UFC 301 predictions: Three unanimous picks in Rio de Janeiro

The UFC is back in Brazil, the flyweight title is on the line at the top of the bill.

UFC 301 (pay-per-view/ESPN/ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

Get pick results from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, as well as additional analysis, below.

Caio Borralho vs. Paul Craig

Records: Borralho (15-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC), Craig (17-7-1 MMA, 9-7-1 UFC)
Past five: Borralho 5-0, Craig 2-3
Division: Middleweight
Rankings: Borralho No. 15
Odds (as of 05.03.24): Borralho -650, Craig +470
Junkie pick results: Borralho 11, Craig 0

Michel Pereira vs. Ihor Potieria

Records: Pereira (30-11 MMA, 8-2 UFC), Potieria (21-5 MMA, 2-3 UFC)
Past five: Pereira 5-0, Potieria 2-3
Division: Middleweight
Rankings: None
Odds (as of 05.03.24): Pereira -600, Potieria +455
Junkie pick results: Pereira 11, Potieria 0

Vitor Petrino vs. Anthony Smith

Records: Petrino (11-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC), Smith (37-19 MMA, 12-9 UFC)
Past five: Petrino 5-0, Smith 2-3
Division: Light heavyweight
Rankings: Smith No. 12, Petrino honorable mention
Odds (as of 05.03.24): Petrino -575, Smith +425
Junkie pick results: Petrino 11, Smith 0

Jose Aldo vs. Jonathan Martinez

Records: Aldo (31-8 MMA, 13-7 UFC), Martinez (19-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC)
Past five: Aldo 3-2, Martinez 5-0
Division: Bantamweight
Rankings: Martinez honorable mention
Odds (as of 05.03.24): Aldo +125, Martinez -150
Junkie pick results: Martinez 6, Aldo 5

Alexandre Pantoja vs. Steve Erceg

Records: Pantoja (27-5 MMA, 11-3 UFC), Erceg (12-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC)
Past five: Pantoja 5-0, Erceg 5-0
Division: Flyweight
Rankings: Pantoja No. 2, No. 14 pound-for pound; Erceg No. 13
Odds (as of 05.03.24): Pantoja -185, Erceg +155
Junkie pick results: Pantoja 9, Erceg 2

Check out all the main card picks below.

UFC 301 main card picks

	Pantoja vs. Erceg	Aldo vs. Martinez	Petrino vs. Smith	Pereira vs. Potieria	Borralho vs. Craig
MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 71-40	Pantoja (67%)	Aldo (51%)	Petrino (82%)	Pereira (92%)	Borralho (81%)
Mike Bohn @MikeBohn 76-35 2014 Champion	Pantoja	Aldo	Petrino	Pereira	Borralho
Nolan King @mma_kings 72-39 2023 Champion	Pantoja	Aldo	Petrino	Pereira	Borralho
Ken Hathaway @1khathaway 71-40 2018, 2022 Champion	Pantoja	Aldo	Petrino	Pereira	Borralho
Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 71-40	Pantoja	Aldo	Petrino	Pereira	Borralho
Matthew Wells @MrMWells 68-43	Erceg	Martinez	Petrino	Pereira	Borralho
Matt Erickson @MattE 68-43	Pantoja	Martinez	Petrino	Pereira	Borralho
Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 68-43	Erceg	Martinez	Petrino	Pereira	Borralho
Simon Samano @SJSamano 66-45	Pantoja	Aldo	Petrino	Pereira	Borralho
Brian Garcia @thegoze 61-50 2017 Champion	Pantoja	Martinez	Petrino	Pereira	Borralho
Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 58-53	Pantoja	Martinez	Petrino	Pereira	Borralho
George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 52-59	Pantoja	Martinez	Petrino	Pereira	Borralho

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 301.