Australia’s next UFC title challenger Steve Erceg said there was no hesitation in accepting a fight with Alexandre Pantoja in his opponent’s native Brazil at UFC 301.
Erceg will look to become the third Australian to taste UFC gold when he takes on the flyweight champion in Rio De Janeiro on May 4 (Sun. May 5 in Australia).
Currently ranked 10th in the division and with only three UFC fights under his belt, it’s been a rapid and somewhat surprising rise for the 27-year-old from Perth.
MORE: All upcoming bouts for Aussie and Kiwi UFC fighters
Erceg, however, said while he’d ideally have liked more time to prepare, having last fought earlier in March, it was an easy decision to take the fight.
“I feel like I’ve made a career of saying yes to anybody, anywhere, anytime and I’m willing to back myself for this one,” Erceg told Sporting News.
“In a perfect world, of course, you’d like maybe 12 weeks or something to that degree just to watch tape, technically prepare for certain things, change some stuff in your game and then eight weeks out you really push hard.
“I know I’ve put in a lot of work for a long time, I know what I’m capable of and I’m excited to show it.”
Erceg’s impending title shot wasn’t welcomed by everyone, though, with Muhammad Mokaev, currently ranked above him, voicing his displeasure on social media.
Tf UFC just done?
— Muhammad Mokaev (@muhammadmokaev) March 15, 2024
I have second active winning streak in MMA flyweight history!
InshaAllah I will take this belt soon!
I have more finishes in the UFC than Ercegs fights mate
— Muhammad Mokaev (@muhammadmokaev) March 15, 2024
The Aussie said getting the Pantoja bout was particularly satisfying after Mokaev had attempted to “big dog” him at a recent event.
“I saw Muhammad Mokaev’s post. He was trying to big dog me at the last fight night which was quite fun,” Erceg said.
“I would have loved to see his reaction when he saw it live, that would have been great.
“He was just saying stuff like, ‘No wrestling in Australia, wrestling very bad in Australia. You’re quite old, you’re old man.’
“It was quite fun, I enjoyed myself. I don’t really have that many people trying to do it to me, not potential competitors anyway, it makes me excited.
“It’s a fight I definitely want and I can’t wait to punch that guy.”
Before he can get the chance to do that, “Astro Boy” has to dethrone Pantajo.
Unbeaten in five fights in the competitive, 125-pound division, Pantoja will be looking to make a statement in his hometown, but Erceg believes that could work against him.
“I imagine, especially being in Brazil, he’s going to come out really hard, really fast, throw some wild haymakers to get to a takedown and, ideally for him, he’ll get me down, take my back and finish me in the first round, I think that’s his ideal situation,” Erceg said.
“Obviously I want to finish him in his hometown. Perfect world for me would be he comes in swinging, I make him miss with angles and I start touching him on the chin, he eventually falls down and we win like that.
“I’m prepared and I imagine he’s prepared to go five rounds. I think that I’m technically, especially on the feet, too good for him.
“I’m going to make him miss and that sort of thing and I think it’s going to be a long night for him.”
Erceg fought his way into championship contention with a one-shot knockout of the ninth-ranked Matt Schnell earlier this month.
— JustTheFights2 (@JustTheFights2) March 2, 2024
In attendance that night at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas was actor Tom Hardy.
“I saw him as I was leaving the cage and I didn’t know he was there,” Erceg recalled.
“I walked past him and I looked over and he was there, like, ‘Oh crap, that’s Tom Hardy, that’s pretty cool.’ And I kept walking and didn’t think anything of it.
“Then I’m at the back and the guys at the UFC said, ‘Tom Hardy wants to meet you.’
“I go over, I meet him and he goes, ‘Hey, Steve, great knockout. I just wanted to let you know that I wasn’t snubbing you or anything, I didn’t mean to not say hello. I was busy, I had to do something, so just wanted to make sure that you knew, good performance and sorry.’
“I was like, 'You don’t have to apologise to me, you’re Tom Hardy, you can do whatever you like.'
“It was quite cool to meet somebody at that level of fame and still a very nice human.”