UFC 301 live results: Updates, highlights, odds, analysis as ...
It's been three weeks since the stellar UFC 300 card rocked the mixed martial arts world and left many believing it was the single greatest night of professional fighting ever. UFC 301 is not that. But, then again, no card is going to live up to that now legendary event so we'll take what we can get. And if this sport has taught us anything, it's to expect the unexpected especially when a fight card doesn't look that great on paper.
Saturday's UFC action goes down at the Rio Arena in Rio de Janeiro headlined by one of Brazil's finest as champion Alexandre Pantoja looks to defend his flyweight belt against relative UFC newcomer Steve Erceg. The title fight is no gimme for Pantoja, who was born and raised in Rio, with Erceg coming in as a +165 underdog and riding an 11-fight win streak. The King of Rio José Aldo also makes his return to the Octagon after a 21-month "retirement" to face the very dangerous Jonathan Martinez in the co-main event.
A cast of heavy Brazilian favorites (at least according to the oddsmakers) fill out the rest of the pay-per-view portion of Saturday's card. UFC veteran and former light heavyweight title challenger Anthony Smith is a 4-1 underdog in his fight vs. up-and-comer Vitor Petrino, who is undefeated at 11-0 with 4 wins in the UFC since his March 2023 debut with the promotion. Two middleweight scraps open the main card with the electric Michel Pereira fighting Ukraine's Ihor Potieria after submission specialist Paul Craig faces Caio Borralho in the main card opener.
Follow all of the action right here on Yahoo Sports with our live blog below where we'll be sharing all of the latest results and highlights throughout the entire card.
Live24 updates
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 2:07 AM GMT+2
Been a pretty entertaining start to the night in Rio and the "home side" is up 4-0 to start.
If that continues, things are going to get even louder and more interesting as the night progresses. #UFC301
— E. Spencer Kyte (@spencerkyte) May 5, 2024
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 2:05 AM GMT+2
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 1:49 AM GMT+2
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 1:48 AM GMT+2
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 1:48 AM GMT+2
Wow! Ruffy just brutalized Mullarkey! It's over in the first round!
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 1:42 AM GMT+2
Mauricio Ruffy (-155) vs. Jamie Mullarkey (+140) starts now. It's the last fight on the early prelims.
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 1:35 AM GMT+2
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 1:33 AM GMT+2
Brazil's Barbosa gets the decision despite fading in the second half of the fight.
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 1:31 AM GMT+2
Road team looking like they're going to get on the board here in Rio. #UFC301
— E. Spencer Kyte (@spencerkyte) May 4, 2024
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 1:22 AM GMT+2
Barbosa is a killer. Pure domination. Every aspect. #UFC301
— Hyon Ko (@KoreanJohn_) May 4, 2024
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 1:13 AM GMT+2
Next up, a women's flyweight bout featuring undefeated Ernesta Kareckaite (5-0-1) vs. Brazil's Dione Barbosa (6-2). Here we go.
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 1:01 AM GMT+2
It's a clean sweep for the Brazilian
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 12:59 AM GMT+2
Bonfim outworks the 41-year-old Pinchel over three rounds and should win a 30-27 on all the judges' scorecards as we await the decision.
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 12:50 AM GMT+2
Vinc Pichel looks like Cub Swanson’s uncle, the one who owns the food truck.
— Chuck Mindenhall (@ChuckMindenhall) May 4, 2024
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 12:47 AM GMT+2
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 12:42 AM GMT+2
Vinc Pichel, 41, makes his first Octagon walk since April 2022 when he lost to the now-retired Mark Madsen. Seeking his first win since August 2021.
— Nick Baldwin (@NickBaldwinMMA) May 4, 2024
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 12:39 AM GMT+2
After a bit of filler, Ismael Bonfim (-500) and Vinc Pachel (+360) are in the cage and ready to go for their lightweight scrap.
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 12:23 AM GMT+2
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 12:22 AM GMT+2
Costa is significantly better than his 1-2 record suggested heading in — lost to Albazi and Erceg; legit talents.
We just saw that he's a Top 15 fighter in this division, and the Brazilian Warriors / Lobo Gym crew keeps looking sharp. #UFC301
— E. Spencer Kyte (@spencerkyte) May 4, 2024
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 12:22 AM GMT+2
Costa gets the job done in Round 2! He got Borjas to the ground with some perfectly timed leg kicks, then got the TKO with some slick ground and pound strikes.
All odds via BetMGM.
• Flyweight championship: Alexandre Pantoja (-200) vs. Steve Erceg (+165)
• Bantamweight: Jose Aldo (+135) vs. Jonathan Martinez (-165)
• Light heavyweight: Anthony Smith (+400) vs. Vitor Petrino (-550)
• Middleweight: Michel Pereira (-450) vs. Ihor Potieria (+325)
• Middleweight: Paul Craig (+340) vs. Caio Borralho (-450)
• Featherweight: Joanderson Brito (-165) vs. Jack Shore (+140)
• Women's strawweight: Karolina Kowalkiewicz (+260) vs. Iasmin Lucindo (-350)
• Lightweight: Elves Brener (+200) vs. Myktybek Orolbai (-250)
• Lightweight: Joaquim Silva (+135) vs. Drakkar Klose (-160)
• Lightweight: Mauricio Ruffy (-155) vs. Jamie Mullarkey (+140)
• Women's flyweight: Dione Barbosa def. Ernesta Kareckaite by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Lightweight: Ismael Bonfim def. Vinc Pachel by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Flyweight: Alessandro Costa def. Kevin Borjas by TKO (strikes) at 1:35 of R2:
