Steve Erceg knows what it’s like to stand on the cusp of UFC greatness and what it’s like to watch it slip away.
After a title fight, three losses in a row and questions about whether he would ever return to wrestling, the Western Australian has regained his confidence and career.
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Now, two wins in his resurgence, another high-profile performance against Ramazonbek Temirov in Abu Dhabi on Sunday could move him a step closer to a second shot at UFC gold.
Erceg comes into the fight with a professional record of 14 wins and four losses, having scored back-to-back unanimous decision wins over Tim Elliott in front of friends and family in Perth and Ode Osborne.
These victories came after the most difficult period of his career.
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO CITY – MARCH 29: Steve Erceg of Australia reacts after his decision loss to Brandon Moreno of Mexico in a flyweight bout during UFC Fight Night at CDMX Arena on March 29, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)Source: Getty Images
After a courageous five-round title fight against Alexander Pantoja, Erceg suffered back-to-back losses to Kai Kara-France and Brandon Moreno, leaving many to wonder if the Australian’s rapid rise to the top of the flyweight division had stalled.
Instead, the 30-year-old emerged from adversity with a fresh outlook and renewed confidence.
Speaking to Foxsports.com.au, Erceg said he is not focused on demanding another title chance or trying to predict when it might come.
Instead, his mission is simple – to make him impossible to ignore.
“I’m focused on putting together an undeniable body of work, just fighting all the top guys in a row and then being undeniable,” Erceg said.
This is thinking that comes from experience.
The most important lessons were learned not from winning, but from fighting the best fighters in the world in the Octagon.
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Looking back on his title fight and subsequent fights against Pantoja and Moreno, Erceg admits that he initially viewed the division’s elite differently than he would any other contender.
“I looked at Pantoja and Moreno as people I had watched and looked up to for a long time… almost went into a rage.”
This feeling quickly disappeared as soon as the cage door closed.
“To be there and experience it and realize, ‘Wait, they’re just normal people… There’s absolutely no reason why it couldn’t be me.’
Although the defeats that followed were painful, Erceg believes that they ultimately accelerated his development far more than another victory could have done.
External criticism came quickly, but internally his faith never faded.
“Losing hurts, but I think you learn and grow a lot from it,” Erceg said.
“So I’ve definitely become a more resilient person because of this experience.”
Erceg says that rather than proving critics wrong, motivation comes from the affirmation of faith shown by those closest to him.
“It’s not so much about proving people wrong, it’s about proving you’re right and you’re right.”
“No matter what you do, there will be people who will ignore you or hate you… I just need to believe in the people around me.”
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With his confidence restored and back-to-back wins under his belt, attention naturally turns to how close he might be to another championship opportunity.
The flyweight division is arguably deeper than ever, with champion Joshua Wang joined by the likes of former champion Pantoja, Brandon Royval and Manel Kape vying for a position at the top of the rankings.
Erceg knows that the path back will not be easy.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 2: Steve Erceg of Australia poses for a portrait after his victory during UFC Fight Night at UFC APEX on March 2, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“Honestly, I think it could be around three or four matches, just because the division is so interesting right now.”
“There are a lot of interesting matches at the top of the division.”
“I understand it could be two parts with strong performances and the right schedule and everything, but it could be seven or eight. You never know,” Erceg said.
While he’s not looking too far ahead, there is one name that already stands out.
Erceg, fresh off an impressive submission win over Brandon Royval over Loneair Kavanagh at UFC 329, believes the American represents the ideal next challenge as he continues to climb up the rankings.
“I’d like to fight Royval.”
“Royval got a really good win. He looked good and this is the match I’ve been waiting for forever.”
“Royval had a really good win… he looked good.”Source: FOX SPORTS
Should such an opportunity arise, Erceg already knows exactly where he would like it to happen.
A return to Perth would be his first choice, especially with the UFC planning to hold another pay-per-view in Western Australia in 2027. But he is realistic enough to understand that these discussions may not be in his control.
“Yes, of course. I would like it to be in Perth,” Erceg said.
“But I understand that he clearly has a higher ranking than me. So I think he can dictate where and when and all the details.”
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“Any chance I have to fight in Perth, I’ll take it with both hands.”
Before any talk of Royval or another title fight becomes a reality, Erceg must first defeat Ramazonbek Temirov, which will be the biggest test of his resurgence.
Temirov comes into Sunday’s fight with genuine knockout power and has quickly established himself as one of the division’s most dangerous finishers.
Instead of reinventing his approach, Erceg focused on honing the weapons that had already taken him to the highest level.
“I focused on the obvious defensive responsibility,” Erceg said.
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“This guy hits really hard and covers the distance really fast. That’s how I’ll fight with his weapon.”
Mentally, the Australian simplified everything.
Instead of overanalyzing all possible scenarios, he trusts the instincts developed through years of competition.
“You know how to fight, so let’s just go out and fight.”
“It’s like this is what you do. This is what you’ve been doing your whole life.”
“Just don’t think too much and analyze mistakes. It’s like you’re about to get hit and something’s going to happen.”
That philosophy extended to his training.
Erceg believes that rather than radically changing your style for one opponent, subtle adjustments are enough.
“One thing that changed for me was the realization that you can’t change everything about your game for a specific opponent.”
“So you make small changes, but you fight in a certain way.”
“Yes, I’ve made changes, but I’m not changing anything. It’s just little things that help optimize my skill set over his, but basically everything is the same.”
The confidence that once led Erceg to fight for the world title has also returned.
Good results in training and consecutive victories have strengthened his belief that he belongs to the elite of the division.
“Honestly, I think that’s how I trained. Like sparring. And again, I said how fit I feel.”
RIO DE JANEIRO, RJ – MAY 5: (LR) Steve Erceg punches Alexander Pantoja in their flyweight title bout during UFC 301 at Farmasi Arena on May 5, 2024 in Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. (Photo by Leandro Bernardes/PxImages/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“I just feel like I can ride anyone. That’s how I feel. It’s like no one can go three rounds, five rounds, etc. with me.”
And if all goes according to plan, Erceg doesn’t expect Sunday’s fight to go to the judges.
“I don’t have any specific thoughts, but in the third round, I think I’ll tire him out a lot.”
“I’m going to get him out of there. I just don’t know how.”
However, besides the stress of the battle week, there is one thing that occupies Erceg’s thoughts more than Temirov.
Like most weight-cutting fighters, the countdown on the scale also means counting down to your first proper meal.
“I’m looking forward to posting weigh-in meals.”
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“So I look at what I’m going to eat and stuff throughout the week and look at different recipes.”
“I can’t wait to weigh myself on Friday morning. So I can’t wait for my first proper meal after that.”
And in typical Erceg fashion, he couldn’t resist one last joke.
“At the moment, the fighting seems secondary to the food, but it changes quite quickly.”