Steve Erceg believes he blew his probability to turn into the UFC flyweight champion on Saturday at UFC 301.
Erceg was combating Alexandre Pantoja in the principle occasion of the pay-per-view card in simply his fourth UFC combat. It was an unbelievable rise for Erceg to even combat for the belt, however he got here up simply quick towards Pantoja, and he believes he blew his probability.
“I actually thought if I may get him down I’d eat up the time on the bottom and make him much more drained,” Steve Erceg instructed FULL SEND MMA within the aftermath of UFC 301 (through MMAJunkie). “So I most likely would’ve performed the very same factor. Subsequent time I simply must be higher at is. I believed it may’ve been 2-2 or 3-1 for him. I knew it was shut within the third. I knew I used to be on the fourth. I fought to win the final spherical to place myself within the place that I give myself an opportunity. I blew it.”
Erceg shot a late takedown within the fifth spherical, and Pantoja ended up scrambling to get on prime, and rode out the spherical, which may have been the distinction. With Erceg leaving Brazil with out the belt, he says he’s devastated by his determination however vows to be again.
“I’m clearly devastated,” Erceg stated. “Regardless of the quick discover, or three fights within the UFC, I got here to win. I believed I may do it. I believed I used to be ending excessive, however he out-scrambled me. He did higher, and I’ll be again.”
Alexandre Pantoja Praises Steve Erceg
After UFC 301, Alexandre Pantoja heaped reward on Steve Erceg for a way robust he was.
Pantoja edged out a unanimous determination win to defeat Steve Erceg and defend his flyweight title for the second time. After the win, the Brazilian had nothing however type phrases to say to Erceg, however he believes he clearly gained the combat.
“I feel I clearly gained the primary three rounds of the combat,” Pantoja stated by a translator at his UFC 301 post-fight media scrum (through MMAFighting). “The fourth spherical may of been his. The fifth spherical was mine, so I positively assume it was 4-1. The man was very robust. It was what we stated. It is a man from Australia, very robust, that folks didn’t actually know, and he got here in there to die. He was ready to die and I feel that’s what it’s all about while you combat for the championship.”
With the win at UFC 301, Pantoja improved to 28-5 as a professional. As for what’s subsequent for him, he isn’t positive however Pantoja is aware of he possible will face him once more sooner or later.
“I actually wish to see him towards a top-five man on this division,” Pantoja stated of Steve Erceg. “I wish to see how he works out. I feel he’s going to achieve quite a lot of area on this division, however proper now I’m not serious about that. I don’t wish to take into consideration the fitness center or combating, I wish to take into consideration the seashore. … Perhaps tomorrow that adjustments, however for now that’s it.”
