Alexandre Pantoja retained control over the flyweight division this Saturday. ‘The Cannibal’ met title challenger, Steve Erceg in UFC 301’s (ESPN+) featured headliner. All eyes were on the #10 ranking Aussie who surprisingly inherited the title shot on short notice. Going up against the caliber of Alexandre Pantoja, Aussie supporters called robbery after a failed major upset by ‘AstroBoy.’ This would have included middleweight Aussie, peer Robert Whittaker. Well, think again.
Steve Erceg went to a battle of blows with Pantoja (28-5 MMA, 12-3 UFC). Second round onward, he gained better traction with a boxing-heavy stance, working behind the jabs to check distance. He even grazed the champion over the temple twice. Robert Whittaker, characterized by going the distance on electric bouts, was all up for the physicality. But he thought Pantoja was winning.
I thought Pantoja did enough to win…whether or not a fan favorite…him getting takedowns and you know utilizing control rather than effective damage…I had Pantoja winning the first three.
Robert Whittaker via the MMArcade Podcast (@MMArcadePodcast) Episode 41
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iju3I1hZxt8
It was a closely contested bout between the 125-pound fighters. In Round 3, Erceg sliced Pantoja open, making him sprout out all over the mat while forcing a clinch down. R4 was probably his strongest, with the Aussie striking dynamically with extended cardio. However, Pantoja def. Steve Erceg via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46), which made fans cry a total robbery. Whittaker disagrees.
On the judges’ scorecards, David Tirelli favored Rounds 2 to 3, 10-9 in the Brazilian’s favor. While 4th was a surefire win, those two weren’t total cappers. Whittaker, however, scored it 4-1 to Pantoja. He also credited Erceg’s shooting prematurely for a clinch and takedown in the 5th frame to cause him to wobble out and be reversed. Consequently, Erceg himself blames the ill-timed decision as well.
How did other peers react to Alexandre Pantoja’s win over Steve Erceg?
Alexandre Pantoja remained the flyweight champion this weekend. He defended his title against Steve Erceg in the UFC 301 main event. Erceg’s title challenge makes just his fourth promotional outing. Now 12-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC, he incurred a decision skid despite a top-notch performance.
Various peers weigh in on Steve Erceg’s close brawl with Alexandre Pantoja (Source: UFC News (@UFCNews) / X/ Instagram)Not only that, but he wobbled the seasoned titleholder to the periphery multiple times with definitive striking. He even cut open Pantoja with right elbows to the temple, on two occasions. Alexandre Pantoja is stylistically infamous for switching it up between close-range striking and lower-torso clinches, which he did in full force. However, Erceg even managed to outdo his superior grapples several times over.
Here’s how prominent peers and pundits have reacted to it:
Alex continues to get crazy here, OH NASTY COMBO FROM STEVE!!!!
BIG right hand from Alex!
Alex rushes in, attacks the body, but Steve grabs him! Alex lands on him on the break. #UFC301
— Cageside Press (@Cagesidepress) May 5, 2024
Pantoja is a madman and such a pleasure to watch. Straight killer instinct. Entertainment #ufc301
— Hyon Ko (@KoreanJohn_) May 5, 2024
10-9 Pantoja, who looks a level above Erceg so far, however he is typically a fast starter with a tendency to slow down.
Great start for him thus far.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) May 5, 2024
Pantoja gasses soon
— Saidyokub Kakhramonov (@SaidYokubMMA) May 5, 2024
I give Erceg that round. He landed some really solid shots on the feet. Better takedown defense in that round. 19-19.
— Nick Baldwin (@NickBaldwinMMA) May 5, 2024
This is a scrap! 👊🏼👊🏼
— bjpenndotcom (@bjpenndotcom) May 5, 2024
Erceg cut him but I think Pantoja landed significantly more effective strikes in that round that hurt Erceg. 29-28 Pantoja for me. #UFC301
— Seán Sheehan (@SeanSheehanBA) May 5, 2024
Pantoja’s corner says that he’s won the first three, Erceg’s corner says the same.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) May 5, 2024
Man this is a SCRAP! 2-1 Pantoja? That elbow was nice! #ufc301
— “Wonderboy” Thompson (@WonderboyMMA) May 5, 2024
Steve’s jab is landing, then a right hand.
Alex goes to the body then high with the flurry.
Steve to the body, then up high! Alex fires back with a combo.
Alex leg kick, then up top, but Steve lands too #UFC301
— Cageside Press (@Cagesidepress) May 5, 2024
10-9 Erceg in the fourth
I have it even at 38-38 heading into the final round.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) May 5, 2024
Erceg flowing now. Could be 2-2 all tied up. Tough to tell. #ufc301
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) May 5, 2024
An Erceg round there. The fifth round is a jump ball. Let’s see who gets it. 38-38. #UFC301
— Nolan King (@mma_kings) May 5, 2024
Valiant effort by Erceg! Nothing to be upset about. Pantoja is relentless! I have pantoja 3-2 #ufc301
— “Wonderboy” Thompson (@WonderboyMMA) May 5, 2024
Consequently, much like Robert Whittaker, a plethora of peers thought Pantoja did more and the Aussie opened up with late takedowns. While others considered Erceg to have beautiful striking. All in all, everybody considered it a valiant output by the first-time title challenger.
Concurrently, Steve Erceg also won the praises of Pantoja, who voiced a personal sense of pride in having faced such tough competition from a divisional peer. A multitude have accordingly considered that Erceg is just a few fights away from rising in ranks and pushing for a rematch when the time comes.
