How Aussie rising star Steve Erceg plans to be the ultimate villain in Brazil – with fight against flyweight king Alexandre Pantoja confirmed for UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro on May 5
- Steve Erceg has a chance to become Australia’s third UFC champion
- Will have to beat the Brazilian Alexandre Pantoja in Rio de Janeiro
- Erceg said, “People will want to kill me” if he defeats his hometown hero
Australian UFC rising star Steve Erceg will soon be public enemy number one in Brazil after his fight against flyweight king Alexandre Pantoja was confirmed for UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro on May 5.
Pantoja, 33, has been dubbed ‘The Cannibal’ – and he will be out for blood on home soil for his adoring fans.
Erceg is quickly developing a fearsome reputation in the Octagon – and the man they call ‘Astro Boy’ – who in the eyes of some fans is also a dead ringer for The Office’s Michael Scott – will relish the underdog tag.
When he orchestrates a heist in Rio de Janeiro, Erceg – who has tasted defeat just once in 13 MMA fights – becomes Australia’s third UFC champion, after Robert Whittaker and Alexander Volkanovski.
The Perth-born star is currently ranked number 10 in the flyweight division and is well aware that a torrid reception awaits in South America.
Australian UFC star Steve Erceg (pictured left) will soon be public enemy number one in Brazil after his fight against Alexandre Pantoja was confirmed for UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro on May 5
Pantoja, 33, has been dubbed ‘The Cannibal’ – and he’ll be out for blood on home soil for his adoring fans
Steve Erceg is a dead ringer for The Office’s Michael Scott in the eyes of some UFC fans (actor Steve Carell is pictured)
“People are going to want to kill me… that’s how this is going to go,” he said Fox sports.
“I’m coming to beat the champion in his hometown… the crowd will tell me I’m going to die.
“Same as after, if I have that belt, security will have to lead me away because they (the crowd) will throw bottles at me.
“I have to get on a plane and get out of there quickly.”
And in typical Australian fashion, Erceg revealed he was eating some KFC – a three-piece box and a chicken and popcorn – when the fight wrapped up earlier this week.
Erceg is 3-0 in his UFC career since his debut last June, impressively defeating David Dvorak, Alessandro Costa and Matt Schnell over the past nine months.
His most recent fight was a one-punch knockout of American star Schnell in Las Vegas.
Pantoja has won his last five fights, with his last defeat coming against Askar Askarov in July 2020.