Alexandre Pantoja is stepping into the octagon as a significant favorite ahead of his highly anticipated title bout against Steve Erceg at UFC 301.
Scheduled to defend his flyweight championship for the second time, Pantoja will face the 10th-ranked Erceg in Brazil on May 4th. While some may find Erceg’s ascent to title contention surprising, boasting a record of only 3-0 in the UFC, Pantoja’s impressive victories against top-ranked opponents justified the decision to grant Erceg the title shot.
Despite Erceg’s relatively short tenure in the UFC, oddsmakers have placed their bets firmly on Pantoja’s side, indicating him as a significant favorite with opening odds as follows:
- Alexandre Pantoja: -260
- Steve Erceg: +210
These odds suggest that Pantoja holds a commanding 72.2% chance of securing victory. For those backing Pantoja, a $260 wager would yield $100 in profit. Conversely, supporters of Erceg stand to gain $210 in profit with a $100 bet, should he pull off the upset.
Pantoja, with a professional record of 27 wins and 5 losses, is coming off a successful title defense against Brandon Royval at UFC 296, preceded by a title-winning decision over Brandon Moreno. Currently boasting an impressive 11-3 record in the UFC, Pantoja rides a five-fight winning streak, having triumphed over the likes of Moreno, Royval, Manel Kape, and Matt Schnell.
Erceg, on the other hand, holds a record of 12 wins and 1 loss, with a perfect 3-0 record within the UFC and an impressive 11-fight winning streak overall. His title shot was earned following a knockout victory over Matt Schnell at UFC Vegas 88, coupled with decision victories over Alessandro Costa and David Dvorak.
In addition to the highly anticipated Pantoja vs. Erceg clash, UFC 301 features an exciting lineup of bouts:
- Alexandre Pantoja vs. Steve Erceg
- Jose Aldo vs. Jonathan Martinez
- Makhmud Muradov vs. Michel Pereira
- Caio Borralho vs. Paul Craig
- Vitor Petrino vs. Anthony Smith
- Drakkar Klose vs. Joaquim Silva
- Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Iasmin Lucindo
- Joanderson Brito vs. Jack Shore
- William Gomis vs. Jean Silva
- Elves Brener vs. Myktybek Orolbai
- Dione Barbosa vs. Ernesta Kareckaite
- Kevin Borjas vs. Alessandro Costa
With the stage set for an electrifying night of mixed martial arts action, fans eagerly anticipate the showdown between Pantoja and Erceg, poised to witness the outcome of this highly anticipated championship clash.
