Steve Erceg was consuming KFC when he received name for title combat

Steve Erceg’s title shot alternative at UFC 301 was undoubtedly surprising – even for him.

After lower than a yr within the promotion, Erceg (12-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) received the decision to problem flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja (27-5 MMA, 11-3 UFC) in Saturday’s fundamental occasion at Rio Area in Rio de Janeiro (Pay-per-view/ESPN/ESPN+).

Erceg recollects the precise second he received the decision, and let’s simply say combating quickly was undoubtedly not on his thoughts.

“So, I used to be on the kitchen desk consuming KFC once I received the decision, having fun with my break,” Erceg informed Submission Radio. “After which, yeah, my response was form of chortle as a result of two causes. I suppose one was dad form of predicted the truth that he thought I’d get the decision, and I referred to as him an fool.

“So, I believed I most likely owed him an apology. And the second was I didn’t know if I ought to throw out the KFC or end it. And finally I made a decision to complete the three-piece feed.”

Erceg informed MMA Junkie he’d say sure if he received the decision to face Pantoja however was initially attempting to get a combat with Brandon Moreno. Now that he’s drawn Pantoja, he is aware of he’ll should outlast him to dethrone him.

“I believe actually it’s his psychological toughness,” Erceg mentioned of Pantoja. “He will get right here, he will get put into dangerous spots generally, however he simply retains going ahead. He will get drained, and he finds a solution to preserve pushing the entire combat, and someone that’s not going to surrender is a really harmful individual.

“Clearly, he has nice expertise exterior of that, however some individuals with nice expertise, in the event that they’re not successful the way in which they anticipate to be successful, they break. However I don’t imagine he’ll break. So, I’m going to should take it away from him.”

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 301.