The response from plenty of MMA fans when they heard it would be Steve Erceg taking on Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 301, was: ‘Who?’
Erceg is only ranked No 10 in the division and the Australian has only fought three times in the UFC.
But this Saturday night he will challenge the Brazilian in the champion’s own back yard Rio de Janeiro, no doubt serenaded by the chant by local fans ‘uh vai morrer’, which translates as ‘you’re going to die’.
Erceg’s big opportunity was an unexpected call-up for fans but also the man himself.
He was eating a bucket of fried chicken when his feast was interrupted by UFC bosses asking if he’d take on Pantoja for the belt.
![Steve Erceg (right) is the unlikely challenger to Alexandre Pantoja's flyweight title in Rio](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/01/11/84314089-13370591-image-a-3_1714559829761.jpg)
Steve Erceg (right) is the unlikely challenger to Alexandre Pantoja’s flyweight title in Rio
![The man fans compare to Steve Carrell's Michael Scott in The Office is ranked No 10](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/01/11/84314669-13370591-image-a-4_1714559857197.jpg)
The man fans compare to Steve Carrell’s Michael Scott in The Office is ranked No 10
![Erceg has won all three of his fights in the UFC so far but his elevation is a surprise](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/01/11/84314665-13370591-image-a-5_1714559889732.jpg)
Erceg has won all three of his fights in the UFC so far but his elevation is a surprise
Eceg explained on UFC Embedded: ‘I was back for a couple of days after the fight with Matt Schnell, just going to get some KFC and I got a call from my manager who said they wanted me to fight Pantoja.
‘So, I was in a weird spot. I didn’t know whether I should finish the box or put it away.
‘Ultimately, I decided to finish the KFC and then started making calls to my dad, my coach and all of that sort of stuff.’
Even though Erceg is a relative newcomer to life in the biggest MMA promotion, it’s not to say his skills don’t warrant the huge opportunity presented to him.
He is undefeated in 11 fights, only lost once as a professional and finished Matt Schnell by impressive KO in his last encounter.
So who is the 28-year-old from Perth?
Erceg explained that his interest in the UFC was piqued when realising certain skills could help smaller fighters beat much bigger, more powerful men.
He said: ‘Brock Lesnar was coming over to the UFC, and there was a big hoopla about him having the biggest hands in the UFC. They made him custom this, custom that, he’s an absolute animal, monster.
![Erceg, pictured here with his other half Katelyn, has a massive opportunity on Saturday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/02/19/84314667-13370591-Erceg_pictured_here_with_his_other_half_Katelyn_has_a_massive_op-a-1_1714676079478.jpg)
Erceg, pictured here with his other half Katelyn, has a massive opportunity on Saturday
‘And he was fighting this guy called Frank Mir, and although they were both heavyweights, Frank Mir looked like a much smaller gentleman, and I just didn’t think he had a chance to beat Brock.
‘When the fight started, Brock was giving him a bit of a whooping, and then out of nowhere, Frank grabbed his foot, twisted on his ankle, and Brock has to give up. Seeing a bigger guy get tapped by a smaller guy intrigued me, as a naturally smaller person, into learning what the hell happened.
‘From then, I knew I at least wanted to learn what was going on in there, and I asked my dad to find a gym as quickly as he could.’
Without having raised his profile to a degree where he’s instantly recognisable to casual fans, Erceg has been given a couple of lookalikes.
Actor Steve Carrell is one, specifically his character in the Office ‘Michael Scott’, who has been likened to the Australian flyweight.
Zoolander, Aaron Rodgers and Novak Djokovic are others he’s been compared to in the past.
Even his nickname ‘Astro Boy’ was borne out of a likeness for the the character in a Japanese comic series.
He said: ‘It’s not even a good story. We were brainstorming stuff, and I brought up ‘Wonderboy’ because Stephen Thompson has the same name, so I was like, ‘Oh, Wonderboy’.
‘My coach’s ex-girlfriend said, ‘Oh, what about Astro Boy? You kind of look like him.’ That’s literally it. It sort of stuck, and people liked it, so I took it. I don’t even think I wrote it down on my fighter card. I think one of my old corners decided to put it down. It stuck since.’
It is almost a perfect storm for Erceg in terms of the flyweight contenders not fitting the bill to face Pantoja.
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/02/19/84314671-13370591-image-a-2_1714676079642.jpg)
![Pantoja has the pressure of fighting on home soil on his shoulders this weekend](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/01/11/84314663-13370591-image-a-8_1714560014084.jpg)
Pantoja has the pressure of fighting on home soil on his shoulders this weekend
Of the nine men above him, Brandon Royval had just been beaten, Brandon Moreno had lost and the remaining seven were either assigned a fight, injured or had not blown the doors down with a ‘pick me’ performance.
And Pantoja has a wary respect for Erceg despite his ranking. He told Sherdog: ‘Erceg is a very tough fighter. He’s big and strong for our weight class. He’s also young. He’s one of the new generation of guys coming to MMA.
‘I’m getting ready harder than usual, especially since we’ll be fighting in my home. I want to put on a great show for everyone. I’m confident that Erceg deserves this shot. I’m training very hard for my fight. I’m still evolving.
‘I always talk about how tough the flyweight division is,’ Pantoja said. ‘Without a doubt, any Top 10 guy can bring a difficult challenge to the champion. I’ll make sure I do everything in my power to remain the world champion.’
Even though Erceg is an unlikely challenger, he’s not an outrageous underdog, currently a 7/4 outsider to upset the champion.
But he can enter the bout entirely pressure free with all the weight of expectation and home support on Pantoja.
![Erceg is the taller man but remains an underdog with the bookmakers for UFC 301's main event](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/01/11/84314655-13370591-image-a-9_1714560035526.jpg)
Erceg is the taller man but remains an underdog with the bookmakers for UFC 301’s main event
One man familiar with Erceg’s ability is Alexander Volkanovski, his fellow Australian who is confident of a finish for his countryman.
The former featherweight champion told Fox Sports Australia: ‘Steve Erceg is about to shock the world and that’s why I’m so excited for this fight.
‘Because when I see Steve fight, I know he’s ready for this. And I know that may be harder for other people to (agree with), because they haven’t seen him get tested in fights.
‘But I know if he were, he would’ve shown it. And now Sunday, he gets that opportunity. I think he catches the champ, third round,’ he continued.
‘Pantoja has a style that’s dangerous, so Steve will have to respect that and weather the storm early. He doesn’t want to try and capitalise straight away, he could get caught. Plus, he can handle that fire anyway.
![Can the unassuming Australian shock the world in enemy territory?](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/01/11/84314081-13370591-image-a-10_1714560068548.jpg)
Can the unassuming Australian shock the world in enemy territory?
‘So he’ll dodge some of the big things coming his way, figure things out … then it will be ‘who cares about this being in Rio, who cares about the crowd booing, who cares about facing the champion?’.
‘Steve will be calm, composed, and that’s why I feel it will come in those middle rounds. He either catches him or gets the submission.’
If Volkanovski is right, it will be one of the more remarkable ascensions to UFC glory in recent years and those chants of ‘you’re going to die’ will fall silent in Rio de Janeiro.