UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro delivered a thrilling card full of action on Saturday night.
In the main event, flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja defended his title for the second time, earning a contentious decision victory against the tough challenger Steve Erceg.
In the co-main event, featherweight icon Jose Aldo made a victorious comeback after nearly two years, decisively beating Jonathan Martinez at bantamweight.
The middle fight of the main card featured light heavyweight contender, Anthony Smith, ranked number ten, who quickly subdued the previously undefeated Vitor Petrino with a swift submission, impressing the audience and quieting his critics. Earlier victories by Brazilian middleweights Caio Borralho and Michel Pereira, who both secured significant wins in their bouts, set the stage for Smith’s performance.
All fighters on the main card, including the narrowly defeated Australian Steve Erceg—who many argue could have won the title—anticipate high-profile bouts in their next appearances in the Octagon.
Here are the matchups we hope to see next after UFC 301:
Alexandre Pantoja vs. Amir Albazi
Although Pantoja’s victory over Steve Erceg at UFC 301 was disputed, he showcased exceptional skill and resilience. Looking ahead, while rematches with Brandon Royval and Brandon Moreno are options, a fresh challenge against the nearly undefeated Iraqi contender Amir Albazi seems more fitting.
Given Albazi’s background and his controversial win over Kai Kara-France, a fight in the Middle East could be ideal.
Steve Erceg vs. Manel Kape
Despite the debate over the decision in his fight against Pantoja, Erceg proved himself as a top competitor in the flyweight division. An immediate title rematch seems unlikely, so a bout against Portugal’s Manel Kape, a former Rizin champion with a recent winning streak, would be compelling.
Ideally, this fight could take place at UFC 305 in Perth, Australia, on August 18.
Jose Aldo vs. Henry Cejudo
Following his impressive performance against Jonathan Martinez, Aldo, at 37, showed he remains a formidable force.
Although a fight against current bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley is tempting, Aldo might first face Henry Cejudo, a former two-division champion who also recently fought Merab Dvalishvili. A match between these two legends would be highly anticipated.
Anthony Smith vs. Jan Blachowicz
After silencing doubts with a victory over Vitor Petrino, Smith remains a top contender in the light heavyweight division.
A matchup against former champion Jan Blachowicz, who is looking to rebound from his own setbacks, would be an excellent addition to any major event.
Michel Pereira vs. Chris Curtis
Pereira’s move to middleweight appears successful, demonstrated by his recent win over Ihor Potieria. A fight against Chris Curtis, ranked number 15, would test Pereira’s standing in the new division.
Both fighters are known for their striking, promising an exciting match.
Caio Borralho vs. Marvin Vettori
Following his knockout victory over Paul Craig, Borralho is climbing the middleweight ranks.
While he has expressed interest in fighting Jarred Cannonier, Marvin Vettori, ready to return after a loss, would be an appropriate and challenging opponent for Borralho.
How To Watch These UFC Fights Online!
You can stream these epic fights via:
These are my favorite streaming platforms to watch sports. But ESPN+ on Hulu is only accessible in US, and SonyLIV in India. If you are outside of these regions use ExpressVPN to unblock these platforms and watch the fights live.
To watch ESPN+ on Hulu outside USA, connect to a New York Server, and to watch SonyLIV outside India, connect to the India (via Singapore) server on ExpressVPN.
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