Steve Erceg was once midway via a KFC meal when the telephone rang.
It was once his supervisor letting him know the UFC sought after the Perth product to combat Brazil’s Alexandre Pantoja for the flyweight international identify.
Erceg handiest has 3 fights within the UFC. Taking at the important Pantoja could be tough anyplace however doing so in Rio de Janerio, in entrance of 20,000 fanatics baying for his blood, ups the level of issue considerably.
However Erceg didn’t hesitate. He authorised the combat, completed the KFC and started working for the most important combat of his week, which is able to come on Sunday afternoon (AEST) at UFC 301.
The 27-year impaired is possibly Australia’s not possible UFC identify challenger however he has a quitness self assurance that’s served him neatly all over his meteoric stand and can end up an important if he’s to attain the disillusioned win over Pantoja.
“There’s a lot more media, a lot more of my ugly mug on posters and billboards, that takes some getting used to. But the face off, the fight itself, that’ll all be similar,” Erceg mentioned.
“Some of it comes from how hard I work, I’m in the gym constantly, I rarely take holidays and I’ve been doing that for a long time.
“And prefer maximum warring parties, I’m a modest bit delusional – I’ve some bizarre trust in myself that alternative population don’t have. It’s served me neatly up to now.
“If I lose my head I know my dad will put me back in my place. I have lost my head in the past and he’s been very quick to help me realise I’ve been an idiot.
“The entire population nonetheless manufacture amusing of me like they at all times have, identical to I do with them. Not anything’s modified with my close-knit public.”
Erceg shot to prominence with a thunderous knockout of Matt Schnell in March that’s helped catapult him towards a title bout.
He’s just the sixth Australian to fight for a UFC title and is aiming to join Robert Whittaker and Alex Volkanovski as one of the few fighters from these shores to win championship gold.
Erceg’s rapid rise – he made his UFC debut less than a year ago – has surprised even himself, but he’s always planned to find himself in this position eventually.
“I believed I’d combat some lower-level guys first and paintings my method up, issues have came about temporarily, sooner than I anticipated,” Erceg mentioned.
“However that’s to not say I’m no longer able for it, I’ve been running very withered for a protracted pace and I’m very excited to be on this place.
“It would be amazing to put my name next to guys like that (Australia’s other champions). You’ll get validation for all the hard work I’ve put in and the belief my team and my teammates have had in me.
“To do it for myself, my crowd, my buddies, my nation, it’ll be wonderful.”
Erceg enters the bout with Pantoja as the outsider with the Brazilian riding a five-fight winning streak and coming off the back of an impressive title defence against Brandon Royval.
The atmosphere at Arena Olímpica do Rio will be a thing to overcome itself – Brazilin fans are known for their hostility to foreign fighters, but Erceg isn’t just welcoming the challenge, he’s looking forward to it.
“You’ve viewable the crowds for UFC occasions in Brazil sooner than and also you ask your self how you may carry out underneath that force, with all of the chants and stuff,” Erceg mentioned.
“It’s thrilling, it’s the birthplace of the UFC, with the intention to come right here in opposition to a Brazilian, combating for the belt – it couldn’t be any higher.
“His resilience is a big thing. He can get tired in the second or third round and it looks like it’s over, but he keeps pushing. It’s hard not to respect that.”
