Pantoja vs Erceg: Takeaways From The Main UFC 301 Event

Ian Park |

Compared to its previous counterparts, UFC 301 was a relatively mild card with a few notable fights, mainly the return of José Aldo and the UFC flyweight title fight. While the UFC 301 main event went as expected, with Alexandre “The Cannibal” Pantoja retaining his flyweight belt with a unanimous decision victory over Steve “Astroboy” Erceg, it was Erceg’s performance that caught the eyes of many UFC fans.

UFC, Via Twitter

Not only was it an interesting spectacle, as Erceg put on a championship-level striking performance and matched it with his grappling defense, but it was also a significant indicator of the future of the UFC flyweight division.

Firstly, Steve Erceg will be a UFC champion in the future. Whether it’s in the flyweight division, perhaps through a rematch with Alexandre Pantoja, or in a heavier weight class, Erceg showed at UFC 301 that the only tool missing from his weaponry comes with time: experience.

Let’s look back at the fifth round, the championship round, of this title fight. Arguably tied on the scorecards going into the final round, Erceg, who had been dominating on the feet for the majority of the fight, opted for a takedown against a hurt and tired champion. While it’s very difficult to say that Erceg would have won this fight if he kept it on his feet, the fact of the matter is that he did make a mistake by taking the fight to the ground, where Pantoja controlled the fight.

Keep in mind that this was Steve Erceg’s fourth UFC fight, his third UFC fight against a fighter in the top ten of the flyweight division, and his first UFC fight against anyone ranked higher than ninth in the division. The future is bright and the sky’s the limit for Astroboy. Secondly, Alexandre Pantoja, while he may have defeated most of the flyweight division, is a very beatable champion, especially when the fight stays on the feet. He has a great chin and impeccable stamina, and it’s these very two things that kept the fight close today against Erceg, something that is both admirable and worrisome for a champion.

Glimpses of this were displayed at UFC 296, where Brandon Royval was landing on Pantoja and forcing takedowns during the later rounds, UFC 301 emphasized Pantoja’s weaknesses even further, especially against a flyweight both technically gifted and in possession of an excellent ground game. However, Pantoja still has a long way to go as champion before he is dethroned, especially considering the potential flyweight fighters for his next fight. One of Amir Albazi's Muhammad Mokaev is next up for the belt, two fighters known for their grappling and immense ground game. UFC 301 proved that Alexandre Pantoja is still among the elite grapplers of the UFC who can dominate on the ground, so let’s see what the future holds for the Cannibal and the flyweight division.