Liam Lindsay

Chris Curtis will be fighting on the main card of UFC 297, in enemy territory against Marc-Andre Barriault. When asked about his upcoming fight, Curtis was confident he'd be able to outwork Barriault wherever the fight goes.

> I like Marc Andre. He's tough. But everything you do good, I'm better at. I'm a better striker than you, I think I'm a better grappler. Honestly, I think my cardio matches you, if not better. - Chris Curtis

It's safe to say Curtis is confident he'll be getting back into the win column this weekend after going 0-1-1NC in 2023. As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know your thoughts on this matchup in the comments below.

Chris Curtis Brimming With Confidence Heading Into UFC 297

Douglas Vegas Bets

The UFC is bringing the action to St.Louis, Missouri, this weekend as fan favorite Derrick Lewis -170 takes on Rodrigo Nascimento +145 in the main event from the Enterprise Center. I went over every fight on this deep card to give my picks and best bets, so let's get into it.

**Odds provided by BetOnline.ag accurate as of 10:55 AM 5/9/2024**

## Derrick Lewis -170 vs. Rodrigo Nascimento +145

Heavyweight finishers take center stage for our main event, which is unlikely to go all five rounds. Derrick Lewis is the knockout king of the UFC with his always dangerous power and sneaky athleticism; his grappling has never been great, and he is getting up there in age, but his power and experience make him live to end a fight at any moment. Rodrigo Nascimento takes a massive step up in competition here, having shown decent skills on the ground for the division, although he has also failed to separate himself from several lower-tier opponents such as Ilir Latifi and Tanner Boser, winning each of those fights in close split-decisions. 

I'll pick Lewis to get an early knockout here, as his power and experience will be too much for Nascimento to handle. 

Pick: Lewis O/U: Under 1.5 -150

## Joaquin Buckley -129 vs. Nursulton Ruziboev +109

A short notice matchup here at Welterweight sees Buckley get his wish to fight in his hometown. Joaquin Buckley is an explosive and athletic striker who has had tremendous success since moving down in weight, dominantly beating solid veterans Vicente Luque and Alex Morono. Nursulton Ruziboev returns here after an odd finish to his last fight with Sedriques Dumas; he moves down in weight here, which is an interesting move as he has struggled at this weight in the past, and being 6'5 it will presumably be a difficult cut on short notice. 

I lean towards Ruziboev to get an early finish, although the longer this fight goes, the more I would favor Buckley.

Pick: Ruziboev O/U: Under 1.5 +115

## Alonzo Menifield +230 vs. Carlos Ulberg -270

Powerful Light Heavyweights will face off in this high-stakes clash. Alonzo Menifield is a strong puncher with a much-improved ground game, which he has used to finish Jimmy Crute and Askar Mozharov. Carlos Ulberg is a clean, hard-hitting kickboxer with a devastating left hook, which he has used to finish Nicolae Negumereanu and Ihor Potieria. 

I'll go with Ulberg here as I see him controlling the distance and landing big shots from the outside to eventually find the knockout. 

Pick: Ulberg O/U: Under 1.5 +115

## Diego Ferreira +300 vs. Mateusz Rebecki -400

Step up in competition for a highly touted Lightweight as he takes on his most experienced test yet. Diego Ferreira has faced many tough tests in the division, showing his slick ground game and solid striking that he used to knock out Michael Johnson in his last fight. Mateusz Rebecki is a tank who enters this, having finished his last two fights by submission and knockout, redeeming his somewhat disappointing debut and showing he is dangerous wherever the fight goes.

I've got Rebecki here as he has shown he has all the skills to compete with top Lightweights, while Ferreira is nearly forty and has not been very active.

Pick: Rebecki O/U: Under 2.5 -170

## Alex Caceres +185 vs. Sean Woodson -220

It's a fun matchup between a veteran and a hometown guy here at Featherweight. Alex Caceres is a veteran with a crafty style, having shown his unique, striking attack and solid grappling over his UFC career. Sean Woodson is a tall and long fighter who uses his length mostly to avoid striking exchanges, as he did in his split-decision win over Charles Jourdain. 

I lean towards Woodson to keep at a distance with his jab and take home a low-volume decision.

Pick: Woodson O/U: Over 2.5 -280

## Waldo Cortes-Acosta +209 vs. Robelis Despaigne -244

Hard-hitting Heavyweights open the main card in this big-time matchup. Waldo Cortes-Acosta is a durable boxer with a big right hand that he swings wildly; he can be low-volume at times, as he showed in his lackluster performance against Andrei Arlovski. Robelis Despaigne is one of the most unique prospects we have ever seen, with an incredible record, having finished all five of his fights in the first round, four of them inside the first twenty seconds.

I'll pick Despaigne here, although I can't bet on him at this steep price because of his lack of experience. 

Pick: Despaigne O/U: Under 1.5 -225

## Chase Hooper +120 vs. Viacheslav Borshchev -140

The classic striker vs. grappler matchup goes down here at Lightweight. Chase Hooper is a slick grappler who continues to develop after joining the UFC at a very young age; his striking defense is concerning, with him having been hurt badly early by Steve Garica at Featherweight. Viacheslav Borshchev is a very talented kickboxer with devastating leg kicks and strong power in his hands; however, he has been out-grappled several times in the UFC, showing an evident lack of skill on the ground. 

I'll go with Hooper here. Despite his deficiencies in striking, he should be able to get this fight to the ground rather quickly, where he can dominate and avoid the damage coming back. 

Pick: Hooper O/U: Over 1.5 -130

## Terrance McKinney +140 vs. Esteban Ribovics -160

Two very exciting Lightweights go head-to-head in this must-see matchup. Terrance McKinney is a fast starter with big power and strong wrestling; his issue is his cardio and durability, as he has yet to win a UFC fight that has gone over half a round. Esteban Ribovics is a dangerous striker with decent submission skills and fantastic cardio; he has been taken down and controlled by wrestlers but showed good defense when on the ground. 

I'm taking Ribovics to get the finish here, as he is a better striker, and if McKinney doesn't secure a submission early, he will likely gas out from wrestling as he has before.

Pick: Ribovics O/U: Under 1.5 -260

## Tabatha Ricci -142 vs. Tecia Pennington +122

This will be a Strawweight clash of styles here as a veteran returns. Tabatha Ricci has used her high-level grappling to win four of her last five, although when faced with a strong wrestler in Loopy Godinez, she was forced to strike where she could be better. Tecia Torres returns from a long layoff here after having a child; she is a solid striker with good defensive grappling and a high pace. 

I've got Pennington here. If she returns similarly to where she was, she can defend the grappling and dominate the striking. 

Pick: Pennington O/U: Over 2.5 -400

## Trey Waters -160 vs. Billy Goff +140

Welterweights, each coming off impressive debut victories, face off in this one. Trey Waters is a huge and powerful guy for the division, coming off an impressive debut in which he dominated Josh Quinlan. Billy Goff is a tough brawler who comes into this one after finishing his last five opponents by knockout, with four coming in the first round, including his wild UFC debut win over Yusaku Kinoshita. 

I'll pick Waters here to use his size advantage, pick Goff apart in the striking, and eventually find a finish. 

Pick: Waters O/U: Under 2.5 -165

## Jake Hadley -141 vs. Charles Johnson +121

Intriguing matchup here at Flyweight between two guys with something to prove. Jake Hadley came into the UFC with high hopes, although he has struggled thus far, showing solid submission skills, although his wrestling needs to be better to compete with other grapplers. Charles Johnson is a striker with good cardio who can push opponents late, although he can start slowly, and wrestlers like Cody Durden and Muhammad Mokaev have controlled him. 

I lean towards Johnson as the underdog, as he showed solid defensive wrestling last time out against Azat Maksum. 

Pick: Johnson O/U: Over 2.5 -260

## Jared Gooden +195 vs. Kevin Jousset -230

Welterweight strikers square off in this fun matchup. Jared Gooden is a durable striker with a hands-down style and very powerful punches, as he showed with his knockout over Niklas Stolze. Kevin Jousset is a good kickboxer who can keep a solid pace, as he showed in his win over Song Kenan, where he was able to win every round.

I took Jousset here and paired him with the over 1.5 rounds to bring the price down, as I see Gooden being able to take his punches at least early in the fight.

Pick: Jousset O/U: Over 1.5 -220

## JJ Aldrich +121 vs. Veronica Hardy -141

Flyweights looking to move up in the ranks clash here. JJ Aldrich is a well-rounded fighter who has competed with high-level competition, even having some success against top-ranked Erin Blanchfield in striking and finishing Na Liang with ground and pound. Veronica Hardy has looked much improved since returning from a multiple-year layoff, although she has yet to be tested against any solid competition. 

I'm taking Aldrich as the underdog here. She has proven herself at a much higher level and has all the tools needed to dictate how this fight plays out.

Pick: Aldrich O/U: Over 2.5 -500

## [DougLasVegasBets.net](https://douglasvegasbets.net) Plays

Chase Hooper +125

Tecia Pennington +120

JJ Aldrich +115

Esteban Ribovics Inside The Distance -140

Kevin Jousset + Over 1.5 +100

UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Nascimento Odds Breakdown

Joey Kolnicki

The UFC hits St. Louis for this weekend's Fight Night. In the co-main event, hometown brawler Joaquin Buckley takes on the red-hot Nursulton Ruziboev. In the main event, a legendary veteran will face off against a newly ranked scrapper when Derrick Lewis takes on Rodrigo Nascimento. The entire card is packed from top to bottom with fantastic matchups. Let's take a look at the fights on the main card. 

## Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Robelis Despaigne

![cortesacosta1.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/22c830eb-fadd-409f-9c85-b087c5681a00/public "Waldo Cortes-Acosta launches a right hand at Danilo Suzart. Credit: MMA Junkie.")

Acosta has won four of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Andrei Arlovski (34-23-0), Chase Sherman (16-12-0), and Jared Vanderaa (14-11-0). He is a powerful striker, utilizing a boxing style, and has quick hands for a Heavyweight. His best weapon is his right hand, regularly throwing wide hooks and devastating overhands. Training at UKF Gym, Acosta seems to be most at home in a brawl, working inside the pocket and throwing knees and elbows in the clinch. When he lets his hands go, he’s shown he can throw long, technical combinations but will often throw single shots. While he won’t usually initiate grappling exchanges, he has demonstrated a solid ability to return to his feet. When Acosta is on top, he throws plenty of elbows and does a great job keeping himself in advantageous positions.

![despaigne1.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/f3162e1b-fc01-4aff-0a29-59d10cd25300/public "Robelis Despaigne blasts Josh Parisian with ground and pound. Credit: Zuffa LLC.")

Despaigne is undefeated and has a UFC victory over Josh Parisian (15-8-0). He’s a former Olympic-level Taekwondo practitioner with one-shot knockout power. In his brief MMA career, he’s had a total cage time of 5:31 and has finished every fight in the first round. Despaigne is very fluid for a Heavyweight, fighting with his hands down and head up, regularly blitzing forward to throw bombs. Training at MMA Temple, he fights behind his jab and throws everything straight, regularly opening combinations with head kicks. He has excellent distance management and footwork, often gliding along the outside before closing the distance and throwing combinations. Despaigne is an enormous Heavyweight at 6’7” and makes excellent use of his size, able to damage his opponents at range and in the pocket.

## Alex Caceres vs. Sean Woodson

![caceres1.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/474cffc3-9b1a-4287-4016-4fb320803c00/public "Alex Caceres stuns Chase Hooper with a left straight. Credit: Essentially Sports.")

Caceres has won three of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Daniel Pineda (27-15-0), Julian Erosa (29-12-0), and Chase Hooper (13-3-1). He is a lengthy striker with slick striking and is always in perpetual motion. He often throws more kicks than punches and has a large arsenal of kicks, attacking from different angles and favoring his lead leg. Caceres is very elusive and has defended 63% of significant strikes attempted on him in the UFC. Training at MMA LAB, he won’t enter the pocket often, tending to throw single shots and kicks at range with significant power. He won’t typically initiate grappling exchanges but has excellent chokes and takedown defense. Caceres is a tenured veteran, holding the fifth most bouts in UFC Featherweight history, along with eight post-fight bonuses. 

![swoodson1.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/06f270b8-4379-47ba-901f-115d3dc15300/public "Sean Woodson cracks Kyle Bochniak with a right hand. Credit: DraftKings Network.")

Woodson has won 4 of his last 5 bouts with one draw and has UFC victories over Charles Jourdain (15-7-1), Youssef Zalal (14-5-1), and Dennis Buzukja (12-4-0). He’s an experienced striker with an amateur boxing record of 46-3, and it shows in the octagon, using fluid boxing to piece his opponents up. He is the tallest active Featherweight in the UFC at 6’2 he uses his length well, throwing long punches and kicks from range along with plenty of feints. Woodson is willing to throw wild shots, particularly flying knees, and has various kicks to back up his boxing. He’s excellent at switching up his strikes, often throwing devastating uppercuts to the body and has finished fights with body shots. Training at Glory MMA, he’s typically hard to take down, especially against the fence, using his size to keep the fight on the feet. When he is taken down, Woodson does a good job of returning to his feet quickly and to the center of the cage where he’s most comfortable. 

## Diego Ferreira vs. Mateusz Rebęcki

![ferreira1.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/956ad92f-472d-4437-5d56-0fa6cc9f5b00/public "Diego Ferreira rains down ground and pound on Kyle Nelson. Credit: MMA Fighting.")

Diego Ferreira has won two of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Michael Johnson (23-19-0), Anthony Pettis (25-14-0), and Kyle Nelson (16-5-1). Training at Fortis MMA, he utilizes a brawling style, throwing a lot of heavy straight punches, looping hooks, and constantly coming forward. He has excellent BJJ and is at his best to take on the ground, but he is more than willing to stand and exchange. An accomplished grappler, Ferreira is a former medalist in both the Pan-American and Nogi World Jiu-Jitsu Championships. His grappling ability keeps his opponents concerned enough about takedowns, improving the effectiveness of his striking much of the time. He’ll often blitz forward to unload wild combos, throwing every shot with knockout intentions. Five of Ferreira’s seven submissions are via choke, and he’s highly effective if he can find his opponent’s neck.

![rebecki1.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/16c50f07-9d25-4db2-6610-774d2629a600/public "Mateusz Rębecki stuns Loik Radzhabov with a left straight. Credit: MMA Fighting.")

Rębecki is on a 16-fight win streak and has UFC victories over Roosevelt Roberts (12-5-0), Loik Radzhabov (18-5-1), and Nick Fiore (6-2-0). He’s an excellent, technical striker with fantastic grappling to back it up. He lands, on average, twice as many significant strikes as he absorbs and throws with both power and volume. Rębecki has great head movement, always keeping his head off the centerline and often slipping shots after landing his own. He’s averaging over four takedowns landed and over one submission attempted per fifteen minutes and is a powerful wrestler. Training at American Top Team, he lands takedowns quickly and efficiently, has smothering top control, and fantastic joint lock submissions. Rębecki has finished thirteen fights on his lengthy win streak and always pushes a furious pace. 

## Alonzo Menifield vs. Carlos Ulberg

![menifield1.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/0515c652-4760-45c4-e54c-0d9d46e21d00/public "Alonzo Menifield throws a powerful right hand at Vinicus Moreira. Credit: MMA Fighting.")

Menifield has won four of his last five contests with one draw and has UFC victories over Dustin Jacoby (19-8-1), Jimmy Crute (12-4-1), and Paul Craig (17-8-1). He is an explosive striker with serious power in both hands and constantly pursues a finish. He throws constant looping shots and overhands and can do damage from anywhere. Menifield has excellent leg kicks and can land damage even when moving backward, making him always dangerous. He has ten first-round finishes, with five of them scored with less than ten punches landed, proving he’s at his most dangerous early. He averages just under a takedown landed per fifteen minutes and can land devastating ground and pound if he secures top position. He has heavy top pressure, brutal ground and pound, and great chokes. Menifield does fade as the fight continues, with all of his finishes coming before the third round and 2 of his three career losses coming via decision.

![ulberg1.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/0af93ea6-4c5a-4287-8ffd-135213a7a900/public "Carlos Ulberg catches Ihor Potieria with a lead hook. Credit: MMA Fighting.")

Ulberg is on a five-fight win streak and has UFC victories over Nicolae Negumereanu (13-2-0), Da Woon Jung (15-5-1), and Ihor Potieria (20-6-0). He’s an accurate, technical striker with excellent power and speed. He remains patient and technical throughout, floating on the outside, looking for openings, and throwing everything straight and tight. Training at City Kickboxing, Ulberg will often lure his opponent into a slower pace before exploding with huge shots. He fights behind his jab, has excellent distance management, and is in perpetual motion. He won’t usually initiate grappling exchanges but is capable on the mat and has solid defensive grappling. Ulberg has only seen a decision once in his UFC tenure and constantly pursues a finish. 

## #11 Joaquin Buckley vs. Nursulton Ruziboev

![buckley3.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/1e9d28c1-9ecb-4b0f-5dba-fc0bdd024f00/public "Joaquin Buckley lands a brutal head kick on Andre Fialho. Credit: MMA Fighting.")

Buckley has won three of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #14 Vicente Luque (22-10-1), Alex Morono (24-9-0), and Albert Duraev (16-5-0). He is a highly aggressive striker with serious power in both hands. He perpetually moves and pursues a finish, throwing every shot with bad intentions and often mixing in kicks at the end of combinations. Although Buckley throws every shot with power, he does his best work with his kicks, never telegraphing them and throwing them from different angles. Training at Murcielago MMA, he throws everything in combination and pushes a frantic pace, willing to throw wild attacks like flying knees or spinning kicks. His UFC finishes have all come in round 2 or later, so he gets increasingly dangerous as the fight continues. He’s averaging over one takedown landed per fifteen minutes and has decent takedown defense, but he’s most effective on his feet.

![ruziboev1.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/9c92e82e-5889-437c-8235-904ae0be0800/public "Nursulton Ruziboev flattens Brunno Ferreira with a right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.")

Ruziboev is on a ten-fight win streak and has UFC victories over Brunno Ferreira (11-1-0) and Sedriques Dumas (9-2-0). On the feet, he throws a lot of single shots with plenty of power and loves to throw flashy spinning kicks. He’s constantly pressuring forward and will typically pursue takedowns early, often using his wild offense to set up his wrestling. Ruziboev has a dangerous submission game and can finish the fight on top or off his back. He’s highly active on the ground and never stops moving, but he is much more of a wild man than a technician and can put himself in bad spots. Training at Renzo Gracie Philly, he’s always looking to finish the fight, often choosing not to defend takedowns to pursue a kimura instead. Ruziboev has heavy ground-and-pound and is excellent at changing grappling positions, especially reversing position from bottom to top.

## #12 Derrick Lewis vs. #15 Rodrigo Nascimento

![dlewis4.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/a42e886e-2075-4e5e-34bb-c0d5658fa900/public "Derrick Lewis blasts Marcos Rogerio De Lima with a flying knee. Credit: Essentially Sports.")

Lewis has won one of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #4 ranked Heavyweight Curtis Blaydes (18-4-0), #6 ranked Heavyweight Alexander Volkov (37-10-0), and #8 ranked Heavyweight Marcin Tybura (25-8-0). Famous for his kill-or-be-killed approach, he is arguably the most powerful puncher in the Heavyweight division. Training at 4oz Fight Club, he has a unique, patient style, often going from 0-100 in the blink of an eye. Along with his punching power, Lewis has a surprising arsenal of flashy attacks, particularly jumping kicks and flying knees. He doesn’t often initiate grappling exchanges and is well known for his non-technical wrestling style of “just getting up,” but he can do severe damage if he gets on top of someone. He’s incredibly resilient and is never truly out of a fight, especially since he only needs to land one clean shot to find a finish. Lewis is the all-time record holder for UFC knockouts at 14 and looks to add to that number every time he fights. 

![nascimento3.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/920f77a5-3240-4934-7274-ce20338c6700/public "Rodrigo Nascimento takes Tanner Boser off his feet with a takedown. Credit: MMA Fighting.")

Nascimento has won three of his last five bouts with one no-contest and has victories over Tanner Boser (21-10-1), Ilir Latifi (17-9-0), and Don’Tale Mayes (11-6-0). He’s a well-rounded scrapper with excellent grappling and solid cardio. On the feet, he’s always coming forward, throws everything in combination, and is willing to eat a shot to land one. Nascimento tends to drop his head and throw big overhands and looping hooks, throwing every punch with knockout intentions. Training at American Top Team, he has great timing on his takedowns, usually getting in deep and using his weight and size to drag his opponent to the mat. He has excellent top pressure and advances position quickly, never just sitting in his opponent’s guard. Although he can push a consistent pace across 15 minutes, six of his eight career finishes came in round one, making him most dangerous early on.

## Best Bets

_Mateus Rębecki by **KO/TKO**:_ Rębecki is the biggest favorites on the main card for a reason. Ferreira is an excellent, experienced veteran, but I believe Rębecki is one of the most underrated prospects in the UFC right now. Possessing fantastic technical skill on the feet and on the ground, he can certainly grapple with Ferreira, but I expect him to overwhelm him on the feet and secure a KO victory.

_Ulberg vs. Menifield to **Not Go the Distance**:_ One of the closer matchups on this card, both have fantastic power and knockout ability. This is a classic matchup of brawler vs technician, making it very tough to predict a winner. One thing is virtually guaranteed though, and that's somebody going to sleep.

_Derrick Lewis by **KO/TKO**:_ Well, here we are again, another Derrick Lewis main event. These tend to be a bit cut and dry; he's either getting fed to someone, or being fed someone. This is a bit less black and white though, as I wouldn't consider Nascimento a hot prospect nor a can. Either way, this is the type of matchup Lewis can flourish in: someone who wants to throw bombs and is willing to exchange blows. Lewis always has the power to knock someone out, and I think he has the opportunity to add to his knockout record this weekend.

UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Nascimento Preview

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.