Liam Lindsay

The main event of UFC 301 was a closely contested bout between dominant Flyweight Champion Alexandre "The Cannibal" Pantoja and streaking #10 ranked contender Steve "Astroboy" Erceg. Pantoja won a UD, with two judges scoring it 48-47 and the other 49-46.

However, many fans disagree with the decision, especially with the 49-46 scorecard. Let's examine the fight round by round and break it down. Then, we'll compare the judges' scorecards to the Verdict Scorecard and ultimately see who should've won this fight.

## Official Judges: Fabio Alves, Sal D'Amato, David Tirelli

```iframe
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The oddsmakers are always confident in Israel Adesanya.<br><br>He&#39;s lost 3 fights to Alex Pereira, but the oddsmakers still have him as a favorite heading into this weekend.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC287?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC287</a> <a href="https://t.co/0MF4krsH1v">pic.twitter.com/0MF4krsH1v</a></p>&mdash; Verdict (@TournamentsMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/UFCNews/status/1786984418453938540">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
```

```iframe
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The oddsmakers are always confident in Israel Adesanya.<br><br>He&#39;s lost 3 fights to Alex Pereira, but the oddsmakers still have him as a favorite heading into this weekend.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC287?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC287</a> <a href="https://t.co/0MF4krsH1v">pic.twitter.com/0MF4krsH1v</a></p>&mdash; Verdict (@TournamentsMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/VerdictMMA/status/1786982522905039083">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
```

## Round 1

The clearest round for Pantoja came in the first, like it usually does, with the Brazillian firing on all cylinders. It's a comfortable round to score, with Pantoja out-damaging Erceg with his blitzing shots and out-grappling him, with the Australian trying to find his shots in between. The two main focuses of the scoring criteria favor Pantoja, so he wins the round.

**Judges Scorecards: 10-9 Pantoja x3**

**Verdict Scorecard: 10-9 Pantoja**

## Round 2

The second round was far more competitive, with Erceg finding more shots on the feet and establishing his jab and teep kicks. Pantoja secured two takedowns but couldn't achieve much on top, with no submission attempts and only three ground strikes in the final seconds of the round. Erceg landed a beautiful elbow around 3:30 into the round and, before that, was finding a lot of striking success, too. This round comes down to the value of the strikes on the feet, and Erceg put his foot down in the final two minutes.

**Judges Scorecards: Fabio Alves, Sal D'Amato 10-9 Erceg, David Tirelli 10-9 Pantoja.**

**Verdict Scorecard: 9.66-9.36 Erceg**

## Round 3

Easily, the most competitive round of the fight was round three. Pantoja realized more success with his volume and grappling, but Erceg was still finding some damaging shots between Pantoja's blitzes. "The Cannibal" really ripped to the body in this round, especially with the knees in the clinch. Erceg, however, had the biggest shot of the round, landing a massive elbow that split Pantoja open badly. Pantoja secured a much-needed takedown with the cut gushing blood, but didn't achieve too much with it. This round really comes down to how much you value Pantoja's bodywork and Erceg's elbow.

```iframe
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The oddsmakers are always confident in Israel Adesanya.<br><br>He&#39;s lost 3 fights to Alex Pereira, but the oddsmakers still have him as a favorite heading into this weekend.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC287?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC287</a> <a href="https://t.co/0MF4krsH1v">pic.twitter.com/0MF4krsH1v</a></p>&mdash; Verdict (@TournamentsMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/afeldMMA/status/1786979843910820347">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
```

**Judges Scorecards: 10-9 Pantoja.**

**Verdict Scorecard: 9.57-9.46 Erceg**

## Round 4

The fourth was a clear round for the challenger, Erceg, who outstruck the Champion and did not allow him to secure takedowns. Erceg continued to pop away at Pantoja with his long shots and managed to sneak in more elbows on Pantoja, who was second-best in this round. Much like the first, it was a straightforward round to score.

**Judges Scorecards: 10-9 Erceg.**

**Verdict Scorecard: 9.93-9.08 Erceg**

## Round 5

The fifth round was another competitive round. Pantoja attempted to blitz Erceg down but got caught at range by Erceg, who was fighting better on the feet. However, Erceg attempted two takedowns and got reversed both times, allowing Pantoja to rack up nearly 3 minutes of control time. This time, he did land ground strikes in the closing minute of the round, albeit not massive punches. This round asks, "Did Erceg create enough damage on the feet to outweigh Pantoja's significant control time?" Either way, there's no doubt shooting the takedowns cost "Astroboy" this fight.

**Judges Scorecards: 10-9 Pantoja.**

**Verdict Scorecard: 9.80-9.21 Erceg**

## The Verdict Scorecard

**Final Score: Alexandre Pantoja 47.69-47.37 Steve Erceg**

The Verdict Scorecard shows the story of the fight, with Erceg winning the middle rounds competitively, but Pantoja had the higher overall score due to his success in rounds 1 and 5.

How did you score the fight? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know with a comment below.

The Final Verdict: Alexandre Pantoja vs. Steve Erceg

Alexandre Pantoja had to dig deep, and maybe rely on the inexperience of Steve Erceg, but he got the job done and successfully defends the title for the second time.

The fight was a close contest, with Pantoja starting and finishing strong, but a lot of close middle rounds where Erceg proved to be the more effective striker. However, two wayward takedowns from Erceg in the 5th round allowed Pantoja to secure some much needed control time, narrowling earning him the decision against the game Aussie.

```iframe
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The oddsmakers are always confident in Israel Adesanya.<br><br>He&#39;s lost 3 fights to Alex Pereira, but the oddsmakers still have him as a favorite heading into this weekend.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC287?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC287</a> <a href="https://t.co/0MF4krsH1v">pic.twitter.com/0MF4krsH1v</a></p>&mdash; Verdict (@TournamentsMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1786982051532714195">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
```

What did you think of the decision? Let us know your thoughts with a comment below.

Alexandre Pantoja Secures Close Decision Over Steve Erceg at UFC 301

Jose Aldo puts on an incredible performance following a nearly two-year layoff, rocking Martinez multiple times en route to a unanimous decision victory.

The story of the fight? Aldo's boxing. "The King of Rio" was just too sharp and too powerful for Martinez, who wasn't able to find Aldo's chin at any point. Alternatively, Aldo rocked Martinez multiple times in the second and third rounds before securing a crucial takedown in the third to earn the victory.

```iframe
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The oddsmakers are always confident in Israel Adesanya.<br><br>He&#39;s lost 3 fights to Alex Pereira, but the oddsmakers still have him as a favorite heading into this weekend.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC287?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC287</a> <a href="https://t.co/0MF4krsH1v">pic.twitter.com/0MF4krsH1v</a></p>&mdash; Verdict (@TournamentsMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1786968495844212883">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
```

What a legend. What's next for Aldo? Let us know with a comment down below

Jose Aldo Earns Impressive Victory Over Jonathan Martinez in UFC 301 Co-Main Event

Anthony Smith secures the victory at UFC 301, the first underdog to win on the card. It was a quick victory, with Smith locking up the guillotine in round one.

Smith was chopping the leg of Petrino early, forcing him to shoot after Smith absorbed a body combination. However, he left his neck exposed, and "Lionheart" snatched up the submission.

Where does Anthony Smith go from here? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know in the comments below.

Anthony Smith Shocks Crowd at UFC 301 With Submission Win

Michel Pereira is an absolute monster at 185 lbs. He's won two Middleweight fights in 2024, and he's not slowing down.

"Demolidor" dropped Potieria early and followed up with an illegal strike following a backflip. Then, as Potieria attempted to get back to the feet, Pereira locked in the guillotine choke, and that was it.

```iframe
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The oddsmakers are always confident in Israel Adesanya.<br><br>He&#39;s lost 3 fights to Alex Pereira, but the oddsmakers still have him as a favorite heading into this weekend.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC287?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC287</a> <a href="https://t.co/0MF4krsH1v">pic.twitter.com/0MF4krsH1v</a></p>&mdash; Verdict (@TournamentsMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/CSTodayNews/status/1786952406040764776">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
```

As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know who you want Pereira to fight next.

Michel Pereira Steamrolls Ihor Potieira In Less Than a Minute

Caio Borralho didn't just win, he made it look easy. His victory over Paul Craig at UFC 301 was a stunning start to the main card.

Borralho's control was evident throughout the fight, as he showcased his striking skills with precise jabs and crosses. The finish came in the second round, when he unleashed a devastating flying knee on Craig, swiftly followed by a relentless series of strikes that left the Scotsman flat on the mat.

```iframe
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The oddsmakers are always confident in Israel Adesanya.<br><br>He&#39;s lost 3 fights to Alex Pereira, but the oddsmakers still have him as a favorite heading into this weekend.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC287?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC287</a> <a href="https://t.co/0MF4krsH1v">pic.twitter.com/0MF4krsH1v</a></p>&mdash; Verdict (@TournamentsMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/CSTodayNews/status/1786946647366234294">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
```

How good did Caio Borralho look? Give us your thoughts with a comment down below.

Caio Borralho KOs Paul Craig After a Dominant Performance at UFC 301

Brito vs. Shore is called off midway through round two after a leg kick from Brito caused a nasty gash on Shore's leg. Brito was in control for most of the fight, but it was still odd for it to be called.

Brito's strategy was clear from the start: apply relentless pressure on Shore. His weapon of choice, the leg kicks, played a significant role in this approach. In the second round, Shore attempted to check another hard low kick, but it resulted in a deep cut below the knee, resulting in the ringside physician intervening and calling the fight.

```iframe
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The oddsmakers are always confident in Israel Adesanya.<br><br>He&#39;s lost 3 fights to Alex Pereira, but the oddsmakers still have him as a favorite heading into this weekend.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC287?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC287</a> <a href="https://t.co/0MF4krsH1v">pic.twitter.com/0MF4krsH1v</a></p>&mdash; Verdict (@TournamentsMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/espnmma/status/1786937907334258767">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
```

What did you think of the stoppage? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.



Joanderson Brito Secures Bizzare Stoppage Over Jack Shore

Iasmin Lucindo won a unanimous decision over Karolina Kowalkiewicz, snapping the Pole's five-fight winning streak.

Lucindo's control over the fight was evident, particularly in her superior footwork and striking power. She also exploited Kowalkiewicz's grappling weakness, sealing her victory in the eyes of all three judges.

Who would you like to see Lucindo fight next? Let us know with a comment down below.

Iasmin Lucindo Secures UD Win at UFC 301

It was a competitive fight, but Myktybek Orolbai was able to come out with the unanimous decision victory.

Orolbai started the fight very strong, clearly showing a power advantage in the striking exchanges. He was also relentless with his takedowns, but Brenner showed to me more composed on the ground than he was on the feet. More of the same followed in the second, with Brenner succumbing to Orolbai everywhere the fight went. However, in the third, Brenner rallied with a much better round, reversing Orolbai on multiple occasions, but it was Orolbai who was able to secure the lone knockdown of the fight in the third round. A bizarre point deduction following a fence grab also happened during the action of the fight, but it wasn't enough from stopping Orolbai from getting the decision.


```iframe
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The oddsmakers are always confident in Israel Adesanya.<br><br>He&#39;s lost 3 fights to Alex Pereira, but the oddsmakers still have him as a favorite heading into this weekend.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC287?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC287</a> <a href="https://t.co/0MF4krsH1v">pic.twitter.com/0MF4krsH1v</a></p>&mdash; Verdict (@TournamentsMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1786925737934832070">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
```

What did you think of the call? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know in the comments below.

Myktybek Orolbai Wins Competitive Decision Over Elves Brenner

Drakkar Klose spoils the undefeated Brazillian run at UFC 301, claiming a decision win over Joaquim Silva to kick off the prelims. 

Klose was successful in rounds 1 and 2, pot-shotting Silva and managing to control the distance. He is also utilizing the clinch to negate Silva's powerful striking offense. In the third, Silva landed some big shots and nearly secured a guillotine, but it wasn't enough to finish Klose, who got the nod from all three judges.


```iframe
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The oddsmakers are always confident in Israel Adesanya.<br><br>He&#39;s lost 3 fights to Alex Pereira, but the oddsmakers still have him as a favorite heading into this weekend.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC287?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC287</a> <a href="https://t.co/0MF4krsH1v">pic.twitter.com/0MF4krsH1v</a></p>&mdash; Verdict (@TournamentsMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1786916672164790621">April 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
```

What did you think of the fight? Let us know in the comments below.

Caolán Loughran