Alexandre Pantoja lengthened his reign atop the Ultimate Fighting Championship flyweight division but left the cage with a few battle scars for his troubles.
“The Cannibal” leaned into his all-terrain skills and big-fight experience, as he retained his 125-pound title with a unanimous decision over Australian challengerheadliner on Saturday at Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro. Pantoja swept the scorecards with 48-47, 48-47 and 49-46 marks from the cageside judges, putting his stamp on a sixth straight victory in an outright war of wills.
Erceg , who entered the Octagon on an 11-fight winning streak, was game and almost certainly boosted his stock in defeat. He cut Pantoja twice with well-timed elbow strikes, opening lacerations on his scalp and near his right eye. Erceg countered effectively throughout and pieced together clean punching combinations against the respected champion. Pantoja pressed the issue by moving forward and targeting the body with punches but made much of his headway in the grappling exchanges.
Smith met the Brazilian’s forward movement with heavy leg kicks, then called upon his deep well of experience. Petrino swooped in for an ill-advised double-leg takedown, only to leave his neck unprotected while doing so. Smith bit down on the choke, tightened his squeeze and prompted the tapout.Makhmud Muradov
The 30-year-old Pereira tested the waters with kicks before he drove the off-balance Ukrainian to the mat with a clean one-two. Unsatisfied with his work, “Demolidor” executed a backflip and sent his knee crashing into the grounded Potieria’s neck and chest, perilously close to his head. It set off a scramble, at which point Pereira snatched a standing guillotine.
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