The flyweight title was up for grabs in the UFC 301 main event on Saturday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Â
Champion Alexandre Pantoja faced tenth-ranked Steve Erceg in the fight card’s main event at Farmasi Arena.  It was Pantoja’s second title defense.  He entered the match riding a five-fight winning streak and held the hardware. Â
Erceg made the walk to the octagon on an eleven-fight winning streak and fresh off ‘Performance of the Night’ knockout win over Matt Schnell in March. Â The knockout punched his ticket to a title fight.Â
Pantoja came out aggressive and landed a leg kick followed by a left hand. Â Pantoja rushed forward with punches and Erceg briefly tied him up. Â Erceg connected with a left kick and pressed forward. Â Erceg landed a combination. Â Pantoja rushed forward and landed to the body. Â Pantoja clinched long enough to deliver a knee. Â Erceg pressured and Pantoja landed a left hand and took Erceg down. Â Erceg tried to stand and Pantoja delivered a knee to the body. Â Pantoja moved to side control with a minute remaining in the round. Â Pantoja delivered a series of left hands as Erceg stood. Â Pantoja drug him back to the ground. Â Erceg scrambled to his feet and separated. Â MMAWeekly scored the first frame 10-9 for the champion. Â
Pantoja connected with a right hand and pressed froward. Â They clinched and worked for position along the cage. Â The second round started fast. Â Pantoja separated and Pantoja rushed in with a wild combination. Â Erceg landed a counter right hand as Pantoja closed the distance. Â Pantoja secured a takedown and quickly moved to the mount. Â Erceg got to half guard and reversed Pantoja. Â The scrambled to their feet and separated at the midway mark. Â
Erceg moved in with a right hand and looked for a takedown. Â Pantoja defended the attempt and pushed Erceg away. Â Pantoja moved in with a right hand. Â Erceg landed right a right hand. Â He connected with a left as Pantoja moved forward. Â Pantoja looked to get the fight to the ground. Â Erceg shook off the attempt and pressured the champion. Â Erceg landed combination and Pantoja rushed in but missed. Â Pantoja closed the distance and ate an elbow but secured the takedown. Â Erceg definitely did more damage that round but Pantoja scored two takedowns. Â MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Pantoja. Â
Erceg landed an elbow to start the third. Â They clinched and Pantoja delivered knees to the body before separating. Â Erceg pressed forward. Â He landed his jab and Pantoja responded with a leg kick. Â Pantoja targeted the body and Erceg responded with a left hand. Â Erceg landed his jab to keep Pantoja on the outside. Â Pantoja rushed forward and clinched. Â Erceg circled free with two minutes remaining in the round. Â Both landed shots. Â As Pantoja pressed forward, Erceg connected with an elbow that may have stunned Pantoja. Â It opened up a cut on Pantoja. Â Pantoja quickly went for a takedown and got it. Â Pantoja took Erceg’s back. Â The round ended. Â MMAWeekly scored the round for Pantoja. Â
Erceg’s corner told him, ‘you’re probably down three. Â You need to go and try to finish this,’ before the fourth frame. Â Erceg inched forward and landed a right hand. Â They exchanged jabs. Â Erceg changed levels and looked for a takedown. Â Pantoja stuffed the attempt. Â Erceg landed an elbow that had Pantoja looking for a takedown. Â Erceg shook off the attempt and landed an uppercut. Â
Pantoja stepped forward and connected with a right hand. Â Erceg connected with his jab and right hand. Â Erceg stalked Pantoja. Â Pantoja moved in with a combination. Â Erceg went for a takedown and Pantoja successfully sprawled. Â Erceg landed to the body. Â Pantoja’s cut began leaking into his eyes. Â Erceg landed a left and Pantoja clinched. Â They separated and Pantoja landed a left. Â MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Erceg. Â
Pantoja’s corner told him that he’s ‘won at least three’ before coming out for the final round. Â Erceg landed his jab followed by a leg kick. Â Pantoja pressed forward and Erceg changed levels and took him down. Â Pantoja scrambled to his feet and took Erceg down. Â Erceg got to his feet but Pantoja stayed on him. Â Erceg looked to have grabbed the fence to stay on his feet. Â Pantoja drug him to the ground. Â Erceg quickly got to his feet and separated. Â
Erceg pressed forward and landed a short uppercut. Â With two minutes remaining, Pantoja landed to the body but was hit with an elbow. Â A second cut opened up on Pantoja. Â Erceg looked for a takedown and Pantoja reversed him and gained top position. Â Erceg tried to scramble but Pantoja maintained top control. Â He moved to side control and Erceg briefly gave up his back. Â He rolled and Pantoja stayed on him. Â MMAWeekly scored the final round 10-for Pantoja. Â
The judges scored the fight for Pantoja. Â The scorecards read 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46.
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