News Alexandre Pantoja to defend Flyweight title against Steve Erceg at UFC 301

[LoveMyMMA]

Not mad at this at all. Mokaev should’ve got the shot but this fight will be a banger

Pantoja is leaps & bounds better than Erceg.
This fight won't even be close.

 

[El Fernas]

Mokaev is probably out due to Ramadan.

They probably didn't want a rematch to happen, thus Erceg is pushed to the top.

He seems upset, the only ones not fighting during Ramadan are the ones looking for an excuse not to take certain fights, up and comers dont care for that.

 

[LoveMyMMA]

Respectfully this is doo doo match making.

doo doo matchmaking at its finest. this is worse than letting colby fight leon again this summer.

 

[Black9]

UFC is in June.
Does not interfere with Ramadan. Two months to get ready for a fight is plenty of time.

Seems Mokaev is pissed at not getting it

 

[Luthien]

Pantoja is leaps & bounds better than Erceg.
This fight won't even be close.

Imagine TJ vs Renan <45>That's the kinda fight we're in for here xd

 

[xhaydenx]

Another strap for us aussies. Nice.

 

[blaseblase]

It's impressive that Pantoja beat all the top contenders before even getting the title. They have to reach to make fights with him. This is a champ I wouldn't mind fighting up a division.

 

[Pechan]

Why? Moakev fought on the same card and is higher ranked

Sometimes, the ones that talk the most are the first ones to say no when uncle Hunter comes knocking.

 

[NoSmilez]

doo doo matchmaking at its finest. this is worse than letting colby fight leon again this summer.

No way. They are making that rematch?

 

[LoveMyMMA]

No way. They are making that rematch?

LOL no. i was just speaking hypothetically. if they did, it'd be as bad as erceg vs pantoja

 

[Psychojoe86]

Another thing I'm wondering... would the plan be for Mokaev to fight for the flyweight belt at abu dabi in october then? Against the winner of pantoja/erceg. Also they clearly needed a brazilian champion to headline ufc 301 since pereira is stepping up at ufc 300.

This could ultimately just mean mokaev needs to wait a few months longer for a better stage

 

[RonDante]

Why? Moakev fought on the same card and is higher ranked

They want it to be competitive, mokaev looked awful his last fight while erceg knocked his opponent out

 

[RonDante]

That's what I don't understand....

Unless Mokaev is injured and wasn't willing to take the fight. Makes no sense to skip over him. He has a much more impressive resume.

What is much more impressive to you? Tim elliott and Alex Perez? Compared to David dvorak and Matt schnell

 

[Milenkovic]

Mokaev has proved to be not ready yet either, but Erceg is far from ready wtf is this

 

[Joinho10]

What is much more impressive to you? Tim elliott and Alex Perez? Compared to David dvorak and Matt schnell

Easy Tim Eliott and Alex Perez not to mention the better win streak that Mokaev has.

 

[duke_droese]

Another thing I'm wondering... would the plan be for Mokaev to fight for the flyweight belt at abu dabi in october then? Against the winner of pantoja/erceg. Also they clearly needed a brazilian champion to headline ufc 301 since pereira is stepping up at ufc 300.

This could ultimately just mean mokaev needs to wait a few months longer for a better stage

Mokaev's lucky if he's getting it in October.

He should spend 7 months in dagestan with team khabib. Improve his striking and clinch work and grappling.

 

[RockyLockridge]

Why? Moakev fought on the same card and is higher ranked

because mokaev looked like dog shit.

I actually like mokaev but Erceg made a big splash that night.

 

[Joinho10]

Dagestani privilege at its finest!

 

[Portland8242]

I think you guys are missing the actual cause: money. It's flyweight, what leverage do these guys have? I'm guessing they offered Mokaev the title fight but only for his base pay and his team felt insulted, like they rightfully should. But this is flyweight, the UFC can pass you right the fuck over and nobody will care.

DJ was making basically nothing for his entire FLW run, imagine what the tomato cans he was fighting were making.

 

[StonedLemur]

Why? Moakev fought on the same card and is higher ranked

He didn't get the highlight reel finish though, and that's what the UFC wants.
They can't let the chips fall where they should it seems sir.