CombatSports.org

Undisputed flyweight champion, Alexandre Pantoja is set for his return to the Octagon later this summer – on home soil in a title fight defense against current number ten ranked contende, Australia’s Steve Erceg at UFC 301 on May 4. in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from the Jeunesse Arena.

Pantoja, the current undisputed flyweight champion, most recently co-headlined UFC 296 back in December, successfully defending his title in a rematch win over recent UFC Mexico City headliner, Brandon Royval – in turn lodging his first successful title defense.

As for Erceg, the three-fight Octagon veteran appears to have earned his first crack at organizational gold off the back of a second round KO win over Matt Schnell earlier this month at UFC Vegas 87 – which also landed him a Performance of the Night bonus.

Alexandre Pantoja meets Steve Erceg at UFC 301

The promotion’s official UFC Brasil account confirmed the pairing of Alexandre Pantoja and Steve Erceg for the May pay-per-view card in South America this Friday night.

“Main fight confirmed,” the UFC Brasil account posted tonight, as translated by Google Translate. “The flyweight champion @PantojaMMA fights at home and defends his belt against Steve Erceg at #UFC301, in Rio de Janeiro.” 

Initially winning gold back in July of last year during International Fight Week, Pantoja turned in another career win over defending champion, Brandon Moreno, to land the championship in a split decision success. 

The victory came as part of an impressive current five fight winning run for Rio native, Pantoja, who previously landed wins over Alex Perez, the above-mentioned, Royval, and a decision success against the highly-touted, Manel Kape. 

12-1 as a professional, submission expert, Erceg landed in the Dana White-led promotion back in June of last year with a decision win over David Dvorak, before besting Alessandro Costa at UFC 295 in another judging win in Madison Square Garden in November last – prior to his knockout of Schnell earlier this month.

Who leaves Brazil with gold after UFC 301: Alexandre Pantoja or Steve Erceg?

LowKickMMA.com

submitted by /u/TradeBrockNelson [link] [comments]

MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Steve Erceg is the surprise winner of the Alexandre Pantoja sweepstakes.

UFC announced Friday that Erceg — not Muhammad Mokaev, Brandon Royval, or any of the other usual flyweight suspects — will be the one challenging Pantoja for a UFC belt on May 4 when the promotion returns to Rio de Janeiro for UFC 301. The announcement comes just three bouts into Erceg’s octagon career, fresh off a March win over Matt Schnell, and ignited plenty of reaction from the mild-mannered 27-year-old’s fellow fighters.

Check out reaction to the announcement below, including an incredulous response from Mokaev, who had been vocally campaigning for the spot.

MMA Fighting – All Posts

Following Friday’s UFC Vegas 88 Official Weigh-In, the fighters competing on Saturday’s fight card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas faced off with their opponents.  

The event is headlined by a heavyweight bout between tenth-ranked Marcin Tybura and ninth-ranked Tai Tuivasa. Tuivasa (14-6) will enter the octagon on Saturday in desperate need of a win. On a three-fight losing streak, the knockout artists hopes the right the ship against Tybura.

Tybura (24-8) is coming off a loss to interim champion Tom Aspinall in his last fight, but has won seven of his last nine matches.

UFC Vegas 88 Face-Offs Video 

MMAWeekly.com | UFC and MMA News, Results, Rumors, and Videos

UFC

submitted by /u/enqidu [link] [comments]

MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Once again, Chris Curtis steps in to save the day.

On Thursday, news broke that Marvin Vettori was forced out of his planned main event bout against Brendan Allen at UFC Vegas 90 on April 6, and that the UFC was looking for a replacement to step in. Twenty-four hours later, the No. 14 ranked UFC middleweight Chris Curtis is stepping in, per the UFC.

Multiple sources with knowledge of the booking also confirmed the bout to MMA Fighting.

This will be the second time Curtis has stepped in on short notice to face Allen. At UFC Vegas 44, Curtis replaced Roman Dolidze against Allen and won by second-round TKO. Since then, Curtis has had an up-and-down run, with three wins, two losses, and one no-contest. Most recently, he took a split decision over Marc-Andre Barriault at UFC 297.

Since losing to Curtis, Allen has been on a tear. The 28-year-old has won six straight in the UFC’s middleweight division, five by rear-naked choke. Most recently, he submitted Paul Craig in the main event of UFC Vegas 82.

Damon Martin contributed to this report.

MMA Fighting – All Posts

3 Fighters Miss
| BJPenn.com

UFC

“I’m just trying to do my own thing, try make my own path. Leave my own legacy.”

Undefeated WBC Silver Super Welterweight Champion Callum Walsh returns to the “sweet science” to throw hands opposite Dauren Yeleussinov at The Theatre inside Madison Square Garden in New York City. Their 10-round showdown tops a UFC Fight Pass-streamed live card that gets underway TONIGHT (Fri., March 16, 2024) at 7 p.m. ET.

We’ll have full results and LIVE blow-by-blow coverage HERE.

Just don’t call Callum “the Conor McGregor of boxing.”

“I’m very grateful to be able to do this at such a young age,” Walsh told TMZ Sports. “I’m trying to make my own path and do my own thing — I’m never trying to copy anybody or be like anyone. Everyone always says, ‘Oh you wanna be like the Conor McGregor of boxing’. I’m just trying to be Callum Walsh. I’m just trying to do my own thing, try make my own path. Leave my own legacy.”

The 23 year-old Walsh (9-0, 7 KOs) made headlines for more than just his pugilistic prowess when he became the first boxer signed by UFC CEO Dana White, working alongside world-renowned trainer Freddie Roach and longtime promoter Tom Loeffler. Tonight’s fight against Yeleussinov (11-3-1, 1 KO) marks the second time “King” headlined The Theater.

“Callum has been a pleasure to work with,” Loeffler recently told The Ring. “His talent is exceptional and it’s no accident he was a six-time Irish National Amateur champion. We always thought his style was more suited for the professional ranks. Under the guidance of Freddie Roach, he has excelled thus far as a pro. He’s not afraid to fight anyone, as was the case in fighting (Ismael) Villarreal is his last fight. The level of competition he has faced is not full of blown-up records.”

For more boxing news and notes click here.

MMAmania.com – All Posts