UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro was dominated by Brazilian fighters who went 10-3 on the card, with all 13 fights featuring local talent. The performance of the night bonuses were awarded to Mauricio Ruffy, Alessandro Costa, Michel Pereira, and Caio Borralho, as announced by UFC Senior Vice President David Shaw. Six fights ended in finishes, with notable performances by Anthony Smith and Joanderson Brito who did not receive bonuses despite their victories.
Mauricio Ruffy stood out with his precise striking and quick finish of Jamie Mularkey, drawing comparisons to Conor McGregor. Caio Borralho impressed with his knockout of veteran Paul Craig, showcasing power and patience in their middleweight bout. Alessandro Costa defeated Kevin Borjas with a relentless attack of leg kicks, establishing himself as a force in the men’s flyweight division. Michel Pereira’s dynamic performance against Ihor Potieria showcased his diverse skill set and entertainment value, leading to a first-round submission victory.
In the main card, Alexandre Pantoja defeated Steve Erceg via unanimous decision and Jose Aldo emerged victorious against Jonathan Martinez, also securing a unanimous decision win. Anthony Smith submitted Vitor Petrino with a guillotine choke in the first round, while Michel Pereira finished Ihor Potieria with a standing guillotine. Caio Borralho knocked out Paul Craig in the second round, calling out Jared Cannonier for a potential future fight.
Further down the card, Joanderson Brito earned a TKO victory over Jack Shore, Iasmin Lucindo defeated Karolina Kowalkiewicz, and Myktybek Orolbai secured a unanimous decision win over Elves Brener. Drakkar Klose also won via unanimous decision against Joaquim Silva, while Mauricio Ruffy, Dione Barbosa, Ismael Bonfim, and Alessandro Costa all emerged victorious in their respective fights on the early prelims.
With the success of Brazilian fighters at UFC 301, fans can expect to see more exciting matchups and potential contenders emerging from the talented pool of talent in the country. As the fighters continue to showcase their skills on the international stage, the future looks bright for Brazilian MMA and the continued success of local talent in the UFC.
