UFC 301 -- Alexandre Pantoja vs. Steve Erceg: Fight card, date, odds, location, rumors, complete guide

Date: May 4
Location: Farmasi Arena -- Rio de Janeiro
Start time: 10 p.m. ET (Main card)
How to watch: ESPN+ PPV

The flyweight title is on the line when the promotion returns to Rio de Janeiro on Saturday night

By Shakiel Mahjouri

Apr 30, 2024 at 4:16 pm ET • 1 min read

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The UFC flyweight championship takes center stage on a pay-per-view event for the first time in a long time. Alexandre Pantoja defends the 125-pound title against Steve Erceg at UFC 301 on Saturday, the first PPV headlined with the flyweight title since Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno at UFC 256.

UFC 301 has big shoes to fill after an all-time great UFC 300 card. Pantoja rides a five-fight win streak, including a win over former titleholder Brandon Moreno and twice defeating top contender Brandon Royval. The champ makes his second title defense on home soil in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil against a well-rounded Australian challenger. Erceg got the title shot sooner than expected having only fought three times in the UFC. Erceg currently sits at No. 10 in the UFC's official rankings.

Elsewhere on the card, UFC Hall of Famer and former featherweight king Jose Aldo is back in a homecoming bout when he takes on rising contender Jonathan Martinez. Aldo, who retired from MMA after a 2022 loss to Merab Dvalishvili, is fighting out his contract and will become a free agent after the bout is over. Plus, Michel Pereira is set to take on Makhmud Muradov and veteran light heavyweight Anthony Smith is set to battle Vitor Petrino.

Below is the complete fight card for UFC 301 along with the latest odds. Check back all week long for the latest news, features and other content around this massive event.