Steve Erceg narrowly missed becoming the flyweight champion in his fourth UFC fight, with late takedowns in the fifth round that were quickly reversed, likely costing him the title.
Steve Erceg was on the verge of being crowned the flyweight champ in his fourth UFC bout. However, he’s left to dwell on some unfortunate choices that probably cost him the title.
The Aussie pushed Alexandre Pantoja to the brink in the UFC 301 main event. But, a couple of last-minute takedowns in the fifth round, which were quickly reversed, played a significant role in the outcome.
Dave Tirelli, one of the judges, bafflingly scored the fight 49-46 for Pantoja. The other two officials, Fabio Alves and Sal D’Amato, had the main event tied going into the final round.
Pantoja’s knack for countering Erceg’s takedowns, especially after landing on top and spending nearly two minutes there, likely tipped the scales on the scorecards. After the fight, Erceg was steeped in disappointment, contemplating what cost him the match.
“I thought that if I could win the last round at least, I’d give myself a chance,” Erceg confessed in his post-fight interview. “I just blew it.”
Erceg also touched on a nail-biting third round that didn’t reflect that way on the scorecards. All three judges gave Pantoja the nod.
Similarly, Pantoja’s ability to execute the takedown and neutralize Erceg’s success on his feet seemed to impress the judges. Erceg felt he still inflicted enough damage to win that round, but that’s not how the fight unfolded.
“I thought the third [round], I think it was the third that was close enough, like he got me down a couple times but there was no real control, and I got up and beat him on the feet,” Erceg reflected.
The takedowns and subsequent reversals might haunt Erceg. Despite this, he still put up an impressive fight in his first title match, having debuted in the UFC less than a year ago. He seemed taken aback that Pantoja consistently countered him on the ground, where he usually inflicts damage.
“I was surprised how well he could scramble,” Erceg admitted. “I usually beat guys there. It was a shock.”
In the end, Erceg returns to Australia with his first UFC defeat, ending his 11-fight winning streak. However, his valiant effort in defeat earned him a lot of respect. Given his performance, Erceg won’t drop too far down the ladder. A couple more impressive victories could earn him another shot at gold.