Steve
Erceg was perhaps one round away from pulling off the upset at
UFC
301.
However, the opportunity slipped away from the game Australian in
the fifth round against Alexandre
Pantoja, when the reigning champion countered a takedown and
assumed top position, ultimately bleeding out the clock to clinch
his victory from there. While Erceg often got the better of his
opponent during exchanges, that decision might have cost him
dearly, as Pantoja earned scoredcards of 48-47, 48-47 and 49-46
from the cageside judges.
“I thought that if I could win that last round at least, I’d give
myself a chance,” Erceg said in his post-fight interview. “I just
blew it.”
Erceg was something of a surprise title challenger, with just three
promotional triumphs and less than a year in the promotion under
his belt heading into UFC 301. However, he proved that he belonged
in Saturday’s main event, as he made Pantoja work throughout the
fight. “Astro Boy” believes the fight could have also hinged on a
competitive third stanza.
“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
said.
While Erceg bloodied Pantoja on the feet with a well-placed elbow
and landed his share of clean punching combinations, the
Brazilian’s well-rounded attack proved to be the difference. This
was especially true on the canvas, where Pantoja landed a career
high nine takedowns while consistently getting the better of
scrambles.
“I was surprised at how well he could scramble,” Erceg said. “I
usually beat guys there. It was a shock.”
