While he might have been viewed as an unlikely title challenger in just his fourth Octagon appearance, Steve Erceg proved that he belonged on that stage this past May.
The 29-year-old Australian gave Alexandre Pantoja all he could handle in the UFC 301 headliner, ultimately dropping a competitive unanimous decision to the reigning flyweight champion in Rio de Janeiro.
“Showed people that, despite the apparent pressure, I’m not going to wilt,” Erceg recently told the New York Post. “Although it looked too soon and all that nonsense, it probably wasn’t. I’m going to be a contender and then, eventually, champion one day.”
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Erceg will return to action for the first time since then when he meets Kai Kara-France in the UFC 305 co-main event on Saturday at RAC Arena in Perth. A victory over another top contender could put “Astro Boy” right back into the middle of the title discussion, but he’s taking a realistic view on his standing in the flyweight division.
“The division is looking pretty stacked at the moment. There’s every opportunity for somebody to come in there and steal it before I get there,” Erceg said. “I think likely [if] I beat Kai, I have to fight once or twice more to get a title shot again.”
However, there are goals beyond winning a UFC title that appeal to Erceg. And to get to where he wants to be, that means taking on all comers.
“I want to be the toughest guy in the division, not just the champion,” Erceg said. “Champion, it’s the main goal, but it means nothing if you’ve dodged everybody. When people look at the flyweight division, like, ‘Oh, Steve’s undoubtedly the best fighter in that division.’ There’s not, ‘Oh, but Amir Albazi,’ none of that crap. I’ve beaten them all, I’m the guy. I want to fight everybody and prove that.”
