Steve Erceg is set to make history by contending for the flyweight title in only his fourth UFC fight, all within a year of his debut in the promotion. For further details, click here.
Steve Erceg is set to make an extraordinary mark in history as he vies for the flyweight championship in only his fourth UFC fight, accomplishing this feat in under a year since his debut in the promotion.
The masthead indicates that the West Australian has been selected to participate in an extraordinary title fight main event against Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro on May 5th.
The bout is scheduled to occur a mere 11 months following his first appearance in the UFC.
Erceg's victory would mark a monumental achievement in the history of Australian combat sports, solidifying his place as only the third Australian to claim a UFC title, following in the footsteps of Robert Whittaker and Alexander Volkanovski.
Two weeks after delivering a stunning one-punch knockout to Matt Schnell in Las Vegas, Erceg has now received news of his opportunity to compete for the title.
The individual, who is 27 years old, was indulging in a festive three-piece meal and a generous portion of maxi popcorn chicken from KFC when he was informed about his unexpected opportunity to compete for the title.
He also owes his father an apology as a result of capturing the moment.
Erceg informed this masthead that he received a call and promptly stashed the KFC to avoid gaining excessive weight. Surprisingly, his father predicted the situation accurately.
He had a positive intuition for some unknown reason and believed I could secure the title fight. I jokingly referred to him as foolish.
After signing the contract, I was compelled to retract my actions and offer an apology.
Erceg had been anticipating the opportunity to face Brandon Moreno, the former two-time flyweight champion, in front of his hometown supporters in Perth later this year.
Instead, he will enter Farmasi Arena, facing Pantoja's fervent fans, who will be eagerly demanding his defeat.
He mentioned that he anticipates being booed and receiving death threats. He believes that after winning and obtaining the title, people will likely throw bottles and other objects at him as he exits.
I will promptly board a plane as I anticipate that they will seek to harm me following the altercation.
Pantoja has been victorious in his last five fights, and he claimed the flyweight championship in a remarkable Fight of the Night triumph against Moreno in July of last year. In December, he successfully defended his title against Brandon Royval, and he currently holds the 10th position on the UFC's pound-for-pound rankings.
He mentioned that his most remarkable quality is his perseverance. He possesses an unwavering determination and this is further reinforced by his strong chin and excellent cardiovascular endurance.
I have observed the numerous weaknesses he possesses. Despite his strengths, his flaws allow him to get away with unprofessional behavior in his actions.
He will deliver unpredictable punches and charge towards you. Although he has been hit hard before, his strong chin has allowed him to escape without serious consequences.
I believe I can consistently lead him into shots and outperform him both in terms of competition and technique.
Earlier this month, Pantoja expressed his contemplation of granting a title shot to a relatively obscure contender, drawing a parallel to the iconic moment when Apollo Creed bestowed the opportunity upon Rocky.
Erceg is more than willing to embrace the role of the underdog, asserting that his striking abilities will lead to an unexpected upset.
It is probable that the outcome will be death by a thousand cuts," he stated. "I can work him over for five rounds and win on points, but I also possess sufficient power to knock him out.
In my previous bout, you witnessed the outcome. A poor choice on his part could potentially result in a knockout.
During a conversation with this masthead one week prior to his debut in June, he made a commitment to secure the flyweight title within four matches.
He initially aimed for seven fights after securing consecutive decision wins in his first two bouts. However, he is now on the verge of fulfilling his initial promise.
Pantoja couldn't help but take notice when Erceg delivered a stunning knockout to Schnell a fortnight ago. Despite mistaking Erceg for Steve Carell, the champion's attention was undeniably captured.
Pantoja informed Canadian broadcaster Aaron Bronsteter last weekend that the individual from Australia possesses exceptional skills. Astonishingly, he bears a striking resemblance to the renowned actor Steve Carrell.
Schnell was defeated by me in the initial round, whereas he was knocked out by someone else in the subsequent round. I believe this outcome presents a favorable opportunity for the UFC.
Erceg asserts that such comparisons are not novel.
He stated that he receives Steve Carrell, Derek Zoolander, Aaron Rodgers, and Novak Djokovic as lookalikes. He believes that he receives a greater number of lookalikes than anyone else.
If one can achieve the title of UFC champion within a span of seven weeks, it is highly unlikely that they will make such errors.
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