UFC 301 will occur on May 4th, 2024, in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, at the Juenesse Arena. However, it seems as if the once-anticipated card has now become uninteresting.
The main event of the card will be a fight for the UFC Flyweight Championship between champion Alexandre Pantoja and challenge Steve Erceg. Immediate fan reaction showed that the hype for this card went down tremendously right after this fight was announced as the main event. Some may argue that the reason for that is because many believe that Erceg didn’t deserve a title opportunity.
However, even if it was someone else getting the title shot, would fans still care? The flyweight division has always been looked at as weaker than the rest of the weight classes, so is it finally time for Dana White and the UFC to shut it down?
UFC 301: Pantoja vs Erceg
The UFC 301 main event will feature UFC Flyweight Champion Alexandre Pantoja and #10 ranked flyweight Steve Erceg. Pantoja is a Brazilian fighter who is looking to defend the title in his home country. Erceg is a 12-1 fighter, although he hasn’t necessarily had a convincing win over any top contender.
Fans were shocked to see Erceg be the one fighting Pantoja for the title, and many started to question that decision. Erceg’s biggest win came from a knockout over Matt Schnell at a Fight Night in March 2024. Schnell has a 6-6 record in the UFC, so this wasn’t a win that should have granted Erceg a title shot, especially with fighters such as Brandon Royval and Amir Albazi being more deserving.
The entire UFC 301 card is seemingly very weak in terms of star power. Besides the legendary return of Jose Aldo, there is not much to look forward to. Undefeated light heavyweight Vitor Petrino will take on Anthony Smith in a fight that has some hype to it, but still not as much as a standard PPV feature fight should.
Read about UFC 304: https://totalapexsports.com/ufc-304-who-will-fight-on-this-manchester-card/
Flyweight Division: Is It Time For It To Go?
The flyweight division has been considered boring ever since it was established in 2012. The only positive trait of that division was the champion, Demetrius “Mighty Mouse” Johnson, who held the title from 2012 to 2018. Even then the division was still considered not as entertaining as the other ones, as UFC PPVs headlined by Johnson were doing some of the lowest buys in the company’s history.
Another reason the division is not necessarily liked by most UFC fans is because it’s the lightest men’s division. Being the 125-pound division, there is an idea that these fighters aren’t taken as seriously as other fighters in the UFC because of their weight.
In terms of competition, the division has gotten better in the past few years, with top names such as Alexandre Pantoja, Brandon Moreno, Brandon Royval, and Kai-Kara France. Despite that, it’s still considered one of the weaker divisions in the UFC as there are not many fighters who can be serious threats to the current champion.
However, the biggest thing the flyweight division is missing at this current time is the lack of charisma and personality. People watch the UFC for skill but people also watch those who give fans a reason to tune into their fights. It’s not possible to sell a pay-per-view if there is no intrigue in the fighters and their personalities.
In terms of whether or not the UFC should get rid of the flyweight division, it has been something Dana White suggested in the past. There are many reasons why the division should be removed from the UFC. Although at the same time, the division does have some top fighters who are great additions to co-main events and fight nights, and the company might not want to lose that.
About The Author
Shayan Malik has always been an avid fan of sports. He is currently studying sports communication, hoping to take his sports knowledge to the next level. He enjoys writing about combat sports such as MMA, pro Wrestling, and Boxing.
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