The Real Winners and Losers From UFC 301 | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

The UFC was back on our screens on Saturday night with the under-the-radar UFC 301 card out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

As expected, the line-up was loaded with top Brazilian talent.

In the main event, reigning flyweight champ Alexandre Pantoja sought the first defense of his title reign, taking on streaking Australian contender Steve Erceg. Pantoja ultimately retained the title with a unanimous decision, but the underdog Erceg gave him everything he could handle.

Co-headlining honours for the card went to Brazilian legend Jose Aldo, who returned from an almost two-year layoff on home turf. The so-called "King of Rio" was welcomed back to the Octagon by No. 12 bantamweight contender Jonathan Martinez, whom he defeated with a masterful unanimous decision.

The middle bout of the main card was contested at light heavyweight, where No. 10 contender Anthony Smith looked to slow the rise of unranked Brazilian finisher Vitor Petrino. Smith did so in style, tapping his opponent with a choke inside a round.

The main card was kicked off by back-to-back middleweight fights. First up, fast-rising Brazilian Caio Borralho scored a highlight reel knockout win against Paul Craig, earning a spot in the rankings in the process. Then, Brazilian action fighter Michel Pereira delivered one of the most entertaining performances of his career en route to a first-round submission of Ihor Potieria.

It may not have been the blockbuster UFC 300 was, but it was a great night of viewing, and a career-changing night for many fighters on the card.

Scroll on for the real winners and losers of the night.