UFC 301 live results: Updates, highlights, odds, analysis as ...

5 May 2024

Yahoo Sports

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UFC 301 live results Updates highlights odds analysis as

Follow the action right here on Yahoo Sports with our live blog where we'll be sharing all of the latest results and highlights throughout the entire card.

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.

Live59 updates

Sun, May 5, 2024 at 4:58 AM GMT+2

That was so bad ass

— Sean O'Malley (@SugaSeanMMA) May 5, 2024
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 4:56 AM GMT+2

RESULT: Michel Pereira def. Ihor Potieria by submission (R1, 54 seconds)

Pereira gets away with the knee for one of the most entertaining wins of his career.
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 4:55 AM GMT+2

There's some discussion between Bruce Buffer and officials, that illegal knee might bite Pereira.
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 4:53 AM GMT+2

WHOA WHOA WHOA. Michel Pereira gets a submission in less than a minute, but Potieria still goes lights out after Pereira lets him go. Seconds before that, Pereira knocked him over, did a backflip and got him with a knee, which might have been of questionable legality.
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 4:52 AM GMT+2

Michel Pereira didn’t walkout with a full dance routine . This ain’t like him , something up ????????????

— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) May 5, 2024
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 4:42 AM GMT+2

Next up is Michel Pereira (-600) against Ihor Potieria (+425). Pereira's won seven straight and has been pushing for a bout with a contender recently.
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 4:40 AM GMT+2

The broadcast announces that Mauricio Shogun Rua will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame

— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) May 5, 2024
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 4:35 AM GMT+2

Borralho says he wants the $50K bonus, then calls for a top-10 or a top-5 middleweight. His suggestion: Jared Cannonier.
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 4:34 AM GMT+2

That was a really nasty combo by Borralho, who stunned Craig earlier in the round with a knee, then got him off-balance and leveled him with a left against the cage.
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 4:32 AM GMT+2

RESULT: Caio Borralho def. Paul Craig by KO (R2, 2:10)

Borralho notches his 15th straight win and moves to 6-0 with the UFC. You have to imagine he'll be getting a real chance to show he's a middleweight contender very soon.
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 4:29 AM GMT+2

Borralho knocks Craig out cold in the second round and that'll do it.
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 4:27 AM GMT+2

10-9 Borralho

He is so good at maximizing his winning conditions. Very high fight IQ.

— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) May 5, 2024
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 4:21 AM GMT+2
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 4:11 AM GMT+2

Update on the broadcast: Jon Anik relays that the doctor suspected Jack Shore had a broken leg, which was why the fight was stopped.

— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) May 5, 2024
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 4:01 AM GMT+2

It's time for the main card, where Caio Borralho (-600) kick things off against Paul Craig (+425). Borralho (No. 14 in the middleweight rankings) is 5-0 since joining the UFC and is facing a veteran in Craig (No. 13) who has lost three of his last four.
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 3:56 AM GMT+2
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 3:55 AM GMT+2

Come on it’s just a shin

— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) May 5, 2024
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 3:53 AM GMT+2

RESULT: Joanderson Brito def. Jack Shore by TKO in the second round

Doctor calls the fight and Brito get his fifth straight win, in gruesome fashion.
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 3:52 AM GMT+2

Shore's leg is bleeding so badly they're calling in a ringside physician. This isn't good.
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 3:51 AM GMT+2

Brito's gone hard on leg kicks so far and it's showing on Shore's leg, which is bruised and bloody after a round and a half.
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 3:50 AM GMT+2

Jack Shore's durability is being tested here, Brito was aggressive throughout the whole round #UFC301

— Robbie Glover (@robbieglover) May 5, 2024
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 3:48 AM GMT+2

Brito is rhythm stepping on virtually every exit.

— Luke Thomas????️‍♀️ (@lthomasnews) May 5, 2024
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 3:36 AM GMT+2

Now we've got the final prelim fight, a a featherweight bout between Jack Shore (+175) and Joanderson Brito (-210). Brito's on a four-fight win streak and fighting in his home country.
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 3:33 AM GMT+2

RESULT: Iasmin Lucindo def. Karolina Kowalkiewicz (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 3:25 AM GMT+2

This hasn't been close so far.

20-18 Lucindo

— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) May 5, 2024
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 3:21 AM GMT+2

Lucindo slowly but surely starting to bully Kowalkiewicz towards the end of the first. Lucindo seems raw, but able to bring more physicality to the fight.

— Luke Thomas????️‍♀️ (@lthomasnews) May 5, 2024
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 3:15 AM GMT+2
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 3:14 AM GMT+2

Next fight is a strawweight between Iasmin Lucindo (-375) and Karolina Kowalkiewicz (+280). It's the biggest age gap in women's UFC history with the 22-year-old Lucindo and 38-year-old Kowalkiewicz.
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 3:07 AM GMT+2

RESULT: Myktybek Orolbai def. Elves Brener by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 3:03 AM GMT+2

A point deduction for a fence grab.

I just saw an mma unicorn!

— Erik Magraken (@erikmagraken) May 5, 2024
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 2:51 AM GMT+2

Brener collected Orolbai's foot tp get out on top after the oma plata and used that to reverse position overall. That's great.

— Luke Thomas????️‍♀️ (@lthomasnews) May 5, 2024
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 2:46 AM GMT+2

This is the first one I've really been looking forward to tonight:

Brener went 3-0 last year and looks like one to watch, while Orolbai rolled in on short notice and subbed Uros Medic at 170.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy; this one should be fun! #UFC301

— E. Spencer Kyte (@spencerkyte) May 5, 2024
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 2:45 AM GMT+2

Third lightweight fight in a row is next with Brazil's Elves Brener (+200) facing Kyrgyzstan's Myktybek Orolbai (-250).
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 2:35 AM GMT+2

RESULT: Drakkar Klose def. Joaquim Silva by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

And the road team gets on the board...

Brazil: 4World: 1#UFC301

— E. Spencer Kyte (@spencerkyte) May 5, 2024
Sun, May 5, 2024 at 2:33 AM GMT+2
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

RESULT: Mauricio Ruffy def. Jamie Mullarkey by TKO (punches) at 4:42 of R1
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

RESULT: Dione Barbosa def. Ernesta Kareckaite by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

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

RESULT: Ismael Bonfim def. Vinc Pachel by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

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

Show more updates

UFC 301 main card (Start time 10 p.m. ET, ESPN+ PPV)

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 def. Ihor Potieria by submission at 0:54 of R1

• Middleweight: Caio Borralho def. Paul Craig by KO at 2:10 of R2

UFC 301 prelims, odds (Live now on ESPN/ESPN+)

• Featherweight: Joanderson Brito def. Jack Shore by TKO at 3:35 of R2:

• Women's strawweight: Iasmin Lucindo def. Karolina Kowalkiewicz by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)• Lightweight: Myktybek Orolbai def. Elves Brener by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)• Lightweight: Drakkar Klose def. Joaquim Silva by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

UFC 301 early prelims results, highlights

• Lightweight: Mauricio Ruffy def. Jamie Mullarkey by TKO (punches) at 4:42 of R1:

• 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: