Bisping for the middleweight championship in 2016.
Erceg did not arrive within the UFC with a lot fanfare, nor did he blow followers away together with his wins, other than his second-round knockout of Matt Schnell. However there is a motive that he is only a +210 underdog, in keeping with ESPN Guess. Erceg has the talent set to upset the apple cart and seize UFC gold.
The flyweight division has been unstable since Demetrious Johnson’s exit from the UFC. Since Johnson’s exceptional title reign, which noticed him defend his championship 11 occasions from 2012 to 2017, no fighter has efficiently defended the title greater than twice. Pantoja already has one title protection however hasn’t seemed like an unbeatable drive. He has holes in his putting that Erceg can exploit, and so long as “Astro Boy” can keep away from being taken down, he stands likelihood of pulling off the upset.
Would it not be an even bigger upset than Matt Serra knocking out Georges St-Pierre at UFC 69 or Holly Holm’s beautiful end of Ronda Rousey at UFC 193? In all probability not. However the concept that the little-known fighter from Perth, Australia, did not deserve the chance can be put to relaxation. Or Pantoja simply runs him over, and the entire dialog is null and void.
Anthony Smith’s remaining run
Okamoto: Admittedly, I’m extraordinarily biased right here. I’ve labored with Smith so much due to his analyst position with ESPN, and I visited his camp in Denver final week to debate his mindset round a looming retirement.
Regardless, that is nonetheless essentially the most intriguing storyline. Smith is in such a dilemma, deciding how a lot he has left. Some individuals would have a look at his latest file and his final knockout loss to Khalil Rountree Jr., and instantly say there isn’t any motive for him to proceed combating. However on the similar time, he is 35. Alex Pereira received the sunshine heavyweight title at age 36. Jan Blachowicz received it at 37. Glover Teixeira received it at 42.
One can perceive why Smith nonetheless believes a title might occur. He has taken a brand new method this camp, by not specializing in the belt. He believes his obsession with it has hindered him in latest fights, and people closest to him agree. It has been a surprisingly light-hearted camp for a battle that carries such hazard. His coaches are apprehensive about combating in Brazil, which is comprehensible. One among his coaches described Brazil as essentially the most hostile place on this planet to win a battle. It takes its toll on meals modifications, sleep modifications, and so on. It is a large problem for Smith, however he is going into it assured.
And past that, I have not even talked about Vitor Petrino (11-0), who may very well be a severe addition to the highest 10 if he goes out and dominates a veteran like Smith. There’s so much on the road for each on this one, and there shall be lots to debate or debate afterward.
UFC 301 fights of intrigue
Michel Pereira’s large physique photographs result in first-round submission win vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk
Michel Pereira lands large photographs to Michal Oleksiejczuk’s physique that result in a first-round submission victory.
Okamoto: Michel Pereira vs. Ihor Potieria. This matchmaking is just a little complicated. Pereira has seemed actually good currently. The man who would get consideration by doing backflips throughout fights and seemed like a .500 welterweight is lengthy gone. Pereira is combating with goal and confidence. He is a brick home of an athlete who does not appear to forfeit any pace for it.
This wasn’t his authentic matchup — however even his former opponent Makhmud Muradov felt like a little bit of working in place. Pereira has received seven in a row. When are we going to see him in a ranked battle? He went by this part of combating entertaining opponents equivalent to Niko Worth and Khaos Williams, and it turned clear he had a better ceiling than that. Let’s discover it out. If he can file his third straight end in Brazil, we’ll see him in a comparatively large, ranked battle.
Hale: Paul Craig vs. Caio Borralho. It is time to determine simply how good Borralho is. Craig is 1-3 in his previous 4 fights however stays a harmful finisher who enjoys making the most of his opponent’s defensive deficiencies. Borralho is extraordinarily athletic and explosive, which is why he hasn’t misplaced within the UFC in 5 fights. However he hasn’t confronted somebody who presents a big risk standing or on the bottom as Craig.
May Craig catch a very aggressive Borralho and derail this slow-moving hype prepare, or will the Brazilian impress and put himself on the radar for the higher crust of the middleweight division that wants new blood? If Craig falls brief, wouldn’t it be secure to say his finest years are behind him? There’s so much on the road for each fighters, and each ought to battle like this can be a make-or-break scenario heading into Saturday’s battle.