UFC 301 delivered an unforgettable night of mixed martial arts action on May 4, 2024, as the promotion returned to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for the first time since January 2023. Held at the Farmasi Arena, this pay-per-view spectacular featured 14 thrilling fights culminating in flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja defending his title against Australian challenger Steve Erceg. Brazilian fighters dominated the evening, winning 10 of the 14 contests in front of their passionate home crowd.
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UFC 301 Main Card Results
Main Event: Alexandre Pantoja vs Steve Erceg - UFC Flyweight Championship
Winner: Alexandre Pantoja (Brazil) via Unanimous Decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46)
In a grueling five-round war, Brazilian flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja successfully defended his title for the second time at UFC 301 against Australia's Steve Erceg. Fighting in his hometown of Rio de Janeiro for the first time as a UFC athlete at UFC 301, Pantoja demonstrated championship grit despite absorbing significant damage throughout the contest.
The fight was far closer than many predicted, with Erceg landing numerous punches and elbows that repeatedly rocked the champion. Pantoja suffered cuts over both eyebrows from Erceg's striking, with his face covered in blood by the championship rounds. However, the Brazilian's relentless pressure, superior grappling, and championship experience proved decisive.
The turning point came in the fifth round when Erceg's corner made a tactical error, incorrectly informing him he was down three rounds. This led Erceg to employ more offensive grappling, which backfired as Pantoja expertly reversed positions and controlled the crucial final moments. All three judges scored the fight for Pantoja, extending his winning streak to six fights and cementing his status as the top flyweight in the world.
Post-fight, an exhausted Pantoja acknowledged his defensive lapses while requesting a break after fighting three times in the past year.
Co-Main Event: Jose Aldo vs Jonathan Martinez - Bantamweight
Winner: Jose Aldo (Brazil) via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
The legendary "King of Rio" Jose Aldo made a triumphant return to the Octagon at UFC 301 after nearly two years away from competition. The former two-time UFC featherweight champion, now 37 years old, delivered a vintage performance against Jonathan Martinez, that reminded Aldo fans why he's considered one of the greatest fighters of all time.
Aldo was sharp and focused from the opening bell, utilizing his world-class boxing to outclass Martinez throughout the contest. The Brazilian's hand speed, precision, and timing were on full display as he consistently beat Martinez to the punch. In the third round, Aldo elevated his performance, rocking the Factory X fighter multiple times with devastating combinations.
The crowd erupted when Aldo's hand was raised, with visible emotion on the legend's face as he stood victorious in his hometown. All three judges scored every round for Aldo in a dominant 30-27 sweep. Fighting on an expiring contract, Aldo's future remains uncertain, but his performance proved he can still compete at the highest level.
Anthony Smith vs Vitor Petrino - Light Heavyweight
Winner: Anthony Smith (United States) via Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 2:00 of Round 1
Former light heavyweight title challenger Anthony Smith desperately needed a victory at UFC 301 after losing three of his previous four fights, and the veteran delivered in spectacular fashion. Facing undefeated Brazilian prospect Vitor Petrino, who entered with an 11-0 record, Smith capitalized on a critical mistake to secure a lightning-fast finish.
After a tense opening minute feeling each other out, the 26-year-old Petrino committed a rookie error by shooting for a double-leg takedown while leaving his neck completely exposed. Smith, with nearly 60 professional fights under his belt, calmly wrapped his arms around Petrino's neck. When Petrino completed the takedown and slammed Smith to the canvas, the American simply tightened his grip and locked in a fight-ending guillotine choke.
The submission came at exactly two minutes of the first round, marking one of the best wins of Smith's recent career and keeping his championship aspirations alive. For Petrino, it was a harsh lesson in the unforgiving nature of high-level competition.
Michel Pereira vs Ihor Potieria - Middleweight
Winner: Michel Pereira (Brazil) via Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 0:54 of Round 1
Brazilian showman Michel Pereira extended his winning streak to eight fights at UFC 301 with one of the most controversial finishes of 2024, against Ukraine's Ihor Potiera. The spectacular victory came complete with Pereira's signature acrobatics but was marred by questions about an illegal strike.
Pereira came out aggressively, immediately pressuring the Ukrainian fighter. Less than 40 seconds into the bout, Pereira dropped Potieria with a crisp left-right combination. With Potieria grounded, Pereira executed his trademark backflip, but his knee appeared to strike Potieria's head during the maneuver—a potentially illegal strike against a downed opponent.
Officials conferenced ringside to review the incident, with replays showing the knee landed primarily on Potieria's chest and shoulder. Commentator Paul Felder noted Pereira needed to learn from attempting such risky moves, while play-by-play announcer Jon Anik stated officials deemed it "legal enough" to let the result stand.
The finish came moments later when Pereira stood Potieria up and locked in a crushing standing guillotine choke. Potieria tapped just before losing consciousness at 54 seconds of the opening round. Potieria later filed an official appeal with the Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission, claiming the illegal knee left him unable to defend himself properly. The appeal was ultimately denied, and Pereira's victory stood, earning him a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus.
Caio Borralho vs Paul Craig - Middleweight
Winner: Caio Borralho (Brazil) via KO (Punches) at 2:10 of Round 2
Rising Brazilian middleweight Caio Borralho announced his arrival as a legitimate contender with a spectacular knockout victory at UFC 301 over Scottish submission specialist Paul Craig. The victory earned Borralho his spot in the UFC middleweight rankings and a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus.
Borralho, a judo brown belt, jiu-jitsu black belt, and Muay Thai black belt, controlled the opening round with his superior striking and movement. While unable to finish Craig in the first frame, Borralho found the perfect shot in the second round, landing a thunderous left cross that sent Craig crashing to the canvas unconscious.
Now riding a remarkable 15-fight winning streak with six consecutive UFC victories, the 30-year-old Borralho called out long-time contender Jared Cannonier post-fight, requesting a top-10 or even top-5 opponent for his next assignment. The charismatic Brazilian has positioned himself as one of the most exciting prospects in the stacked middleweight division.
UFC 301 Preliminary Card Results
Joanderson Brito vs Jack Shore - Featherweight
Winner: Joanderson Brito (Brazil) via TKO (Doctor Stoppage - Leg Injury) at 3:35 of Round 2
The UFC 301 featured preliminary bout ended in controversial fashion when Welsh featherweight Jack Shore suffered a gruesome leg injury from Joanderson Brito's punishing calf kicks. The stoppage sparked immediate debate within the MMA community.
From the opening bell, Brito targeted Shore's lead leg with devastating low kicks. The Brazilian's strikes were heavy and accurate, visibly compromising Shore's movement throughout the first round. Despite the accumulating damage, Shore made it to his stool and was cleared to continue.
In the second round, Brito continued his assault on Shore's damaged leg. One particularly brutal kick opened a significant cut on Shore's shin, causing blood to pour down his leg. With 1:25 remaining in the round, referee Fernando Portella called timeout and summoned the cageside doctor.
After examining the injury, the doctor believed Shore's leg might be fractured and stopped the contest. Shore's corner and the fighter himself were furious with the decision, particularly when it was later revealed that the leg was not broken and only required a few stitches. Shore called the officials "inexperienced" in subsequent interviews and stated he would have preferred to be knocked out than stopped for the cut.
The victory marked Brito's fifth consecutive finish, extending his impressive stoppage streak and moving him closer to the featherweight top 15.
Iasmin Lucindo vs Karolina Kowalkiewicz - Women's Strawweight
Winner: Iasmin Lucindo (Brazil) via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Twenty-two-year-old Brazilian prospect Iasmin Lucindo scored the biggest victory of her career at UFC 301, thoroughly outclassing 38-year-old Polish veteran and former title challenger Karolina Kowalkiewicz over three rounds.
The age and physical advantages proved insurmountable for Kowalkiewicz. Lucindo hurt the Polish fighter in the opening round with a sharp left hook that visibly rocked her. Throughout the contest, Lucindo's superior hand speed, power, and athleticism kept her a step ahead of the veteran.
Lucindo maintained consistent pressure and output across all three rounds, landing the cleaner, harder strikes while avoiding most of Kowalkiewicz's counter attempts. The Brazilian's performance demonstrated the continued development of her skills and established her as a rising threat in the strawweight division.
The judges unanimously awarded all three rounds to Lucindo (30-27 across the board), pushing her UFC record to 3-1 and her overall record to 16-5, with 10 wins in her last 11 fights.
Myktybek Orolbai vs Elves Brener - Lightweight
Winner: Myktybek Orolbai (Kyrgyzstan) via Unanimous Decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
In one of the few victories for visiting fighters at UFC 301, Kyrgyzstan's Myktybek Orolbai survived a late rally from Brazil's Elves Brener to earn his second consecutive UFC victory via unanimous decision.
The 26-year-old Orolbai dominated the early portions of the fight, pushing a torrid pace and stinging Brener with crisp striking while mixing in effective grappling. However, Orolbai's preference for wrestling over finishing with strikes allowed Brener to build momentum late in the second round and come out aggressively in the third.
A point deduction for fence grabbing in the third round created drama, but Orolbai had built sufficient advantage on the scorecards. Despite Brener's late surge, all three judges scored the bout 29-27 for the Kyrgyzstani fighter.
Now 13-1-1 overall, Orolbai continues to establish himself as an ascending talent in the highly competitive lightweight division.
Drakkar Klose vs Joaquim Silva - Lightweight
Winner: Drakkar Klose (United States) via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
American lightweight Drakkar Klose became one of the first non-Brazilian fighters to earn a victory at UFC 301, edging out local favorite Joaquim Silva in a closely contested decision.
Klose took control in the first two rounds with effective boxing and superior footwork, consistently finding his range and landing clean combinations. Silva responded strongly in the final round, putting significant pressure on Klose and making him uncomfortable, but the early deficit proved too large to overcome.
The narrow victory extended Klose's winning streak to four consecutive fights, further establishing the 36-year-old as a legitimate factor in the lightweight rankings. All three judges scored the bout 29-28 for Klose.
UFC 301 Early Preliminary Card Results
Mauricio Ruffy vs Jamie Mullarkey - Lightweight
Winner: Mauricio Ruffy (Brazil) via TKO (Strikes) at 4:42 of Round 1
Brazilian newcomer Mauricio Ruffy announced his arrival in spectacular fashion at UFC 301, delivering a violent debut performance that drew comparisons to a young Conor McGregor from UFC commentators.
The 27-year-old Ruffy, fighting with Diego Lima's Fighting Nerds team, was creative and devastating against proven veteran Jamie Mullarkey of Australia. Ruffy bloodied Mullarkey's nose with precise punching early, then showcased his well-rounded game with a clever scissor sweep takedown.
The finish came when Ruffy landed a perfectly timed jumping knee followed by a barrage of unanswered right hands. Referee Mike Beltran intervened at 4:42, though many felt he was approximately 30 seconds late in stopping the onslaught.
Post-fight, Ruffy grabbed the microphone and delivered a bold callout of lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, declaring: "Enjoy your days at the top. The new king is coming." The performance at UFC 301 earned Ruffy a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus and marked his fifth consecutive stoppage victory.
Dione Barbosa vs Ernesta Kareckaite - Women's Flyweight
Winner: Dione Barbosa (Brazil) via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Brazilian judo and jiu-jitsu black belt Dione Barbosa earned a hard-fought victory in her UFC debut at UFC 301, edging Lithuanian newcomer Ernesta Kareckaite across three competitive rounds.
Barbosa, known as "The Witch," controlled the first round with superior grappling, taking Kareckaite's back and threatening with a rear-naked choke. In the second round, Barbosa landed two spectacular spinning elbows that wobbled Kareckaite, though she curiously opted for takedowns rather than following up on the damage.
The 31-year-old Brazilian appeared to tire in the third round as the 5'9" Kareckaite began walking her down with combinations. Barbosa resorted to desperate takedown attempts, briefly finding herself on bottom. However, her control in the first two rounds proved sufficient as all three judges scored the bout 29-28 in her favor.
Ismael Bonfim vs Vinc Pichel - Lightweight
Winner: Ismael Bonfim (Brazil) via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Brazilian lightweight Ismael Bonfim rebounded from a previous loss with a dominant performance at UFC 301 against 41-year-old American veteran Vinc Pichel.
The 28-year-old Bonfim utilized his superior speed and agility to control all three rounds. He consistently outboxed Pichel in the standup exchanges while showcasing solid wrestling skills to control his opponent on the mat at key moments.
Fighting for the second time at the Farmasi Arena in Rio (he debuted there with a spectacular stoppage at UFC 283 in January 2023), Bonfim looked comfortable and confident. The unanimous decision sweep (30-27 on all three cards) pushed Bonfim's record to 2-0 when competing in Rio and improved his overall UFC mark to 2-1.
The victory confirmed Bonfim as a dangerous threat in the stacked 155-pound division with significant potential going forward.
Alessandro Costa vs Kevin Borjas - Flyweight
Winner: Alessandro Costa (Brazil) via TKO (Strikes) at 1:35 of Round 2
Opening the UFC 301 pay-per-view card, Brazilian-born flyweight Alessandro Costa, who trains out of Mexico, delivered an impressive performance against Peru's Kevin Borjas.
Costa, coming off a narrow loss to eventual title challenger Steve Erceg, was sharp and powerful from the opening exchanges. The first round was closely contested with 31 total strikes thrown (16 by Costa), but the Brazilian began finding his rhythm late in the frame with heavy left hands.
In the second round, Costa turned up the pressure significantly. He landed devastating strikes before securing a takedown and achieving full mount position. From there, Costa rained down hammer fists on the defenseless Borjas, forcing referee Joao Claudio Soares to intervene at 1:35.
The performance earned Costa a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus and announced the 28-year-old as a legitimate contender in the flyweight division, particularly impressive given his previous competitive showing against Erceg.
Notable Moments and Controversies
Illegal Knee Controversy: Michel Pereira's backflip strike against Ihor Potieria generated significant post-fight debate following UFC 301. While officials deemed it legal, Potieria filed an appeal claiming the knee to his head while grounded should have resulted in a disqualification. The Ukrainian received a three-month medical suspension that forced him out of a scheduled bout with Shara Magomedov in Saudi Arabia.
Doctor Stoppage Debate: Jack Shore's leg injury stoppage against Joanderson Brito at UFC 301 sparked controversy when it was revealed the leg wasn't fractured and only required stitches. Shore criticized the officials as "inexperienced" and stated he would have preferred to continue fighting.
Bruce Buffer Mistake: Long-time UFC announcer Bruce Buffer made a rare on-air error at UFC 301 during the Anthony Smith vs Vitor Petrino bout, initially announcing the wrong winner's name before correcting himself.
Shogun Rua Hall of Fame: Just before the Pereira-Potieria fight, the UFC announced that Brazilian legend Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, who was sitting cageside, would be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in June. The timing was fitting as Potieria had controversially knocked out Shogun at UFC 283 in Rio.
Performance Bonuses
The UFC awarded four $50,000 Performance of the Night bonuses:
- Michel Pereira (Submission victory over Ihor Potieria)
- Caio Borralho (Knockout victory over Paul Craig)
- Mauricio Ruffy (TKO victory over Jamie Mullarkey)
- Alessandro Costa (TKO victory over Kevin Borjas)
Brazilian Dominance
UFC 301 showcased the depth of Brazilian MMA talent, with home country fighters winning 10 of 14 bouts on the card. The matchmakers strategically paired a Brazilian fighter against a foreign opponent in every contest, creating an electric atmosphere throughout the evening at Farmasi Arena.
The Brazilian winners were: Alexandre Pantoja, Jose Aldo, Michel Pereira, Caio Borralho, Joanderson Brito, Iasmin Lucindo, Mauricio Ruffy, Dione Barbosa, Ismael Bonfim, and Alessandro Costa.
Championship Implications
Alexandre Pantoja's second successful title defense at UFC 301 solidified his position as the best flyweight in the world. With six consecutive victories and having defeated top contenders Brandon Moreno (twice), Brandon Royval (twice), and Alex Perez, Pantoja has brought stability to a division that hadn't seen a two-time defending champion since Demetrious Johnson.
The champion indicated post-fight that he desires a break after competing three times in the past year, though potential challengers continue to emerge in the deep flyweight division.
Looking Forward
UFC 301 successfully delivered an entertaining night of fights while showcasing Brazilian talent on home soil. The event featured multiple highlight-reel finishes, competitive decisions, and controversial moments that will be discussed for months to come.
Rising stars like Caio Borralho and Mauricio Ruffy used UFC 301 to announce themselves as future contenders, while veterans like Jose Aldo and Anthony Smith proved they still have plenty left to offer. The event's success demonstrates the UFC's continued commitment to the Brazilian market and the passionate fanbase that makes Rio de Janeiro one of the promotion's premier destinations.
With several fighters earning performance bonuses and delivering memorable moments, UFC 301 will be remembered as another successful chapter in the UFC's storied history in Brazil.
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