Steve Erceg can’t wait to share the stage at UFC 301 with one of many best featherweights of all time — Jose Aldo.
On Saturday, Might 4, UFC Corridor of Famer returns to the Octagon for the primary time in practically two years when the promotion heads again to his dwelling nation for a loaded evening of fights at Jeunesse Area in Rio de Janeiro. Moving into the co-main occasion highlight, ‘Junior’ will sq. off with streaking bantamweight standout Jonathan Martinez.
Talking with Andrew Whitelaw in a LowKick MMA unique interview, Steve Erceg — who headlines UFC 301 reverse reigning and defending flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja — is thrilled concerning the alternative to share MMA’s largest stage with one of many best pound-for-pound fighters the game has ever seen.
“He’s certainly one of my favourite fighters of all time,” Erceg mentioned of Aldo. “My coach was an enormous leg kicker and Jose Aldo’s kicks to the leg are among the finest you’ll see. I’m an enormous fan of his and I perceive that he most likely received’t be an enormous fan of mine on the time, but it surely’s tremendous cool to struggle on a card with him and for Brazil. The ‘King of Rio’ is coming again. How are you going to not be excited?”
Steve Erceg breaks down his unlikely title struggle with ‘the cannibal’ at UFC 301
Simply three fights into his run with the promotion, Steve Erceg will struggle for his first world title when he meets the flyweight division’s high canine, Alexandre Pantoja, within the UFC 301 headliner.
Pantoja goes into his newest protection with an total report of 27-5 with eight of his wins coming by means of knockout and one other 10 by way of submission. Recognizing the well-roundedness of his opponent, Erceg is aware of that he’s in for a tricky take a look at, however is undeniably excited for the chance to indicate up and present out towards one of the best of one of the best.
“He’s excellent. Clearly, he’s a world champion,” Erceg mentioned. “His floor recreation is his finest asset. He’s a black belt in jiu-jitsu. He’s nice off the again and he’s quite a bit stronger than I believe individuals give him credit score for. There are positions the place his opponent will get underhooks and also you count on them to make use of that to rise up, however they will’t appear to seek out an avenue to maneuver.
“The opposite asset I suppose could be his chin. He does quite a lot of issues fallacious on the ft, however he will get away with it due to his chin. He’s an amazing fighter. He’s robust. I’m not gonna simply run over him. It’s going to be a really onerous well-fought struggle and we’re going to see who one of the best man is.”
As for the way Erceg plans on leaving Brazil with UFC gold wrapped round his waist, ‘AstroBoy’ believes it should come all the way down to controlling the tempo and taking away alternatives for the champ to collect himself mid-fight.
“If I let him dictate the tempo, that’s unhealthy for me,” Erceg added. “I’ve to make it possible for I take it out of his realm. He does burst actually onerous when he’s going, however he does want these rests to get his breath again and proceed on with the struggle. If I can take these rests away, I believe it’s going to be a foul evening for him.”
At the moment, Pantoja is a sizeable favourite going into the scrap, sitting at -250 on a majority of sportsbooks. An comprehensible spot contemplating he holds victories over among the largest names to come back by means of 125, together with Manel Kape, Brandon Royval, Alex Perez, and former flyweight titleholder Brandon Moreno on two separate events.
“He’s crushed quite a lot of guys who I believed have been extra proficient, that’s for certain. … He’s positively received some good genetics,” Erceg concluded.
Watch the total unique interview with Steve Erceg under:
