Alexandre Pantoja to defend flyweight title in native Brazil against Steve Erceg

Alexandre Pantoja has waited a long time to headline a pay-per-view card on his native soil, and he wants it known that everyone is welcome in Brazil.

“I want to say to all the fans to respect the gringos that are here because Brazil’s a good place with very good people,” Pantoja said in a bit of mixed messaging. “We’re very nice to everyone who comes to (our) country.”

The welcome mat extends only so far, though, with the flyweight champion comparing himself to a cannibal in how he will treat Australia’s Steve Erceg on Saturday night in UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro.

A Brazilian fighter is in every match on this card.

Pantoja (27-5) is a minus-185 favorite, according to BetMGM, which means a $100 bet pays $54.05 if he’s successful. Even Erceg (12-1) said it’s not the dream matchup many envisioned for the main event, but Pantoja already has beaten many others in the division to dwindle the options.

Very good!（5431）