Steve Erceg didn’t advance away with the UFC flyweight crown, however the West Australian has gained over a legion of fresh lovers then a gutsy show towards the undisputed champion Alexandre Pantoja in Rio de Janeiro.
Pantoja gained Saturday night time’s bout (Sunday EST) by means of unanimous resolution, with the judges scoring the five-round competition 48-47, 48-47, 49-46.
However Erceg had his possibilities to win, touchdown a sequence of bulky blows in rounds two, 3 and 4 to release the champion bloodied and bruised.
On the other hand, Erceg’s resolution to two times exit for take-downs within the 5th around proved his undoing, with Pantoja reversing the advance on each and every era to dominate the around on victory.
If Erceg had arise trumps within the 5th around, he would have gained the bout.
“I thought if I could win the last round I would give myself a chance, but I just blew it,” a devastated Erceg stated then the bout.
“I was surprised by how well he scrambled. I usually beat guys there, so it was a shock.”
Erceg, preventing for simply the fourth era in his UFC occupation, landed 80 vital head moves in comparison to Pantoja’s 54, but it surely was once the Brazilian who ruled when it got here to on-ground grappling.
“What an incredible guy, an incredible opponent,” Pantoja stated of Erceg then the battle.
Pantoja, spurred by means of the population’s loss of life chant of “uh vai morrer” (you’re committing to die) at Farmasi Area, gained the primary around regardless of an early kick-punch squander from Erceg.
Erceg spent many of the around struggling with for survival at the floor as Pantoja’s grappling talents got here to the fore.
The Australian was once taken indisposed once more early in the second one around however was once in a position to pull out of bother and in an instant went at the assault, touchdown a profusion proper elbow and left hook at the champion.
Pantoja was once exited with blood streaming from his brow then a profusion proper elbow from Erceg within the 3rd around.
The blood began coming into Pantoja’s left optic in a fourth around that Erceg in large part managed.
However Erceg’s effort to two times exit for the take-down within the 5th in the end introduced him undone.
Erceg has loved a meteoric stand since making his UFC debut in June utmost yr.
Next dispatching David Dvorak, Alessandro Costa and Matt Schnell in notable type, Erceg was once given the prospect of an entire life when presented the name about towards Pantoja.
Regardless of the loss, Erceg’s gutsy efficiency is certain to earn him extra alternatives towards one of the crucial perfect combatants within the flyweight category.
Within the co-main match, UFC corridor of famer Jose Aldo got here out resignation to defeat Refuse.13-ranked bantamweight Jonathan Martinez by means of unanimous resolution.
Aldo, labelled the best featherweight by means of all era by means of Australian UFC megastar Alexander Volkanovski, was once competing for the primary era since August, 2022.
The 37-year-old Brazilian confirmed incorrect indicators of rust, touchdown a sequence of brutal blows within the 3rd around to hold victory.
Aldo consoled a devastated Martinez instantly then the general bell in an emotional occasion between the 2 combatants.
“I said this wasn’t going to be my last fight,” Aldo stated.
“I’m at the age where I can still fight. Maybe I can get back in there and be the champion.”
Within the middleweight bout, global Refuse.14 Caio Borralho extremely joyful the house population when he knocked out global Refuse.13 Paul Craig in the second one around.
