The Octagon returns to Brazil this weekend for the UFC’s next pay-per-view offering as UFC 301 takes place inside the Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro.
In the main event, the UFC Flyweight Championship is on the line as champion Alexandre Pantoja makes his second title defense against fast-rising challenger Steve Erceg. Pantoja is coming off a title defense against Brandon Royval in December and has won five straight fights. Erceg gets a title shot after less than a year on the UFC roster, having won eleven straight fights and three straight inside the Octagon.
In the co-main event, former UFC Featherweight Champion and UFC Hall of Famer Jose Aldo comes out of retirement to battle Jonathan Martinez in a bantamweight bout. Also on the main card is a light heavyweight bout between Anthony Smith and Vitor Petrino, and a pair of middleweight fights as Michel Pereira takes on Ihor Potieria, and Paul Craig battles Caio Borralho.
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> Flyweights- Alessandro Costa (13-4, 1-2 UFC) vs. Kevin Borjas (9-2, 0-1 UFC)
Costa lands a leg kick then a quick combination. Costa with another leg kick. Borjas lands a jab. Costa with a combo ending with a right hand, then lands a leg kick. Costa shoots for a takedown but they clinch for a second and Costa lands an elbow on the break. They trade combinations. Borjas lands a jab. Borjas lands a nice right hand but Costa fires back with a flurry. Costa lands a left hook that hurts Borjas. Borjas recovers and lands a flying knee. Costa with an elbow late. 10-9 Costa.
Costa lands a jab and a leg kick. Costa hurts Borjas with a leg kick and Borjas starts limping. Costa lands several leg kicks and Borjas goes to the mat and Costa gets on top and starts landing. They get to their feet and Costa drops Borjas with another leg kick and starts teeing off from the top. Borjas is working from the bottom but Costa gets the mount and lands an elbow before taking the back. Costa continues to land and it is stopped! Big finish from Costa!
Official Result- Alessandro Costa def. Kevin Borjas by TKO (strikes) at 1:35 of Round 2
> Lightweights- Ismael Bonfim (19-4, 1-1 UFC) vs. Vinc Pichel (14-3, 7-3 UFC)
Bonfim with an inside leg kick. Pichel lands a leg kick. Bonfim with a leg kick. Bonfim with a pair of inside leg kicks. Bonfim lands a right hand. Bonfim with a leg kick then a right hand. Pichel with a calf kick. Pichel lands a jab. Pichel lands a leg kick and follows with a right hand. Bonfim lands an overhand right. Bonfim with a pair of leg kicks. Bonfim lands a left hook to the body. Bonfim with another hook to the body then they trade punches and leg kicks. Bonfim with another leg kick. Bonfim lands a right hand followed by a head kick. Pichel lands a leg kick but eats a counter combo from Bonfim. Bonfim with a flurry of jabs. Bonfim jumps for a guillotine late but Pichel escapes. 10-9 Bonfim.
Bonfim with a quick combo. Bonfim lands a leg kick. Bonfim lands a left hand then a hard right hand. Pichel with a leg kick. Bonfim with a combo. Pichel lands a leg kick. Bonfim hurts Pichel with a body punch and just misses a flying knee. Bonfim landing the jab and Pichel lands a leg kick. Bonfim with a right hand. Bonfim with a combo then lands a left hand to the body. Bonfim with two left hooks. Bonfim lands a right hand. Bonfim lands and slips to the mat late. 10-9 Bonfim, 20-18 Bonfim.
Pichel with a leg kick. Bonfim lands a combination and Pichel lands a right hand. Bonfim with a right hand. They trade with Bonfim landing more and we have a brief timeout for a fence grab by Pichel. Bonfim hurts Pichel with a left hook. Bonfim landing in response as he lands a flying knee and a flurry. Bonfim with a big flurry as he continues to hurt Pichel to the body. Bonfim scores a takedown. Bonfim lands from the top but they scramble up and trade in the clinch at the end. 10-9 Bonfim, 30-27 Bonfim.
Official Result- Ismael Bonfim def. Vinc Pichel by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
> Women’s Flyweights- Dione Barbosa (6-2, 0-0 UFC) vs. Ernesta Kareckaite (5-0-1, 0-0 UFC)
Barbosa with a body kick. Barbosa lands a right hand that stuns Kareckaite. Barbosa with another leg kick. Barbosa shoots for a takedown and puts it against the fence before getting it down. Barbosa gets the back and locks in a choke but Kareckaite gets her neck free. Barbosa landing from the back. Barbosa still with back control. Barbosa attacking the arm. Time runs out on the round. 10-9 Barbosa.
Barbosa lands a right hand. Barbosa hurts Kareckaite with a short elbow. Barbosa shoots for a takedown against the fence. They separate. Barbosa with a jab then a leg kick before she scores a takedown. Kareckaite escapes to her feet and lands some leg kicks as Barbosa is on her back. Barbosa is ordered to her feet. Kareckaite lands a right hand. Kareckaite gets a takedown but Barbosa is able to scramble for a leg lock. Barbosa is able to get the back of Kareckaite. Kareckaite spins into the guard of Barbosa and ends the round there. 10-9 Kareckaite, 19-19.
Kareckaite lands a leg kick. Barbosa shoots for a takedown but Kareckaite sprawls and lands a high kick as they get to their feet. Kareckaite lands a right hand. Barbosa shoots for a takedown and Kareckaite defends, but Barbosa lands a right hand as they break. Barbosa with a spin kick. Kareckaite lands a combo. Barbosa shoots and Kareckaite sprawls away and lands a right hand. Kareckaite with a combo ending with a body kick. Both are landing with Kareckaite landing slightly more. Barbosa shoots for a takedown and they scramble to the mat. Barbosa is attacking the leg. Kareckaite escapes and lands a standing right hand. Barbosa is let up. Barbosa lands a right hand. Kareckaite with a combo ending with a head kick. Barbosa shoots but Kareckaite sprawls. 10-9 Kareckaite, 29-28 Kareckaite.
Official Result- Dione Barbosa def. Ernesta Kareckaite by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
> Lightweights- Mauricio Ruffy (9-1, 0-0 UFC) vs. Jamie Mullarkey (17-7, 5-5 UFC)
Ruffy with an early leg kick. He lands another. Ruffy with a stiff jab. Ruffy with another stiff jab. Ruffy with a right hand. Mullarkey lands a body kick. Mullarkey lands a right hand. Ruffy with a jab and a right hand. They trade leg kicks. Ruffy with a big right hand. Ruffy with a spin kick. They trade some wild flurries. Ruffy lands a right hand that stuns Mullarkey. Ruffy with a sweep trip but they scramble up. Mullarkey lands a right hand but eats a right hand from Ruffy. Ruffy lands a big knee and Mullarkey goes down but gets up. Ruffy with some big punches and lands a big right hand that sends Mullarkey back down and it is stopped after follow-up shots. Big finish from Ruffy!
Official Result- Mauricio Ruffy def. Jamie Mullarkey by TKO (punches) at 4:42 of Round 1
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> Lightweights- Joaquim Silva (13-4, 6-4 UFC) vs. Drakkar Klose (14-2-1, 8-2 UFC)
Silva lands a kick that went low and we have a timeout. They get back to action. Klose with a body kick. They trade kicks. Klose lands a right hand. Klose with a flurry before they clinch but quickly separate. Silva with a leg kick. Klose with a leg kick. Silva lands a body kick. Silva with a left hook. Klose is pressuring Silva against the fence and lands a right hand. Klose with a pair of right hands. Klose lands a right hand and a high kick. Silva with a leg kick. Klose with a combo and a knee. Klose with another combo and a pair of knees. They clinch and Klose with more knees and left hands. Klose lands an elbow. 10-9 Klose.
They trade kicks to start the second. Silva with a body kick. Silva attacks the body and Klose looks for a takedown against the fence. Klose has Silva pinned against the fence and lands some foot stomps and knees. Silva with an uppercut. They separate and Silva lands a combo. Klose pushes it against the fence. Klose with a knee and Silva reverses. They separate. Klose pushes it back against the fence. Klose with some more knees to the body. 10-9 Klose, 20-18 Klose.
Silva with a leg kick. Klose with a knee and a pair of jabs. Silva lands a left hand. Klose with a pair of leg kicks and a right hand. Klose lands a right hand after an exchange. Silva lands a combo. Klose with a leg kick. Silva jumps up for a guillotine choke. Klose tries to get out of it but Silva ends up with the mounted guillotine but Klose is able to escape. Silva hurts Klose with a right hand and Klose goes to the mat. Silva lands and looks for the neck but Klose ends up on top as he pops out. Klose has the back as they get to their feet. Silva lands an elbow. Klose looks for a takedown but Silva defends and lands a knee. They tie up and end the fight with Klose landing a spin kick. 10-9 Silva, 29-28 Klose.
Official Result- Drakkar Klose def. Joaquim Silva by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
> Lightweights- Elves Brener (16-3, 3-0 UFC) vs. Myktybek Orolbai (12-1-1, 1-0 UFC)
Brener with an inside leg kick. Brener with a leg kick. Orolbai lands a left hand. Brener lands a left hook. Orolbai lands a right hand and they clinch. Orolbai gets a takedown as Brener was attacking the neck. Orolbai with a big elbow from the top then lands a right hand. Orolbai stands and goes back into the guard with a big right hand. They scramble and Brener ends up on top and in side control. Brener gets the back. They scramble to the feet and separate. Orolbai with a right hand and then lands a combo. Orolbai looking for the takedown but Brener slips out. Orolbai is able to get Brener down. Orolbai with some short punches from the top. Orolbai with a big elbow. He continues to land from the top. 10-9 Orolbai.
Orolbai with a teet kick and Brener goes to his butt for a moment. Orolbai hurts Brener with a right hand. Orolbai rushes in and Brener lands a right hand but Orolbai is pressuring for the takedown. Orolbai gets it to the mat. Orolbai with a pair of big elbows. Orolbai with a combo from the top. Orolbai gets the mount. Orolbai with punches from the mount. Brener is able to get out and Orolbai grabs the back as they stand. They separate. Orolbai grabs the back. Brener with a body kick as they break. Orolbai with a combo to the body. Orolbai gets the takedown but Brener reverses to the top. Brener mounts Orolbai and lands to end the round. 10-9 Orolbai, 20-18 Orolbai.
They trade and Brener scores a takedown. They get up and Brener has the back and drags it down. He has the hooks in and is landing punches. They are on the feet and Brener drags it back down. Orolbai has a point taken away for grabbing the fence. Orolbai lands a knee to the body. Orolbai gets a takedown. Orolbai is in side control and lands an elbow but Brener slips over and has the back of Orolbai. They separate. They clinch against the fence. Orolbai lands a big left hand. Orolbai drops Brener at the end of the round. Close round. 9-9 round due to the point deduction, 29-27 Orolbai.
Official Result- Myktybek Orolbai def. Elves Brener by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
> Women’s Strawweights- #13 Karolina Kowalkiewicz (16-7, 9-7 UFC) vs. Iasmin Lucindo (15-5, 2-1 UFC)
Kowalkiewicz with a pair of kicks as Lucindo lands some punches. Lucindo lands a big left hook. They both land as Kowalkiewicz rushes forward. They clinch and Lucindo lands some knees before grabbing the neck. Lucindo with some knees. Lucindo with more knees. Kowalkiewicz tries to break the clinch but is unable to and Lucindo lands some more knees. They separate. Kowalkiewicz lands and Lucindo is able to get a trip takedown right into the mount. Lucindo with right hands from the top. She lands more from the top and ends the round landing. 10-9 Lucindo.
Lucindo with a body kick. They trade inside the pocket. Lucindo with a leg kick. Lucindo with a jumping knee. Kowalkiewicz lands a combo. Lucindo lands a combo in return. Lucindo with a body kick. Lucindo with a spin kick. They trade in close range before Lucindo lands a knee. Lucindo with a combination. Lucindo with a combo. Lucindo with a pair of body kicks. Lucindo with heavy shots as Kowalkiewicz lands some. Lucindo with some body kicks. Lucindo with a flying knee. Kowalkiewicz lands a right hand. 10-9 Lucindo, 20-18 Lucindo.
They clinch against the fence. Lucindo lands and they break. Kowalkiewicz with a leg kick. Lucindo lands a body kick and takes the back of Kowalkiewicz. Lucindo jumps on the back of Kowalkiewicz standing for a brief moment. Kowalkiewicz with some back elbows as Lucindo has the pressure on. They go to the mat and Lucindo is in side control. Lucindo stands and lands some kicks before Kowalkiewicz gets up. Lucindo with a flying knee. Lucindo with a spin kick. They trade. Lucindo with a big right hand. 10-9 Lucindo, 30-27 Lucindo.
Official Result- Iasmin Lucindo def. Karolina Kowalkiewicz by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
> Featherweights- Jack Shore (17-1, 6-1 UFC) vs. Joanderson Brito (16-3-1, 4-1 UFC)
Brito with a pair of big leg kicks. Brito lands the jab then another pair of leg kicks. Brito with another hard leg kick. Shore lands a jab. Brito hurts Shore with a leg kick and Shore looks for a takedown as he pushes it against the fence. Brito reverses position. Shore with a knee. They separate. Brito with a big right hand then a flurry as they push against the fence. Brito with some knees. Shore changes levels and looks for the takedown but Brito defends. They remain clinched against the fence. Brito with a shoulder strike. Shore lands a knee. 10-9 Brito.
They trade right hands. Shore lands a head kick. Brito pushes it against the fence. Brito with knees against the fence and he gets a brief takedown and still has body control as they get up. They separate. Brito with a leg kick then another. Shore lands a right hand. Brito with a calf kick. Brito looking for a takedown against the fence and Shore defending with elbows. Brito with some short knees. They call a timeout as Shore’s leg is bleeding badly from the calf kicks. There is a big, nasty cut in Shore’s leg and bone may be showing. The doctor calls the fight off and Brito picks up the victory.
Official Result- Joanderson Brito def. Jack Shore by TKO (doctor stoppage) at 3:35 of Round 2
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> Middleweights- #13 Paul Craig (17-7-1, 9-7-1 UFC) vs. #14 Caio Borralho (15-1 1 NC, 5-0 UFC)
> Middleweights- Michel Pereira (30-11 2 NC, 8-2 UFC) vs. Ihor Potieria (21-5, 2-3 UFC)
> Light Heavyweights- #10 Anthony Smith (37-19, 12-9 UFC) vs. Vitor Petrino (11-0, 4-0 UFC)
> Bantamweights- Jose Aldo (31-8, 13-7 UFC) vs. #12 Jonathan Martinez (19-4, 10-3 UFC)
> UFC Flyweight Championship- C Alexandre Pantoja (27-5, 11-3 UFC) vs. #10 Steve Erceg (12-1, 3-0 UFC)
News Summary:
- UFC 301 live results: Alexandre Pantoja vs. Steve Erceg, Jose Aldo returns
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