The UFC is ready to return to Brazil’s most iconic city.
Here’s how to watch UFC 301 with the flyweight title on the line at the top of the lineup.
Broadcast and streaming information
UFC 301 has a main card that starts at 10pm ET on pay-per-view via ESPN+. A four-fight preliminary card airs on ESPN at 8 p.m., following five prelims on ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET.
Stay tuned to MMA Junkie for more broadcast details later this week.
Main fight: Alexandre Pantoja x Steve Erceg
Flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja (27-5 MMA, 11-3 UFC), from Rio, will put his belt on the line for the second time when he faces Australian Steve Erceg (12-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC), which raised many eyebrows when he received his title shot just three fights into his UFC run, and less than a year after debuting in the promotion.
Pantoja had consecutive submissions from Brandon Royval and Alex Perez to earn his title shot. He took out Brandon Moreno in a split decision at UFC 290. In December, he defeated Royval in a rematch for his first defense and fifth consecutive victory.
Erceg burst onto the scene in mid-2023 with a winning bonus decision over David Dvorak. After a win over Alessandro Costa, he had his first UFC stoppage – a bonus KO over Matt Schnell in early March that earned him a title shot.
Co-main event: Jose Aldo vs. Jonathan Martinez
José Aldo (31-8 MMA, 13-7 UFC) retired after a loss to Merab Dvalishvili in 2022, but it didn’t last long. He has competed in three boxing fights and will now compete for his UFC contract against Jonathan Martinez (19-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC) in one of the most non-retirement retirements in recent memory. The former featherweight champion has been at bantamweight for several years.
Martinez has won six fights in a row, including bonus knockouts in two of his last three against Cub Swanson and Adrian Yanez.
UFC debut: Maurício Ruffy
Record: 9-1
Adversary: Jamie Mullarkey (17-7 MMA, 5-5 UFC)
Division: Light
Several: The 30-year-old Brazilian was defeated by third-round knockout over Raimond Magomedaliev on Dana White’s Contender Series with just 15 seconds remaining. All nine wins were by knockout.
UFC debut: Dione Barbosa
Record: 6-2
Adversary: Ernesta Kareckaite (5-0-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Division: Women’s flyweight
Several: The 31-year-old Brazilian makes her UFC debut after two LFA wins and a first-round DWCS submission over Rainn Guerrero last September to earn her shot against a fellow newcomer.
UFC debut: Ernesta Kareckaite
Record: 5-0-1
Adversary: Dione Barbosa (6-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Division: Women’s flyweight
Several: The 25-year-old Lithuanian took a split decision from Carli Judice at the DWCS last September.
UFC 301 Main Card Betting Odds
MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)
- Champion Alexandre Pantoja (-240) vs. Steve Erceg (+195) – for the flyweight title
- José Aldo (+115) vs.
- Vitor Petrino (-500) x Anthony Smith (+380)
- Michel Pereira (-425) x Ihor Potieria (+330)
- Caio Borralho (-470) x Paul Craig (+360)
UFC 301 Preliminary Betting Odds
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN, 8 p.m. ET)
- Joanderson Brito (-165) x Jack Shore (+140)
- Karolina Kowalkiewicz (+280) vs.
- Brener Elves (+210) vs. Myktybek Orolbai (-260)
- William Gomis (+115) x Jean Silva (-135)
UFC 301 Preliminary Betting Odds
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)
- Drakkar Klose (-185) x Joaquim Silva (+155)
- Jamie Mullarkey (+140) vs Mauricio Ruffy (-165)
- Dione Barbosa (-220) x Ernesta Kareckaite (+180)
- Ismael Bonfim (-470) x Vinc Pichel (+360)
- Kevin Borjas (+120) x Alessandro Costa (-140)
