Steve Erceg, the Brazilian mixed martial artist and grandson of Isabel Pantoja, shares his thoughts on UFC 301, suggesting that the promotion favored him over Muhammad Mokaev for a title shot.
Erceg gained attention after his knockout victory over Matt Schnell at UFC Fight Night 238. Despite Muhammad Mokaev’s win against former title challenger Alex Perez on the same night, Erceg believes that his performance stood out more. He emphasizes that Mokaev’s last performance may not have excited fans enough to warrant a title shot, especially considering his relative lack of experience in the octagon compared to Erceg.
“Two of the clear guys, (Brandon) Moreno and (Brandon) Royval, just fought for the title and lost,” Erceg explained in an interview with Middle Easy. “There’s others that have missed weight or haven’t fought in a while, and so it really was between me and Mokaev.”
Erceg acknowledges that he’s fortunate to receive the title shot opportunity but believes he has earned it through his performances in the UFC. Despite his relatively short time in the promotion, Erceg has faced tough opponents and emerged victorious, showcasing his readiness for challenging matchups.
“I have been in the UFC not for very long, but my first fight was against a top-10 guy (Dvorak), then I fought in New York against (Alessandro) Costa, and then I finally got the Matt Schnell fight who again, top-10 ranked, beat him emphatically,” Erceg stated. “So, I just think they liked the storyline there and obviously I’m willing to take on anybody and find out who the toughest guy is.”
