Join us for UFC 301: Pantoja vs. Erceg, broadcasting live from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, this Saturday. The action-packed card commences with the Early Prelims at 6:00 PM EST on ESPN+, followed by the Prelims at 8:00 PM EST on ESPN/ESPN+, and culminates in the Main Card PPV at 10:00 PM EST, exclusively on ESPN+.

 

 

 

UFC 301 Predictions & Betting Picks: Pantoja vs. Erceg - Saturday, 5/3

Witness the Flyweight Title showdown between "The Cannibal" Alexander Pantoja and rising star Steve Erceg in the main event, while former champion Jose Aldo returns in the co-main event against Jonathan Martinez, vying to reclaim his throne as the King of Rio.

Explore my latest UFC predictions and detailed matchup breakdowns for the entire fight card below, and don't hesitate to connect with me on Discord or Twitter at @MikeIannoneDFS. Let's dive into my top UFC 301 picks and strategies for Saturday's electrifying event!

*All of my UFC 301 predictions were made at DraftKings Sportsbook.

 

 

 

UFC 301 Best Bet - Alexandre Pantoja vs. Steve Erceg: Pantoja ITD +165

Erceg will probably be fighting for a title again sometime in the future, but right now, Pantoja is the better fighter. Erceg comes out fast, but I think he can’t sustain the pace, so later in the fight Pantoja will take over. I think Pantoja gets a submission in R3/4/5.

UFC 301 Prediction - Jose Aldo vs. Jonathan Martinez: Aldo ML +120

Jose Aldo is returning to his hometown crowd, so expect the crowd to be cheering anytime he does anything. Aldo has the power advantage and is probably giving up the volume and speed to Martinez, but I think Aldo is going to land enough heavy shots to win this fight. 

I don’t normally take into account who I think the judges will favor, but if this gets to the scorecards, anything close should go to Aldo.

 

 

 

UFC 301 Parlay - Pereira ITD + Orolbai ML: -110 Odds

Pereira is a massive favorite, but we can get him ITD at -280, which I think is a fair price. I’m not sure if he gets a KO or submission, but I think he gets the finish early. Orolbai has the skills to win the “minutes” of the fight, so I expect him to win this as long as he doesn’t get caught in a submission.

UFC 301 Best Bet At Long Odds: Barbosa By Submission +250

Dione Barbosa has the clear grappling advantage and, facing a fighter who has long limbs, I think she’ll eventually be able to lock up a submission. She’s finished 50% of her professional fights by submission and if she doesn’t lock one up here, it is hard to see her winning the fight.