Alexandre Pantoja vs. Steve Erceg UFC 301 Odds, Time, and Prediction

Alexandre Pantoja is defending his UFC Flyweight Championship belt in front of his fans in his hometown against a guy who’s only fought three times in the UFC so far. Obviously, Pantoja’s a huge favorite to keep his title. But maybe we’re in for a huge upset on May 4? Let’s find out!

Alexandre Pantoja vs. Steve Erceg Odds

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When, Where, and How to Watch?

• Place: Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Date: Saturday, May 4, 2024
• Time: ~10:00 p.m. ET
• How to Watch: PPV

Alexandre Pantoja Ready for His Second Title Defense

Alexandre Pantoja is 27-5 overall with all five of his losses happening by decision. So far, no one managed to beat him by knockout/technical knockout or submission. This is really impressive considering that he’s fought some of the best featherweights in the history of the UFC.

He won the title last year after beating Brandon Moreno and defended it a few months later against Brandon Royval. He also has wins in his portfolio against Alex Perez, Manel Kape, and many other elite featherweights.

Pantoja has been fighting in the UFC since 2017, so it’s kind of surprising that he was given the shot at the tile only last year. He got his chance and took it, and he has no intention to let go of his championship belt, especially not in the middle of his hometown.

Can Steve Erceg Stage One of the Biggest Upsets of the Year?

Steve Erceg is a 28-year-old Australian fighter who’s 12-1 overall with a 3-0 record in the UFC. So far, he’s only fought against one ranked fighter (Matt Schnell), whom he defeated by a KO. The fight in question was the one that recommended him for the UFC Flyweight title bout.

However, other than that, Erceg hasn’t been too impressive. In fact, he’s currently 10^th in the UFC Flyweight Rankings, which is why everyone seems to think that he stands no chance to win in Rio.

But this also means that he’s got no pressure on him to perform. He knows he’s a huge underdog, which might be a relief for him – he won’t disappoint anyone regardless of what happens on May 4.

This is why we might see him be more relaxed than his opponent, which could make him more creative inside the Octagon.

Alexandre Pantoja vs. Steve Erceg Prediction

The pressure is on Pantoja to show up in his hometown. Meanwhile, whatever happens, Erceg won’t embarrass himself. After all, this is a David vs. Goliath situation.

If he loses to arguably the best flyweight in the world, it won’t harm his career. It will just be an experience he can use to grow in the future. But if he wins, he’s going to become an MMA superstar overnight.

And that’s the kind of Cinderella story we suspect might happen on May 4. We think there’s a good chance Erceg is going to shock the world of combat sports and get a finish against the reigning champ.

Pick: Steve Erceg