The UFC announced last month that Steve Erceg will challenge current UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja at the main event of UFC 301 on 4 May 2024. Whilst the Australian star has fought only three times inside the Octagon, his next fight will be for the UFC flyweight title.
The Perth native began fighting in 2016. He first competed in the Australian circuit and won the Eternal MMA flyweight championship. After one successful title defence, Erceg took a 9-1 record to the United States. Erceg joined the UFC in 2022 but did not make his Octagon debut until one year later due to different issues.
Finally, he got his first taste of UFC action when he replaced Matt Schnell against David Dvorak at UFC 289. He won that bout via unanimous decision and earned Performance of the Night honours.
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Steve also won his next two fights, scoring another UD win over Alessandro Costa at UFC 295 and recording a one-punch knockout of Matt Schnell at UFC Fight Night 238, earning another Performance of the Night bonus. With the lack of top challengers for Pantoja, UFC matchmakers rewarded Erceg’s strong start in the UFC with a shot at the belt currently held by Pantoja.
“I thought that I could get [to the title] faster because I did have a ranked win. But yeah, I guess you still don’t expect it to be this fast. I’m happy that I thought I was the best in the world and I’m getting an opportunity very quickly to find out whether I actually am.”
Actually, Erceg has two wins over ranked opponents. Schnell is currently the 11th ranked flyweight in the UFC while Dvorak is the 14th rank 125-pound fighter in the promotion. His next foe, however, will be the best opponent he’s ever faced. And if he pulls off the upset, Erceg will be a UFC champion after only four fights. That would be impressive. But it’s easier said than done.