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The Octagon returns to Brazil this weekend for the UFC's next pay-per-view offering as UFC 301 takes place inside the Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro.
In the main event, the UFC Flyweight Championship is on the line as champion Alexandre Pantoja makes his second title defense against fast-rising challenger Steve Erceg. Pantoja is coming off a title defense against Brandon Royval in December and has won five straight fights. Erceg gets a title shot after less than a year on the UFC roster, having won eleven straight fights and three straight inside the Octagon.
In the co-main event, former UFC Featherweight Champion and UFC Hall of Famer Jose Aldo comes out of retirement to battle Jonathan Martinez in a bantamweight bout. Also on the main card is a light heavyweight bout between Anthony Smith and Vitor Petrino, and a pair of middleweight fights as Michel Pereira takes on Ihor Potieria, and Paul Craig battles Caio Borralho.
ESPN+ PRELIMS | 6 PM ET/3 PM PT
> Flyweights- Alessandro Costa (13-4, 1-2 UFC) vs. Kevin Borjas (9-2, 0-1 UFC)
> Lightweights- Ismael Bonfim (19-4, 1-1 UFC) vs. Vinc Pichel (14-3, 7-3 UFC)
> Women's Flyweights- Dione Barbosa (6-2, 0-0 UFC) vs. Ernesta Kareckaite (5-0-1, 0-0 UFC)
> Lightweights- Mauricio Ruffy (9-1, 0-0 UFC) vs. Jamie Mullarkey (17-7, 5-5 UFC)
ESPN2 PRELIMS | 8 PM ET/5 PM PT
> Lightweights- Joaquim Silva (13-4, 6-4 UFC) vs. Drakkar Klose (14-2-1, 8-2 UFC)
> Lightweights- Elves Brener (16-3, 3-0 UFC) vs. Myktybek Orolbai (12-1-1, 1-0 UFC)
> Women's Strawweights- #13 Karolina Kowalkiewicz (16-7, 9-7 UFC) vs. Iasmin Lucindo (15-5, 2-1 UFC)
> Featherweights- Jack Shore (17-1, 6-1 UFC) vs. Joanderson Brito (16-3-1, 4-1 UFC)
ESPN+ PPV MAIN CARD | 10 PM ET/7 PM PT
> Middleweights- #13 Paul Craig (17-7-1, 9-7-1 UFC) vs. #14 Caio Borralho (15-1 1 NC, 5-0 UFC)
> Middleweights- Michel Pereira (30-11 2 NC, 8-2 UFC) vs. Ihor Potieria (21-5, 2-3 UFC)
> Light Heavyweights- #10 Anthony Smith (37-19, 12-9 UFC) vs. Vitor Petrino (11-0, 4-0 UFC)
> Bantamweights- Jose Aldo (31-8, 13-7 UFC) vs. #12 Jonathan Martinez (19-4, 10-3 UFC)
> UFC Flyweight Championship- C Alexandre Pantoja (27-5, 11-3 UFC) vs. #10 Steve Erceg (12-1, 3-0 UFC)
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