Steve Erceg
Astroboy
Australia
No-shows Abu Dhabi co-main event
Erceg lost to Ramazan Temirov via TKO (punches) at 4:21 of Round 1 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Abu Dhabi.
ANALYSIS
It was widely assumed that the longer this fight went, the more it would favor Erceg. That may have indeed been the case, but we'll never find out because Steve spent the entirety of the opening frame serving as a punching bag for Temirov, eventually getting finished late in Round 1. Simply put, you can't be dominated to this extent in a pick 'em fight. Erceg is both talented and a well-rounded mixed martial artist, but he has legitimate durability issues and is now sporting a 2-4 mark in his past half-dozen bouts. Set to turn 31 years old in a couple days, it's possible, if not probable, we've already see the best Erceg has to offer inside the Octagon.
It was widely assumed that the longer this fight went, the more it would favor Erceg. That may have indeed been the case, but we'll never find out because Steve spent the entirety of the opening frame serving as a punching bag for Temirov, eventually getting finished late in Round 1. Simply put, you can't be dominated to this extent in a pick 'em fight. Erceg is both talented and a well-rounded mixed martial artist, but he has legitimate durability issues and is now sporting a 2-4 mark in his past half-dozen bouts. Set to turn 31 years old in a couple days, it's possible, if not probable, we've already see the best Erceg has to offer inside the Octagon.
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Temirov up next
Erceg will compete against Ramazan Temirov in a flyweight fight at UFC Abu Dhabi on July 25, according to Marcel Dorff of Heavy on Sports.
ANALYSIS
Erceg is attempting to improve his win streak from two to three. For the two wins, he narrowly escaped Ode Osbourne before logging a relatively tame comeback victory over Tim Elliott.
Erceg is attempting to improve his win streak from two to three. For the two wins, he narrowly escaped Ode Osbourne before logging a relatively tame comeback victory over Tim Elliott.
Second straight decision win
Erceg defeated Tim Elliott via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Perth, Australia.
ANALYSIS
It's a second straight fight in which Erceg started slowly before doing enough over the course of the final two rounds to earn the unanimous decision win. His struggles early in this one were the result of allowing two Elliott takedowns. He managed to remain upright the rest of the way, and it ended up being the difference in the result. Erceg closed with a 136-90 edge in significant strikes, including a whopping 65-24 mark in Round 3. The 30-year-old Aussie has stabilized things some of late, winning back-to-back bouts on the heels of a three-fight losing streak.
It's a second straight fight in which Erceg started slowly before doing enough over the course of the final two rounds to earn the unanimous decision win. His struggles early in this one were the result of allowing two Elliott takedowns. He managed to remain upright the rest of the way, and it ended up being the difference in the result. Erceg closed with a 136-90 edge in significant strikes, including a whopping 65-24 mark in Round 3. The 30-year-old Aussie has stabilized things some of late, winning back-to-back bouts on the heels of a three-fight losing streak.
Slated to face Elliot
Erceg will take on Tim Elliot in a flyweight bout at UFC Perth on May 2, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Erceg is coming off a win against Ode Osbourne that snapped a two-fight losing streak. He'll look to stack victories against an opponent in Elliot who's considerably more experienced in the UFC than he is, with 21 fights under his belt.
Erceg is coming off a win against Ode Osbourne that snapped a two-fight losing streak. He'll look to stack victories against an opponent in Elliot who's considerably more experienced in the UFC than he is, with 21 fights under his belt.
Escapes early trouble in win
Erceg defeated Ode Osbourne via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) at UFC Vegas 109 on Saturday.
ANALYSIS
Erceg is very fortunate here that he didn't come away with his fourth straight defeat. Osbourne was quicker and far more physical in Round 1, dominating the striking exchanges and finding multiple big shots that had Erceg on the ropes. He managed to weather the early storm, however, and out-pointed his opponent over a final 10 minutes that saw very little action. Erceg is incredibly technical, and that was the difference here, but his stock doesn't improve much after this shaky effort, especially considering he entered as roughly a (-400) betting favorite.
Erceg is very fortunate here that he didn't come away with his fourth straight defeat. Osbourne was quicker and far more physical in Round 1, dominating the striking exchanges and finding multiple big shots that had Erceg on the ropes. He managed to weather the early storm, however, and out-pointed his opponent over a final 10 minutes that saw very little action. Erceg is incredibly technical, and that was the difference here, but his stock doesn't improve much after this shaky effort, especially considering he entered as roughly a (-400) betting favorite.
Now facing Osbourne
Erceg will take on Ode Osbourne in a flyweight bout at UFC Vegas 109 on August 9, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Erceg was initially slated to face Hyun Sung Park at UFC Vegas 109, but Park has been moved to another fight, replacing Amir Albazi to face Tatsuro Taira. Now, Erceg will take on a fighter in Osborne who will be looking to stack victories and even his UFC record to an even 6-6 following a win over Luis Gurule back in April.
Erceg was initially slated to face Hyun Sung Park at UFC Vegas 109, but Park has been moved to another fight, replacing Amir Albazi to face Tatsuro Taira. Now, Erceg will take on a fighter in Osborne who will be looking to stack victories and even his UFC record to an even 6-6 following a win over Luis Gurule back in April.