Steve Erceg’s title shot opportunity at UFC 301 has definitely stirred the pot in the combat sports circles. It takes place at the Farmasi Arena In Rio de Janeiro, with a flyweight title headliner for the promotion’s 40th all-time event in Brazil. Erceg takes on reigning champion Alexandre Pantoja in his 2nd title defense. Ahead of this, ‘Astro Boy’ has unexpectedly outshone expectations with mental games.
After capturing the title from Brandon Moreno, Pantoja’s maiden defense came against Brandon Rovyal at UFC 296. He maintains an assured demeanor with just three losses in his pro-MMA run. Pundits and peers often advise him to get down-and-dirty in trash-talking to promote a build-up. However, UFC 301 Fight Week’s first Media Day scrum sees Erceg instead mocking the rival by donning a Botofogo jersey.
Alexandre Pantoja’s association with Clube de Regatas do Flamengo (rivals to Botofogo) is a famous factoid. Pantoja met some top players while attending an event on the Brazilian soccer team. Pantoja first revealed he was defending his belt at the May 4th event when conversing with top striker Gabriel Barbosa. Hence, Steve Erceg’s subtle mental warfare has gone quite viral.
Erceg is a 12-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC rookie sensation. Mild-mannered and soft-spoken, he even jokes around negative feedback. Recently, he spoke to Submission Radio co-hosts Kacper Rosolowski & Denis Shkuratov. There, he revealed leaning toward negative feedback from a passionate Brazilian fanbase. Elsewhere, though, his antic is sure to get overwhelmingly popular. The matter sees many responses on Twitter.
Fans react to Steve Erceg touting Alexandre Pantoja’s rival team’s jersey
The UFC returns this May with yet another big PPV event. UFC 301 sees Alexandre Pantoja attempt a second consecutive title defense against the streaking Steve Erceg. Pantoja, 27-5 MMA, 11-3 UFC, remains a seasoned flyweight with minimal career losses. Hence, Erceg’s title shot opportunity earned him much backlash from fans and peers, especially Muhammad Mokaev.
Fans react to Steve Erceg tactfully poking at Alexandre Pantoja’s love for soccer (Source: UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) / X/ Instagram (@ufcanz) )Going in with quite a chip on his shoulder, Erceg thus has much riding on his first title contention. The fighter arrived with the jersey of Pantoja’s rival soccer team at Fight Week pre-fight Media Day. Here’s what fans think of it:
How can you not respect Steve Erceg?
✈️ Dude flies 18 hours from Australia to Brazil
📱Works a shift at Best Buy on day 1
👟Works a shift at Foot Locker on day 2
👊🏼Fights for the UFC flyweight title on Saturday.
Legend.
— AFeldmanMMA (@afeldMMA) May 1, 2024
My Champ🤝
— LynxMotivation (@LynxMotivator) May 1, 2024
Doing that to a Brazilian might as well be talking about their family
— Chihiro Suzuki’s Sugar Mama (Formely YalaB) (@wolajustowska) May 1, 2024
Yesterday was Best Buy, now he’s a wwe referee . lol, hilarious card.
— SERO1 (@SS49087) May 1, 2024
Thank you for the context. I thought he was dressed like a footlocker employee because he thought it was funny
— Ryne. (@Rynocerous_Rex) May 1, 2024
Hahaha I like it
— The Powerful C-Dawg (@rockstar501040) May 1, 2024
I think Steve can be good champ if he gets past Pantoja. I think he out-paces him tbh
— Statistically Likely 📊 (@ParetoPotato) May 1, 2024
Didn’t have him “trashtalking” on my bingo cards, lol.
— 𝐑 🇪🇺 (@itsdiesl) May 1, 2024
erceg round 1 ko by left cross
— r r o n (@KysPartV) May 1, 2024
This guy straight up evil
— Ben Pietrzak (@pietrzak_ben) May 1, 2024
The mental warfare begins hopefully pantoja doesn’t let this get to his head
— kamran (@KamranX777) May 1, 2024
Consequently, most fans have lauded Steve Erceg’s sudden switching to such prime techniques on mental warfare. Additionally, some have even quipped that to come between a Brazilian and his love for soccer is like trash-talking their close ones. Hence, this puts Erceg to a good start on a build-up to a proper rivalry. All in all, the matter has garnered him some much-needed traction.
