Brendan Miller
Brazilian MMA plays at home against international competition at UFC 301. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil hosts the promotion’s next pay-per-view with UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja returning to his birthplace to fight Steve Erceg.
The most prominent name on the card is UFC Hall of Famer José Aldo. The record featherweight champion ends a 20-month retirement to complete the final fight of his UFC contract. Aldo, 37, faces bantamweight contender Jonathan Martinez, 30, after a proposed fight with Dominick Cruz reportedly fell through. It’s been almost two years since Aldo fought MMA, but he’s kept busy with a trio of low-level boxing fights.
The undercard also features some interesting clashes with Brazilians facing fighters from other countries. Caio Borralho is ready to face Paul Craig in the middleweight division. The flashy striker Michel Pereira will also face Ihor Potieria in the middleweight division. And veteran light heavyweight Anthony Smith will face Vitor Petrino in a special fight.
Check out the fights that deserve your attention at UFC 301 below.
Jonathan Martinez x José Aldo
The King of Rio is back. UFC president Dana White surprised everyone with the news of Aldo’s return. The concern over Aldo’s two-year absence from MMA is reasonable, but he stayed busy and came out in good shape. Aldo retired after losing a competent decision to Merab Dvalishvili, who will likely challenge the next UFC bantamweight champion, Sean O’Malley. Previously, Aldo defeated three ranked bantamweights: Rob Font, Pedro Munhoz and Marlon Vera. Martinez is in the best form of his career, winning six straight against guys like Adriano Yanez, Said Nurmagomedov and Cub Swanson, including two technical knockouts via leg kicks. Aldo has legendary kicks in his arsenal, so it will be interesting to see how their styles match up. The atmosphere will be feverish as the King of Rio returns home.
Jack Shore x Joanderson Brito
Shore is back. The Welsh fighter has already looked like a major threat at bantamweight, winning his first five UFC fights and amassing a professional record of 16-0. A submission loss to Ricky Simon redirected Shore to featherweight, where he can find a new lease of life. Shore submitted Makwan Amirkhani at UFC 286 and hopes to continue his run at 145 pounds against a dangerous opponent. Brito is a fierce finisher, with an 88% stoppage rate in 16 wins. The Brazilian comes from four consecutive victories, with submissions over Jonathan Pearce and Andre Fili. Most impressively, Brito scored a technical decision victory against fast-rising featherweight Diego Lopes on the “Contender Series.” Expect the winner of this fight to knock on the door of the featherweight elite.
Michel Pereira x Ihor Potieria
Pereira is pure fun. The capoeira expert reigned in some of his antics – like the stamina-sapping pre-fight dance and vicious strikes – in exchange for a winning mentality. Pereira still possesses dramatic flair, but a more measured approach resulted in the longest winning streak of his professional career against his toughest opponent. Pereira began his seven-fight winning streak at welterweight, but finishes against middleweights Michal Oleksiejczuk and Andre Petroski suggest he is better suited at 185. A strong showing against Potieria could put him as a Top 15 opponent.
“Life changes us and maybe I am maturing. But I’ll always want to get in there and I’ll always want to put on a show…” Periera counted CBS Sports through an interpreter. “I think there will be a lot of movement in the fight. It will be a very intense fight. I know he is coming well prepared and so am I. It will be fireworks inside the cage.”
Honorable mentions: Joaquim Silva x Drakkar Klose
Who wins UFC 301: Pantoja vs. Erceg and how exactly does each fight end? Visit SportsLine now for in-depth UFC 301 picksall from the MMA expert who cashed in more than $1,500 on his 2023 UFC main card picks, and find out.
