Alexandre Pantoja poised to seize ‘King of Rio’ title if Jose Aldo steps down

After years of waiting, Alexandre Pantoja is finally getting the chance to fight in his hometown of Rio de Janeiro this Saturday as he defends his flyweight title in the main event of UFC 301 against Steve Erceg.

Pantoja, who last fought in Brazil in 2013 before joining the UFC, expressed his excitement about the opportunity to fight in Rio alongside legendary fighter Jose Aldo. He spoke about his admiration for Aldo and his desire to prove himself as the new “King of Rio.”

Having previously been a backup fighter for a title bout in Rio, Pantoja is now relishing the spotlight as he prepares to showcase his skills in front of his home crowd. Despite some criticism about the lack of star power in the UFC 301 card, Pantoja is eager to face the challenge presented by Erceg and show why he deserves to be the champion.

With a successful title defense already under his belt, Pantoja is confident in his abilities and ready to take on any opponent in his quest to solidify his reign as the flyweight champion. As he prepares to step into the octagon on Saturday, Pantoja is determined to give his all and make his hometown proud.

Fans can expect an electrifying fight as Pantoja looks to prove his worth and continue his impressive run in the UFC. Stay tuned for all the action as the flyweight champion returns home to defend his title in front of a passionate Rio de Janeiro crowd.