UFC 301 Countdown previews the promotion’s return to Brazil, as flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja defends his title against …
regarded as the spiritual home of mixed martial arts Brazil has become synonymous for producing world champion Fighters and hosting some of the most iconic UFC moments in the city of Rio De Janeiro it is a city as passionate about fighting as any on the planet Anderson Silva man are you kidding me everyone’s going nuts minaro noera in his first fight ever in Brazil this place is going bananas Mauricio Shogun Hua has finished for his Griffin Brazilian nationalism is undeniable oh my God the fans are out of their minds here they will yell at you as you approach the Octagon they have experienced a whole lot of highlights thus far plenty more where that came from this city do deserves big fights on May 4th the Octagon returns to Rio De Janeiro for UFC 301 through through theames it’s one thing to have a UFC title fight it’s another thing to have it here in RI we’re ready to go Brazil’s finest Warriors will welcome Challengers and defend their Turf in front of an impassioned crowd hold me back me back I’ll keep on coming I’m a legend in the main event it’s the homecoming of UFC flyweight Champion Alexandre panto I come to finish whatever opening I’m the Champion right here P the cannibal at his calistic putting the title on the line in the city that raised him I want to give a good to train for all Brazilian fans against an Aussie battler from PR aiming to make history in his first shot at UFC goal I have all the skills to prove that I can be the best in the world and I’ll defeat Pantoja by just being too slick that’s it that’s it that’ll do it Astro Boy Steve crack it right from oh that’s the head kick now unbelievable by uring in the Cain event the king of Rio returned the greatest 145lb fighter of all time he always seems to rise the occasion here [Music] real he just ran right into the crowd and they are swarming him now former featherweight champion in UFC Hall of Famer Jose Alo oh that sound is looking for an encore to a stellar career against hard charging Phantom Jonathan Martinez he’s accomplished a lot of things now he’s his mind’s turn to go in there and just show my skills and make a statement Master Class by Martinez here just like that Jonathan Martinez ands it leg kick TKO rare as it may be for Brazilian Fighters and fans alike MMA is more than a sport it’s a religion the energy is unmatched it is going to be awfully loud in this building that unrivaled passion will be felt once again when the Octagon arrives in Rio put your right h on the floor before all that we take an inside look at the headline attractions go e EAS EAS [Music] e this is UFC 301 countdown [Music] in mixed martial arts few countries have had as big of an impact as Brazil the proud sporting nation has bred some of the most renowned fighters to walk the earth UFC flyweight champion alandre Pantoja is the latest in a long line of Brazilian Champions and looks to further cement his position among the greats when he puts his title on the line in front of his passionate home fans at UFC 301 when you talk about MMA you need to talk about Brazil the hard times you have in Brazil make you strong to fight Hard Times create tough [Music] men I think everybody can see that when Brazilians fighting the Octagon Champions like another spectacular moment for the hero Jose Alo the legendary King of Rio Jose Alo junr the most dominant featherweight ever Anderson Silva Anderson Silva Remains the UFC middleweight champion Vander Silva Vander Silva has done it what a tremendous fight Vander did it again sh Mauricio Shogun haa has defeated chel huge victory for Shogun T tasher has done it Glover to Sher of the Undisputed light heavyweight champion so many good fir is and right now is good moment for me I can put my name with a former Champs Pia is for real you stand in front of panto he will rip you up fast and furious action here panto says Let’s Dance a clean performance from the Brazilian this man is one of the very best at 125 lb oh that’s good straight right miss him a right hand from pant oh he finish p it alandre panta the cannibal at his cannibalistic best of the next L right here now Championship Stakes for the Brazilian for the first time in his UFC career first fight for the title with to Brandon Morano I see him the cross of the AR panto is a hunter watching brand Mareno V the height Su seed sitting in the back still doing his thing it’s only a matter of time until I get him again everything in do I do it in my my whole life is for that moment I’m preparing all my life for that moment to be a champ and when I have the chance nobody can take me oh what an absolutely epic fight and new flyweight champion of the world Alexandre panto I work so hard I bring in my family to us I leave everything I have I work so hard for that now it’s my moment I want to enjoy everything I deserve that moment and I do everything you can do for that moment Brazil’s got a champion yet again and people feel that because I take the belt back to home show to everybody his historic title Victory Garner praise from his [Music] [Applause] people celebrations were followed by a return to action as panta looked to add to his legacy with the first title defense alandre panta title defense number one against Brandon royall he’s beaten Brandon Royal before but he knows that it’s going to be a bigger challenge tonight Brandon Roy Val wants revenge when I fight Moreno for the bout very nervous and when I fight to to Ral for my first title defense I can relax more enjoy the fight look at him now look at him dancing around he looks more confident tonight panto getting after it early is the Brazilian TOA very much fighted like a man who has never been finished in 31 Pro fights coming in and I can prove to the world how good I am [Music] oh just take down after the Tak down by the champion yeah dominant grappling see the way he spun there gorgeous oo he’s got such great cardio that even while he’s tired he can still push a great Pace oh he got it Pantoja is just incredible he has visions of being the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world 32 fights in now as a mixed martial arts athlete I need to keep this B for my family you know for Brazil Brazil needs some Idols right now and I stay here to defend ladies and gentlemen the flyweight champion of the world Alexandre panta when you win it’s not just you win every people’s you talk with you all your life can feel that Victory with [Music] you with multiple winds over the flyweight division’s perennial contenders panta looked further for the next inviting challenge he’s beaten everyone in a division so it’s pretty tough to find him a title shot right now leading him to an emerging star from the other side of the globe I already beat all the division and right now I’m going to do like Apollo Creed do it for Rocket ball Bo I going to give that chance to the fight to fight for the world title UFC 301 now has a main event Steve verc will’ll get the next lightweight title shot he hasn’t even been in the UFC a full year sometimes there’s no true clearcut number one one Contender I think this is the best Challenger for Alexandre panta I don’t know if you watch the movies but Apollo cre [Music] loses when I was young was very active as a big WWE Fan I realized that I wanted to do martial arts when I saw Brock Lesnar fight Frank Mia although they were both heavyweight Frank M was a lot smaller than Brock Lesnar was got to be very careful has a very dangerous guard when he ended up tapping out Brock Lesnar defeat Brock Lesnar as a smaller person oh I got to figure out what the hell that guy did and do it myself so my dad took me down to a gym and started training martial arts from there hey guys hello hello young one how you doing how are you hello Mother when I decided that I wanted to start competing I had talked to my dad first and his first reaction was I don’t think you’re tough enough to start fighting so he said all right what we’ll do we’ll go in the backyard we’ll have a fight and we’ll see what happens from there so and my dad had a little scrap in the backyard for the fancy plates tonight you have to bring for the oh my God and at the end of it he came away going all right yep you can have your first fight you got with the blessing and guidance of his father IG went on a meteoric rise on the regional scene Steven Astro choke unconscious there from a choke from Steven Ur big he’s out he’s out is that why they call you outra boy mate title it needs to happen Steven ersing very confident in his stand up big hand there drop one round I dropped him out of tokens that’s [Applause] amazing C taking over the world baby Turnal UFC we’re killing everybody let’s go an emphatic eight-fight win streak caught the attention of the UFC brass in June 2023 opportunity came knocking Steve ERS came to this fight on 8 days notice I’m out here to fight and prove who the best guy in the world is and I have the principle anybody anywhere anytime it’s an unbelievable opportunity for this young man to come in here on the win streak that he’s on and if you can’t fight a guy on 8 days notice Ken you call yourself the best fighter he might not look like the most scary guy but this dude has some real skill nice right in cracking right from EG got him hurt a little B oh WPS the head kick now he’s hurt he’s got the neck he’s got a great gu te eight days hey looks fantastic first represent let’s go Steve ERS that kid came in fought a top 10 guy what a badass performance by him he’s a stud I’m a dangerous fighter because I have good skills in every area oh huge right hand from mer look how smooth that spin the mount was somebody’s really good on the ground I can stop that and beat him on the f I can get it to the ground I can hang with anybody in any position he’s talented and I can take advantage of places that they’re weak from his UFC debut to now I like Steve EG and I believe that he’s going to be a player for a really long time oh there’s the boxing straight away ERS finding the correct moments after notching it third straight UFC win in 9 months with a statement performance oh better do it The Rock off KO ersc put himself on the radar of the current champion and stamped his ticket to a title shot there was absolutely no hesitation taking the fight I’m going to fight anybody anywhere anytime and I’m holding up to that I think I’m the best in the world I have the best skills in the world I’m there to prove it any day of the week [Applause] at UFC 301 Rio de Janeiro will welcome the return of a homegrown Champion when UFC flyweight King Alexandre panoa puts his title on the line against Australian Contender Steve ersing it’s going to take a major effort from one of these contenders coming up to Dethrone the cannibal Alish jandre Pantoja pantoja’s rise began in [Applause] real [Music] Al we start to fight in the real we never realize how big is going to be you know in in this time people start to realize hey you need go to UFC you go grab the B and when I come to America everything happened for me his desire to reach the Pinnacle of the sport LED his relocation to Florida to link up with one of the most decorated gyms in the sports history I learned how to be a champ with a former Champs from here America top te all the guys I train here is Heroes for me so many guys make this team very solid you have very good coaches too we go back together many many years you know Pia came to us in 2018 he was always very close to me he was always like a younger brother he chose us he chose me so I’m really happy that that happened and with going through a lot [Music] together and now that he’s a champion he’s always trying to keep the Challenger attitude he’s never trying to like oh I’m going to defend my title No I’m going to conquer another title every time that I step in the cage I have to prove that I’m the best that’s his motto ersag is a tough guy and we’re taking him very seriously but in the end of the day I think ptoa is going to prove why he’s the champion defend his title in real and come back home with his belt preparing for a championship level fight is nothing new for Pantoja and American top [Applause] [Music] team 11,000 M away the Challenger Steve ersc prepares for his first title bout in modest surroundings with the team that nurtured his talent throughout his [Music] career my first gym that I ever came to was a w martial arts so I’ve been with my current team from the beginning David wols my head coach he’s been not only a great coach but a great role model he’s built this gym for me almost this journey has honestly been crazy Steve walked into the gym he told me he wanted to fight my responsibility as a coach is to protect my athletes at all cost I don’t like to truck people in the deep end so we took his time we worked on his offense his defense and then slowly but surely he met every challenge let’s do it at those big Mega gyms you have all these different coaches and you might not get one-on-one time with them you’re not getting their full attention time so at our gym there’s not that many people but we all get the most out of our coach the most out of each other we all really care about each other’s progression and journey I wouldn’t mind you playing around with like off the jab like off the retraction of the jab so your head’s moving laterally earlier he’s very self motivated the thing that that kid never does is stop his Evolution has just been very fast in all areas he’s not a boxer going into MMA he works dedicatedly in all aspects of the sport Ted he had a timeline for where he wanted to be in his career he thinks that a win tonight would put him right in line where he wanted to be in his mind UFC for stve has always been the goal now this is eg he wants to go forward he wants to pressure you that was goal number one goal number two was to get the title Astro Boy really putting on a show in this short notice UFC debut we’ve wanted Steve to take the bigger challenges we’ve wanted him to test himself against better and better guys looks ready for prime time so far yeah you’re looking really good this is easy money man easy money go he’s locked in he’s never wavered from that and we want to prove that Steve’s number one you’re looking at a guy with two fights in the UFC now huge right hand from Mer but he’s fighting like a world class fighter we know that panto is going to be aggressive I see Steve managing range oh there’s a bigger stumble I see Pantoja looking to enclose him there’s the boxing away I think that’s where he wins his fights and he the most successful so I don’t see that plan changing as long as Steve mitigates that and maintains range tell you what man ersc looks sharp from the outside he’s a sharp shooter I think it’s going to be an easy night for him oh that’s it that’s it that’ll do it the walk on KO in my opinion Steve is fighting the second best FWE in the world glad this kid’s in the UFC man he’s entertaining [Music] less than a year after his UFC debut Australian Steve ersc will challenge Brazilian flyweight Champion Alexandre panta at UFC 301 in Rio de [Music] Janeiro the proud Perth native is part of an emerging hotbed of talent coming out of the Western Australian city despite gearing up for the most significant fight of his career Urich remains committed to Grassroots contributions to the sport excellent how’s everyone today excellent excellent here ready my hero promises my hero promises I promise to be respectful I promise to be respectful towards my parents and teachers towards my parents and teachers when I’m not training I do train others at WS marshal I teach the children’s martial arts next door and that is quite fulfilling all right so I’m going to jog around the M I need you guys to follow along with whatever I do ready let’s go I do feel like I have to be a good role model cuz what I do does have a big impact on their next generation and go and I want to make sure that they have somebody that they can really look up to an emulate as they grow up very good high five in the early days the m seen in Western Australia was very Grassroots amazing high of but it’s progressed significantly Steve’s been an instrumental part of that very good and that one very good well done L guys how your [Music] day we’re here at domination M May the serving Community Center in pth Western Australia I’ve got one of the boys fighting from WS so I’m down here to not only support him but Corner him as well compared to what I started on a lot of the amateur event pro events in Western Australia they’re really well run good evening this is Domin the7 growth has been exponential and the youth that are doing it now are way better than when I was growing up introducing to you first representing wils martial arts here [Applause] is let’s go Louis is a really hard worker so I think he’s going to do really well he puts the hard yards in the gym and I trust him fully to get the win [Music] tonight looking for the level changes Lou teaching definitely makes me a better fighter take it backwards now wide that’s it that’s it when you have to teach others it really makes you understand the technique at a much deeper level right elbow wide right elbow wide that’s it sometimes you do things and you don’t really think about how or why you do it but as soon as you have to articulate that to others it really gets you understanding it better I think it’s important to give back I didn’t get here by myself so I want to give as much to the younger generation that the older generation gave me and we can build it together I love the fact that you called the red just yeah that’s awesome I can only see the sport elevating and becoming more popular as the years go on for the champion Alexandre panta his influence on the Next Generation begins closer to home where he looks to break the wheel of past parental issues with his young family when you start to grow up you can see more clear everything happening in your life and in the past of the years I I can see more clear the fs my dad have with me I have very hard times he don’t care about me and my brothers my mom take care of me and my two brothers alone you know now dad you proud of me dad you’re proud of me I think you when you have kids you need protect your kids you need to care about you know not just think about yourself all the history with me and my daddy making me try to don’t do it the same he do it I need to make something different you need to give a good time with your your kids you know because you example we try to create a very good family a lot of love all the time and make a betterle life for me my family and my kids that’s my purose the champion is settled into his adopted home in Florida where he prepares for a return to his birthplace in Brazil two minutes to put his title on the line in the main event of UFC 301 I have seven years in UFC I fight all across the world and never back to Brazil clanto is a hunter he’s been hunting down all of this and now I have opportunity to F to R Jano when I feel the arena is with me I going to feel Unstoppable and panto is one of the very best fighters in this sport in any way class I want to prove to my country how good I am there’s the T and defend my belt it’s going to be very special for me and I think that he will be extra Reckless to want to get a finish in front of his hometown I’ve fought in hostile crowds before I’m mentally prepared EG is definitely showing that he is on this level to be here oh grabs the head kick now he is so freaking skilled and so fun the watch I’m going to go out there take his belt time to let your hands go huge right hand for that was Sensational then win in dominant fashion this is a fantastic fight at the very highest level in the flyweight Division 1 2 3 [Applause] at UFC 283 in Rio de Janeiro the UFC paid tribute to Brazil’s MMA Legacy the Marquee event was distinguished by the presence of homegrown MMA royalty and an acknowledgement of one of their greatest Champions this fighter has accomplished as much as any man or woman in this MMA craze Nation what a moment for the soon to be inducted UFC Hall of Famer Jose Aldo Jr A fitting tribute for Brazilian icon whose Roots lie in the very City that became synonymous with his character so beloved for his achievements Jose Alder was held as the king of re well you’re chasing the clock anytime you try to set up the credentials of the king of Rio De Janeiro Jose Aldo when it comes to skill he is unequal that’s it and when we think about Aldo we think about all those years of dominance at featherweight he was a monster he was a destroyer the greatest featherweight in the history of the sport Jose Aldo Jr carving out one of the all-time great UFC legacies he’s willing to go in there and risk it all inside the ox and that’s why he’s a fan favorite that’s why he’s the greatest featherweight we’ve ever seen Big Shot there from Aldo now he puts it together up top and that’s why he’s trying to become a two-weight Division champion I mean this man truly is a legend of mixed martial arts May the same for made Jose Aldo seven successful defenses as a UFC featherweight Champion now trying to make a run in a second division dang [Music] we are all witness to Jose Aldo’s greatness once again tonight [Music] thank you so [Applause] much welcome to the Hall of Fame joseo J Aldo’s decision to walk away from competition came at the end of an MMA career that spanned 18 years and 39 Pro fights [Music] although as the king man he helped me a lot in my development here’s a guy who just never stopped trying to be great no matter the circumstances he’s a legend he’s the greatest featherweight of all time he’s done this for a long time I mean what more is there to achieve if anybody had a career that I would love to have emulated J Aldo for all of the MMA fans I just want to say job well done [Music] my [Music] [Music] for the burning desire to return to to his former glory will be put in action loser loser loser when Aldo [Music] returns in the co-main event of UFC 301 in his home city of Rio [Music] [Applause] [Music] the first challenge of Jose Aldo’s second UFC stint will be against sering Bantam Jonathan Martinez what’s up bro feel good his Passion For Fighting began in the streets but under the guidance of factory ex frontman Mark Montoya just fil me just here go Martinez is now regarded as one of the world’s top 135s we’re been done for that little spring okay like that and on the cusp of UFC title contention one up two down three up me and coach Mark we have a really good relationship all these years you know he’s helped me during training and and life if I need something or I need someone to talk to I just call him he’s there count good three count when you first look at Jonathan you can see that that kid is a fighter and he has a lot of heart we count you can’t teach that heart that he has and so when I saw that I was like man that’s a kid I would love to train and help sharpen up and refine when you talk about a guy that loves to fight you’re talking about Jonathan Martinez out OFA Factory x from the moment that he stepped on the scene you knew that this kid had something Jonathan Martinez Too Much he is as Factory x as Factory X come Hey listen I believe in you son believe in yourself guys and you see Mark Montoya in his corner I got a lot of respect for Mark Montoya and that team it’s a really excellent team way I’m proud of you we’re definitely seeing the emergence of a new Contender here in Jonathan Martinez my Style’s more aggressive because the way he fights with the kind of Venom that he throws in his shots oh hey little Sprint and you see the coachability too right Montoya calls for a Sprint Martinez immediately Sprints you’re the baddest on the planet no one can stop you oh my God I’m real dangerous cuz my kicks that team has got some of the most devastating kicks stop stop and I’m always putting pressure on my opponents until I break them and he has a warrior Spirit the way this kid competes I love and that shows in the result his devotion and his consistency his sacrifice is the reason why he’s gotten to this point oh and he eats another one that’s that fight do it who do you want to fight next I really want to top five next you know feel like I deserve it one two one two and he’s fighting Aldo in Rio it’s an opportunity for us to go and and finish the light I’ve been asking for these big names just cuz I train hard I do everything I can and I feel like I’m in the same level as them the tests are going to start becoming tougher they’re all human so he’s got a Hall of Famer on the other side I know I could beat all of them that’s when we’re going to determine do you belong fighting the best guys in the top 10 of the division that is the test UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro will see The Return of one of its greatest Combat Sports icons as a jiu-jitsu student from manous Jose Aldo relocated to r at an early age looking to link up with renowned coach Andre [Music] pineres an unbreakable Bond was formed and his MMA Journey began with the FED team Nova [Music] Uno for [Music] [Music] the team may have relocated but for the former Champion the memories remain in the sight of his former training facility [Applause] [Music] fore [Music] for [Music] [Music] fore fore [Music] [Music] for UFC bantamweight Contender Jonathan Martinez the unwavering support and connection with his family is a vital part of his fight Camp preparations for his wife Amber witnessing Jonathan’s success is a welcome chapter in a journey that started as teenagers I met Amber in Texas we used to ride the bus together oh he was one of those annoying kids that would not leave you alone he’s pulling my hair and just messing with me and we ended up getting together in our freshman year and we’ve been together ever since having a kid kid a young age it was hard I moved out of my parents house when I was 15 and then I never went back I got out of school to work and bring money home ready he’s going to kick it up go baby kick it I was actually fighting where you going it was hard to find fight for me when I was coming up nice kick I would say at the beginning he didn’t have a lot of supporters take it’s not a good paying job and you get it only whenever you fight but I told him don’t listen to what other people tell you because this is us what you doing and this was something that he had his heart set on it so I said well hey let’s do it so I worked two jobs four years and he trained full-time for those four years oh he got you it’s a lot of sacrifice I do when it’s time to fight you ready I missed a lot of their birthdays when they were younger they really didn’t understand now they understand what I’m doing they look up to me you know I know sometimes it’s hard but I got a job to do so I just been training and training and training and in the end it’s going to pay [Music] off Brazilian Hall of Famer Jose Aldo retired from MMA in 2022 what an incredible career the fact that this man is still at the top of the division but didn’t step away from competition completely Aldo the legend himself debuting in [Music] [Applause] [Music] boxing foro right now looks like aor just going after his [Music] what an uppercut [Applause] by trying to finish the [Applause] fighto big combin see for the head off right he is still getting quicker and stronger at this stage of his career his desire to win a belt in a second division remains hot at the end of his first stint in the UFC the former featherweight King fell short of a second title when he dropped to the 135 lb division Jose Aldo still looking for that run for everything to click at 135 lbs huge anddo Aldo is once again hunting bantamweight go and as the curent crop of contenders in his crosshairs the way this kid competes he has a warrior Spirit fight him in his hometown the fans could Boo and everything but the end of the day it’s just me in there with him so I’m really excited going there and test myself Jonathan Martinez end it tries to knock you out with every shot got six wins in a row for the dragon Jonathan Martinez the man’s an absolute living legend wow that was crazy it’s the old guard taking on the Next Generation in the Kain event setting the stage for a UFC flyweight title showdown between the Champion Alexandre panto I’m Blown Away by alandre Pantoja this man is one of the best fighters in the world and Australian Challenger Steve ERS Astro Boy Steve EG with a major statement what a fight Pantoja versus Steve hering and the Return of the King of Rio Jonathan Martinez gets to face Jose Aldo in Brazil the spotlight will once again shine on Brazil as the Octagon returns to Rio De Janeiro May 4th for UFC 301 [Music]