Alexandre Pantoja turned again a formidable problem from Steve Erceg to earn a unanimous determination and retain the UFC flyweight championship in the principle occasion of UFC 301 on Saturday evening.
Combating in entrance of his fellow countrymen on the Farmasi Enviornment in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the champion handled a surprisingly sturdy opponent in Erceg who challenged him at each flip of their 25-minute battle. It will be Pantoja’s expertise, grappling and 9 takedowns that may flip again the problem of a fighter many thought was undeserving of a title alternative
However Erceg, from Perth, Australia, gave Pantoja all he might deal with.
“I am in right here to struggle the very best on the planet and this man is certainly one of them,” Pantoja stated. “What a tricky fighter and what a tricky division.”
It was a struggle that ended up being determined within the ultimate spherical as two of the three judges had it even after 4 rounds of motion. Nonetheless, Erceg’s ill-advised takedown try within the fifth spherical gave the Brazilian the opening to safe a takedown and take management down the stretch.
Pantoja may need underestimated Erceg, who entered the struggle because the UFC’s No. 10-ranked fighter. He recklessly charged in with punches in an try and overwhelm Erceg within the opening spherical. However Erceg remained poised and by no means regarded just like the second was too large for him. The second spherical noticed a slight shift in momentum as Erceg started to select off Pantoja’s advances whereas using a brief elbow to stop the champion from getting a definite benefit over him.
Pantoja routinely threatened Erceg’s again within the center rounds, however Erceg remained calm and fought off “The Cannibal.” The fourth was one more spherical the place Erceg discovered success along with his hanging and received the exchanges on the toes.
With the struggle hanging within the stability, each corners felt assured that their fighter had the sting. With blood streaming down his face from a lower within the hairline from an elbow, the champion continued to cost in recklessly and get countered. However Pantoja took benefit of an overeager Erceg and slid to his opponent’s again.
Pantoja would not be capable of settle into his consolation zone as Erceg escaped and slipped in a brief elbow. However Pantoja remained undeterred and was pleasantly shocked when Erceg’s inexperience got here into play with a takedown try that was reversed with 90 seconds left. Pantoja maintained management as a panicked Erceg tried to blow up to his toes earlier than in the end taming “Astro Boy” till the ultimate bell.
Erceg’s title alternative may need come as a result of he was in the appropriate place on the proper time and was obtainable when everybody else ranked above him was both coping with an harm or unavailable. However his efficiency will definitely transfer him up the rankings, and it won’t be the final time we see Erceg difficult for championship gold.
Pantoja prolonged his successful streak to 6 and seems to have rounded into his ultimate kind by knocking off one other contender within the division. With scores of 48-47, 48-47 and 49-46, Pantoja secured his second title protection and can wait to see which flyweight emerges as subsequent in line for a title alternative.