Alexandre Pantoja vs Steve Erceg UFC 301 Live Blog Play By Play
Welcome to the live updates blog for Alexandre Pantoja vs Steve Erceg main event bout for UFC 301 PPV for UFC Flyweight Championship.
Pantoja is heading into the second title defense of flyweight title. He won the title by beating Brandon Moreno at UFC 290. He has since beaten Brandon Royval at UFC 296 in his only defense so far. Erceg gets this opportunity despite being only at #9 in the flyweight rankings. However, he is on a 10-fight winning streak with 3 of those coming in UFC. Will he be able to upset Pantoja?
Tune in below for the complete round-by-round updates from Alexandre Pantoja vs Steve Erceg flyweight championship bout in the main event of UFC 301 PPV.
LIVE UPDATES
Round 1: Pantoja attempts an early takedown but Erceg blocks it and pushes him to the cage. They return to the middle. Pantoja lands a punch to the shoulder. Erceg replies with a punch also. After a while, Erceg dodges a punch and lands a series of different punches in quick succession. They settle back in the middle. Pantoja lands a punch after 20 seconds. Erceg fires a shot. Pantoja answers with more. Erceg is cut on his forehead slightly. Pantoja gets a takedown but is not able to do much with it. He gets a second takedown and this time, he is able to get on Erceg’s waist. Pantoja keeps control for a while on the mat. He lands some big punches as they get back. Pantoja gets another takedown near the cage before the round ends.
Round 2: Erceg attempts a front kick. The fight settles in a rhythm. Pantoja gets another takedown after the first minute. Shots fired from both sides. Erceg is getting more confidence now. Pantoja lands a few quick jabs. Erceg catches him with a big shot. Pantoja fires more punches. Erceg catches him with an elbow. Pantoja attempts a takedown but Erceg defends it. Erceg lands more jabs. Pantoja is backtracking. Erceg cuts off Pantoja’s charge with a knee before landing more punches. Pantoja resorts to a takedown attempt and gets him to the mat in the final 20 seconds.
Round 3: Erceg is now spending his time in the middle of the cage. He lands a nice elbow and then a body kick. Pantoja is playing the waiting game as he keeps coming in and grabs a clinch. Pantoja lands a knee to the body. Erceg forces Pantoja to backtrack with his shots. They trade shots to the body. Pantoja lands a calf kick. Erceg lands a jab and an uppercut. Pantoja replies with quick hooks to the body. Erceg is able to slip in some good shots in counter. Pantoja then finds his shots connecting. They get into a clinch. The referee tries to pause the fight seeing a groin strike but Erceg says it was not. Pantoja lands a right. Erceg hits a left but Pantoja lands another big shot. Pantoja lands more in the counter. Erceg lands a big elbow to the forehead and a big punch to follow up. Pantoja gets a takedown before the final minute starts. He tries to keep him to the mat while Erceg is trying get back to his feet. Pantoja drags him back down a couple of times.
Round 4: Erceg starts with more urgency and lands a right hand. He slips in more shots. Pantoja also replies with some jabs. Erceg goes for a combo before trying to trip Pantoja, but Pantoja dodges that attempt. Pantoja has slowed down a bit now and gets into a clinch. Erceg breaks it and hits an uppercut followed by jabs. Pantoja lands a right in reply after a while. Erceg goes to the body but Pantoja lands a right in counter. Erceg shows more urgency while Pantoja is slowing down. Pantoja lands a right to slow him down. Erceg jabs in reply. Pantoja’s cut is pouring blood now. He seems to be on survival mode as his vision is obsecured. Erceg keeps to be on the hunt and lands an uppercut. Pantoja lands a left to end the round.
Round 5: Erceg once again starts with urgency as he possibly needs a finish. Pantoja is doing better on attacking front as compared to the previous round. Erceg lands a hook before getting a double-leg takedown. Pantoja kicks him away and quickly gets a takedown himself. Erceg gets towards the cage. Pantoja got on his waist. Erceg gets up but Pantoja still has the waistlock on. Erceg grabs a fence as Pantoja tries to drag him back. Pantoja gets him away from the cage. Erceg is able to scramble out. Back to the middle, Erceg lands an uppercut. Pantoja lands a left hook before blocking a head kick. Pantoja forces Erceg back with a combo. A hook and an elbow from Erceg opens up the floodgates again. Pantoja hits a left in reply with 90 seconds to go. Erceg attempts a takedown but Pantoja immediately reverses it and gets on top again. Erceg is trying to get the upper hand but Pantoja is keeping him down. Pantoja gets in the mount near the end of the round.
Official Decision: Alexandre Pantoja won via unanimous decision(48-47, 48-47, 49-46).
