UFC 301 as it happened - Alexandre Pantoja defends flyweight title against Steve Erceg, Jose Aldo beat Jonathan Martinez
/dnl.tntsports.co.uk/sd/img/placeholder/tnt_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
Updated 05/05/2024 at 06:20 GMT+1
Welcome to our live text coverage of UFC 301, where a stacked card saw Alexandre Pantoja successfully defend his lightweight title against Steve Erceg in the main event. Elsewhere on the card, Jose Aldo made a victorious return beating Jonathan Martinez, while Scot Paul Craig was stopped by home favourite Caio Borralho at middleweight. Watch and stream the action live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Aspinall breaks down how Craig can trouble 'unpredictable' Borralho at UFC 301
That's all for us tonight!
Another jam-packed night of fighting. We will return next month for more UFC but before then, on May 18, we have the one boxing fans have been waiting for, the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk which you can watch on TNT Sports Box Office.
Pantoja wins unanimous decision!
He takes the fight 48-47 twice and 49-46.
Pantoja-Erceg: Round 5
Erceg takes Pantoja down for the first time in the fight, but Pantoja reverses it and gains control with a waistlock for the next two minutes. They competed on even terms for the next couple of minutes, before Erceg tried a takedown and was reversed. This move likely put the contest beyond doubt with Pantoja, despite his face a bloody mess, maintaining control until the end of the contest.
Pantoja-Erceg: Round 4
Erceg makes Pantoja look a bit ragged controlling the contest with his jab. The champion is unable to stop the Australian landing uppercut, elbows and hooks off the left hand. The cut reopened two minutes into the round and led to Pantoja dabbing trying in vain to keep the blood away from his left eye. A big round for Erceg.
Pantoja-Erceg: Round 3
Pantoja followed instructions to back up his opponent and he did so in the first half of the round. Both landed big shots in the last two minutes, with Erceg's elbow opening up a big cut on the champion's face. Pantoja held his opponent on the mat for the rest of the round but the big blow of the round came from the challenger.
Pantoja-Erceg: Round 2
The round began with 90 seconds stand-up but Erceg could not find the success he did in the first round, with Pantoja landing numerous leg kicks. To the Aussie's credit he fought himself out of a takedown and landed telling strikes plus an elbow to have the champion backing off. Pantoja ends the round with a takedown, but the challenger might have taken a pretty even round.
Pantoja-Erceg: Round 1
Erceg showing he belongs in the Octagon with the champ landing strikes from awkward angles, but as the round went on Pantoja began to take control. A high knee led to blood coming down from the Australian's hairline. At the mid-point of the round, Pantoja took Erceg down and held control for the rest of the round. It is adjudged an accidental clash of heads caused Erceg's cut.
The champ is here...
The flyweight champion throws his t-shirt to the crowd on his way to the Octagon. He looks in very confident mood.
The Main Event is next...
The Western Australia fighter, Steve Erceg (12-1) enters the Octago. He is revelling in his 'Rocky' role reminding Alexandre Pantoja that Apollo Creed lost.
UFC 301: What TV channel is the main event on?
Live coverage from the Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro is on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+. The fights can also be watched on UFC Fight Pass.
Aldo: I couldn't have imagined this in my wildest dreams
"To be back in the city that I love, fighting again, is something I couldn't have imagined in my wildest dreams," Aldo said on TNT Sports.
Aldo wins by unanimous decision!
Aldo wins 30-27 on all three scorecards.
Aldo-Martinez: Round 3
Martinez's corner called for him to force his will on Aldo, but the veteran outboxed his opponent for the first three minutes and then with brutal strikes and knee lifts hurt Martinez, then charged over to him and got control with the American on his back for the rest of the round. The fight ending with both fighters landing on each other on the mat. What a return from the living legend!
Aldo-Martinez: Round 2
Martinez began a little better in this round, before holding Aldo in a clinch against the Octagon and the referee broke them up with a cheer from the crowd. Martinez landed a good shot, but Aldo fired back with a huge right hand and backed up with an uppercut and leg kicks. Martinez managed to force Aldo back in the last minute landing a good shot, but the round is likely to have gone to Aldo.
Aldo-Martinez: Round 1
A fine return from the hometown hero. The pair landed a similar number of shots but Aldo's shots looked the more effective, with Martinez looking increasingly gunshy as the round went on.
The King of Rio up next...
Jose Aldo (31-8) makes his return against 12th-ranked bantamweight Jonathan 'Dragon' Martinez (19-4) in the co-main event of the evening.
UFC 301: What TV channel is the main card on?
Live coverage from the Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro is on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+. The fights can also be watched on UFC Fight Pass.
'There's levels to this' - Smith
"That's experience, he's only had 11 fights," Smith said on TNT Sports. "There's levels to this.
"For all the haters out there, maybe I'm not that old."
Smith makes Petrino submit in first round
'The Lionheart' jabbed to keep Petrino away, as the Brazilian stalked him, landing regular calf kicks also, before grabbing his younger opponent in front face lock. Petrino then dumped Smith on his back, which just helped the American to lock in the guillotine choke hold which forced the Brazilian to tap.
Next: Veteran Smith looks to stop unbeaten phenom Vitor Petrino
Smith (37-19) takes on the dangerous Brazilian light heavyweight Petrino (11-0), who looks destined for a title bout in the not too distant future.
Officials discuss legality of Pereira's backflip...but result stays
He caught Potieria with his leg on landing which could have seen him disqualified.
Pereira stops Potieria in Round 1
Within the first minute, Pereira knocked Potiera down, then did a backflip before locking in a guillotine choke hold when both got to their feet which made his opponent tap. After Potieria tapped out, he lost consciousness briefly.
Shogun Rua is a Hall of Famer!
The Brazilian legend has been announced as an inductee in the 2024 class to the delight of the crowd.
Another middleweight contest coming up...
Michel Pereira (30-11) now takes on Ihor Potieria (20-5).
Borralho calls out Cannonier
"Next I want Jared Cannonier," Borralho said on TNT Sports after the contest. "You a scary dude, but I want to test myself against you."
Borralho knocks out Craig in Round 2
Craig starts a lot better with knees to the chest and head kicks, but the Brazilian is not discouraged and lands a big left, then a high knee which puts the Scot down briefly. Another huge left hand rocks Craig badly and two more shots see the Scot fall back to the top of the Octagon, then to the floor, leading the referee to step in.
Craig-Borralho: Round 1
Borralho catches Craig with his chin high with a one-two hurting the Scot. He clearly has the speed advantage and Craig is struggling to get going in the contest - and gets some treatment on damage under his left eye in the corner.
The Main Card begins now...
First up we have Scotland's 13th-ranked middleweight Paul Craig (17-7-1) taking on #14 Caio Borralho.
UFC 301: What TV channel is the main card on?
Live coverage from the Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro is on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+. The fights can also be watched on UFC Fight Pass.
Brito wins by TKO in Round 2
The round starts as the first round ended, when they break Shore gets some nice shots in, but Brito fires back and causes more damage to the Welshman's right leg. It is cut so badly the ringside physician is called in to examine it and he calls a halt to the contest. The damage resembled a bullet hole, according to the commentators.
Shore-Brito: Round 1
The Brazilian immediately looks an electrifying force. Firing lightning jabs and delivering brutal right kicks to the calf of the Welshman. Shore stifles the momentum by holding the Brazilian in close and locking an arm for the second half of the round which at least allows him to get back to his corner still in the fight.
Up next...The Welsh Tank
Jack Shore (17-1) takes on Joanderson Brito (16-3-1) in the feature prelim bout.
The action is live on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+.
Lucindo wins by unanimous decision!
She takes the fight 30-27 on all three cards.
Kowalkiewicz-Lucindo: Round 3
Lucindo tried for a takedown early on and retained position for most of the round with a waistlock. With 90 seconds to go Lucindo got her opponent on her back. A dominant display from the Brazilian.
Kowalkiewicz-Lucindo: Round 2
A better round for Kowalkiewicz with the pair trading shots for most of the five minutes, but Lucindo still got the better of exchanges.
Kowalkiewicz-Lucindo: Round 1
#13 Kowalkiewicz pressed the fight, while Lucindo switched from southpaw to orthodox to disrupt her rhythm. A left hook from Lucindo comes close to closing the Pole's eye. The Brazilian then forced her opponent against the Octagon and landed repeated knees. The round ends with Kowalkiewicz on her back taking right hands.
Two more prelim fights...
Karolina Kowalkiewicz (16-7) and Iasmin Lucindo (15-5) in a strawweight contest next.
Orolbai wins unanimous decision!
He won 29-27 on all three scorecards. He was given a scare in the third. The late knockdown may have been crucial.
Brener-Orolbai: Round 3
Brener locks Orolbai against the Octagon at the start of the round and the Kyrgyzstan fighter was deducted a point for holding onto the fence. Orolbai then hurt Brener with a knee to the chest, but got position again midway through the round. Both fighters were fatigued in the final minute with Orolboi landing a couple of left hands and put him down with a right hand at the end.
Brener-Orolbai: Round 2
Brener was down with a front kick and then wobbled with right hand, before being forced on his back once more. A stoppage seemed certain but the Brazilian showed incredible heart to reverse a takedown, lock an armbar and then end the round pounding the Kyrgyzstan on the mat.
Brener-Orolbai: Round 1
Oralbai dominated the contest early with his extra size coming down from 170lbs looking a key factor. He put Brener down with a left hand and followed up with ground and pound. Brener spent a lot of the round on his back.
Another lightweight contest up next...
Sao Paulo's Elves Brener (16-3) takes on Kyrgyzstan's Myktybek Orolbai (12-1).
Klose wins unanimous decision!
He won 29-28 on all three judges scorecards.
Silva-Klose: Round 3
Klose was noticeably fatiguing and was caught with hooks with either hand from the Brazilian. Silva got Klose in a guillotine and though the American got out of it, he was knocked to the canvas shortly afterwards. A big round for Silva, it could come down to who won that slow second round.
Silva-Klose: Round 2
A round to turn off the fans. And it ends with booing from those in attendance. A lot of holding! Hard to split them but Silva did manage to bring a big swelling above Klose's left eye with a big shot.
Silva-Klose: Round 1
A very competitive round, but the American takes it landing a number of one-twos, but Silva also connected with kicks and looping right hands as his opponent came in.
We start with a battle between veteran lightweights
Home fighter Joaquim Silva (13-5) takes on American Drakkar Close (14-21-1).
0100 - We are LIVE!
The action is underway on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+.
0050 - The King of Rio takes on 'This or That'
0035 - Less than half an hour until we go live
Three Brazilian wins so far for the home Rio crowd to enjoy.
Flyweight Dione Barbosa has just defeated Ernesta Kareckaite, Lightweight Ismael Bonfim won a decision over Vinc Pichel and Alessandro Costa KO'd Kevin Borjas in the second round of a men's flyweight contest.
0020 - A reminder of tonight's massive card
UFC 301: What TV channel is the main card on?
Live coverage from the Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro starts at 1am UK time on Saturday, May 4 on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+.
UFC 301 is part of a stacked couple of months of mixed martial arts action on TNT Sports. For full details, click here.
The early prelims are currently underway and can be viewed on UFC Fight Pass.
0005 - June is UFC...and TNT
What a line up we have next month.
2355 - Hello and Welcome!
Thank you for joining our live coverage of UFC 301. The action begins on TNT Sports 1 at 1am.
'Unpredictable' Borralho to give Craig 'a lot of problems', says Aspinall
Paul Craig could be given "a lot of problems" by the "unpredictable" style of Caio Borralho at UFC 301 this weekend, according to interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall.
Borralho is undefeated in any mixed martial arts promotion since 2015, and has won all five of his fights in the UFC proper since graduating from Dana White's Contender Series, where he also had back-to-back victories.
"This guy is very unpredictable," Aspinall said. "He's going to become a lot more popular because of his style.
"He switches up a lot and is very bouncy on his feet. It's hard to tell which foot he likes to lean on. A lot of his attacks are very long body kicks.
"He'll move around a lot, which will cause Paul Craig - who is a grappler - a lot of problems. He'll dip, come high with the flying knee, throw elbows in there. He's just fantastic to watch. It's very hard to fight guys like this. The in-out movement he does with his feet will be overwhelming for the opponent's nervous system."
UFC 301: What TV channel is the main card on?
Live coverage from the Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro starts at 1am UK time on Saturday, May 4 on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+ .
UFC 301 is part of a stacked couple of months of mixed martial arts action on TNT Sports. For full details, click here.
What time does UFC 301 start in the UK? Full fight card
Live coverage starts at 11pm UK time on Saturday, May 4 with the early prelims followed by the prelims and then the main card. You can also watch the early prelims on UFC Fight Pass.
- - -
TNT Sports presents the premium live sports rights previously carried by BT Sport including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, MotoGP, Cricket, UFC, Boxing and WWE. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+ , where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination.
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement