Oh, what a night UFC 301 turned out to be! The seasoned warriors showed the new blood how it’s done, especially in Rio de Janeiro. The crowd? Absolutely electric. They had plenty to cheer for, with 13 fighters representing their MMA powerhouse of a country, and 10 of them snagging wins. But, not every story had a happy ending. Some fighters faced setbacks, potentially altering their career trajectories. Let’s dive into what’s next for those who didn’t have their hands raised.
Paul Craig’s tale is a bit like a broken record. Despite his arsenal of skills, he stumbled once again. Kudos to Caio Borralho, though. His victory over Craig was nothing short of impressive, extending his streak to a perfect 6-0 in the UFC. Borralho’s strategy? Keep Craig guessing and dominate with striking. Craig’s now facing a rocky path, with four losses in his last five outings. Yet, he’s still clinging to that No. 13 spot in the middleweight rankings. A bout with Chris Curtis could be just what he needs to try and turn things around.
Then there’s Ihor Potieria, who had a night to forget against Michael Pereira. Pereira’s flair inside the Octagon led to a swift submission victory. Potieria, stepping in on short notice, now has to regroup. A matchup against Armen Petrosyan might offer him a chance to prove his worth.
Vitor Petrino’s clash with Anthony Smith was a classic “levels to this game” scenario. Petrino, the up-and-comer, got caught in a guillotine choke by the crafty veteran. Despite the setback, Petrino’s future is still bright. A fight against Ryan Spann could be an intriguing next step for him.
Jonathan Martinez faced the legend Jose Aldo and learned a tough lesson. Aldo, rolling back the years, delivered a masterclass. For Martinez, it’s back to the drawing board, but a fight against Mario Bautista could be an exciting way to bounce back.
Steve Erceg found out firsthand what it’s like to face a championship-caliber opponent in Alexandre Pantoja. Despite a valiant effort, Pantoja’s experience was just too much. Erceg shouldn’t be disheartened, though. A bout with either Amir Albazi or Kai Kara-France could reignite his championship aspirations.
So, there you have it. UFC 301 was a rollercoaster of emotions, with veterans teaching lessons and newcomers learning them. The path forward for those who fell short is filled with potential matchups that could either make or break their climb back to the top. Only time will tell how they’ll bounce back.