UFC 301: Pantoja vs Erceg Prelim Results | Winner Interviews, Highlights And More From Rio de Janeiro

It was “Brazil vs. The World” on Saturday at UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro, and the home team got out to a solid lead through the preliminary card slate.

Led by standout efforts from Alessandro Costa, Mauricio Ruffy, and Iasmin Lucindo, and punctuated by a second-round stoppage win from Joanderson Brito, Brazilians posted a 6-2 mark to start the evening, getting the partisan crowd at Farmasi Arena worked into a lather as the action shifted to the pay-per-view main card.

Here’s a look at how things went down in the UFC 301 prelims.

UFC 301: Pantoja vs Erceg Results
Main Event: Alexandre Pantoja defeats Steve Erceg by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46)
Co-Main Event: José Aldo defeats Jonathan Martinez by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Anthony Smith defeats Vitor Petrino by submission (guillotine choke) at 2:00 of Round 1
Michel Pereira defeats Ihor Potieria by submission (guillotine choke) at 0:54 of Round 1
Caio Borralho defeats Paul Craig by KO (strikes) at 2:10 of Round 2
Joanderson Brito defeats Jack Shore by TKO (leg kicks) at 3:35 of Round 2
Iasmin Lucindo defeats Karolina Kowalkiewicz by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Myktybek Orolbai defeats Elves Brener by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
Drakkar Klose defeats Joaquim Silva by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Mauricio Ruffy defeats Jamie Mullarkey by TKO (strikes) at 4:42 of Round 1
Dione Barbosa defeats Ernesta Kareckaitė by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Ismael Bonfim defeats Vinc Pichel by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Alessandro Costa defeats Kevin Borjas by TKO (strikes) at 1:35 of Round 2

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UFC 301: Pantoja vs Erceg Prelim Results

Alessandro Costa defeats Kevin Borjas by TKO (strikes) at 1:35 of Round 2
Alessandro Costa got the night off to an electric start for the home team, stinging Kevin Borjas late in the first round before cutting him down in the second to give Brazil their first victory of the night.

Alessandro Costa Post-Fight Interview | UFC 301

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Alessandro Costa Post-Fight Interview | UFC 301

After a largely even opening frame, Costa hurt Borjas with a sharp jab in the closing moments, and came out of the corner looking to pick up where he left off to start the second. A heavy low kick clearly hurt Borjas and from there, “Nono” did not let off the gas, attacking and punishing the recent Dana White’s Contender Series grad until the referee was forced to step in.

Costa entered with a deceptive 1-2 mark in the UFC, losing to title challenger Steve Erceg and contender Amir Albazi. He showed on Saturday night that he’s a dangerous threat in the division and someone to watch closely going forward.

Ismael Bonfim defeats Vinc Pichel by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Ismael Bonfim is now 2-0 in the UFC when fighting at Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro after registering a decisive win over veteran Vinc Pichel on the UFC 301 early prelims.

Last January, Bonfim won his debut in spectacular fashion, stopping Terrance McKinney at UFC 283. Saturday night, he was the quicker, more active fighter throughout his clash with Pichel, beating up his body and staggering the TUF Live alum multiple times.

Ismael Bonfim Post-Fight Interview | UFC 301

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Ismael Bonfim Post-Fight Interview | UFC 301

Though he was unable to put the durable Pichel away, this was an outstanding bounce-back effort from Bonfim, who lost to Benoit Saint-Denis in his last appearance. Now 20-4 overall for his career, Bonfim continues to show he’s very much in the thick of things in the talent-rich lightweight division.

(19-4, fighting out of Brasília, Brazil) clashes with Vinc Pichel (14-3, fighting out of Englewood, CO by way of Simi Valley, CA) in a lightweight battle

Order the PPV | Official Scorecards

Dione Barbosa defeats Ernesta Kareckaite by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Newcomers Ernesta Kareckaitė and Dione Barbosa shared the Octagon for their joint debuts on Saturday, combining for a competitive 15-minute contest in the flyweight division.

Official Scorecards

Dione Barbosa Post-Fight Interview | UFC 301

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Dione Barbosa Post-Fight Interview | UFC 301

Barbosa appeared primed to finish quickly, taking Kareckaite’s back with her arm laced under the chin in the early moments of the first, but the Lithuanian defended well and endured to the end of the frame. Things got closer between the two in the second before Kareckaite showed the superior gas tank and effectiveness in the third.

The judges were called upon to render a verdict and they were unanimous in how they saw things, with Barbosa coming away victorious, giving Brazilians a third straight win to begin the night.

Mauricio Ruffy defeats Jamie Mullarkey by TKO (strikes) at 4:42 of Round 1
Welcome to the UFC, Mauricio Ruffy!

A member of last season’s Dana White’s Contender Series graduating class, Ruffy turned in a breathtaking effort in his first foray into the Octagon, piecing up and putting away Australian veteran Jamie Mullarkey in the opening round. The finish came late in the first, as Ruffy picked his shots and poured it down the stretch.

Mauricio Ruffy Post-Fight Interview | UFC 301

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Mauricio Ruffy Post-Fight Interview | UFC 301

That’s now five straight wins for the 30-year-old member of the Fighting Nerds squad, who instantly showed he’s a person of interest in the 155-pound weight class going forward. What a showing for the newcomer from Coruripe!

Order the PPV | Official Scorecards

Drakkar Klose defeats Joaquim Silva by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Saturday’s televised prelims opened in the lightweight division with a clash between tenured veterans Drakkar Klose and Joaquim Silva, with the former becoming the first non-Brazilian to garner a victory at UFC 301.

Drakkar Klose Post-Fight Interview | UFC 301

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Drakkar Klose Post-Fight Interview | UFC 301

Klose came out sharp, pressuring Silva and connecting with steady offensive output in tight. Silva landed the biggest individual blow of the second while Klose remained in close quarters, grinding on his muscular foe. In the third, Silva was the fresher of the two, connecting with a smattering of big shots and threatening with a deep guillotine as the duo battled through to the horn.

When the scorecards were totalled, it was Klose that came out ahead, with all three judges awarding him two rounds. That’s four straight victories for the MMA Lab representative, who moved to 15-2-1 with the win.

Myktybek Orolbai defeats Elves Brener by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
Myktybek Orolbai and Elves Brener engaged in a 15-minute battle of attrition, with a third-round point deduction potentially looming large at the end of the fight.

Myktybek Orolbai Post-Fight Interview | UFC 301

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Myktybek Orolbai Post-Fight Interview | UFC 301

Orolbai dominated early, taking the fight to Brener in every phase, pushing a torrid pace and stinging the Brazilian on multiple occasions. But he continued to wrestle rather than throw his hands, opening the door for Brener to gain some momentum at the end of the second and come out hot to start the third.

Orolbai was docked a point in the third for grabbing the fence in order to defend a takedown, but still did more than enough to earn a clean sweep of the scorecards to secure his second straight UFC victory. Now 13-1-1 overall, the 26-year-old from Kyrgyzstan continues to impress and establish himself as an ascending talent in the lightweight ranks.

Iasmin Lucindo defeats Karolina Kowalkiewicz by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Brazilian youngster Iasmin Lucindo registered the biggest win of her career towards the end of Saturday’s prelim, out-striking Polish veteran Karolina Kowalkiewicz to earn her third straight UFC win.

Iasmin Lucindo Post-Fight Interview | UFC 301

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Iasmin Lucindo Post-Fight Interview | UFC 301

The 22-year-old Lucindo hurt Kowalkiewicz in the opening frame, connecting with a left hook that rocked the former title challenger to her core. She remained a step ahead for the remainder of the fight, her hand speed and overall physical advantages proving to be too much for Kowalkiewicz to overcome.

With a clean sweep of the scorecards, Lucindo advanced to 3-1 inside the Octagon and 16-5 overall while winning 10 of her last 11 and continuing to show promise each time out. This was an excellent performance in a big spot for the ascending prospect.

Joanderson Brito defeats Jack Shore by TKO (leg kicks) at 3:35 of Round 2
Joanderson Brito closed out the prelims with a leg kick stoppage after opening up Jack Shore’s left shin.

From the outset, the Dana White’s Contender Series graduate was on the low kicks, targeting the Welshman’s lead leg with heavy, thudding kicks. In the second, one of the blows caused the leg to begin bleeding, and when the doctor was called in to examine the damage, the fight was halted.

Joanderson Brito Octagon Interview | UFC 301

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Joanderson Brito Octagon Interview | UFC 301

Brito has now won five straight for the dangerous Brazilian, who continues to inch closer to breaking into the Top 15 and facing the best the featherweight division has to offer. This was one-way traffic the whole way through, and a rare stoppage to wrap up the prelims.

Official Scorecards