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Steve Erceg picked up a much-needed victory against Ode Osbourne. | Getty/UFC
Steve Erceg enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, earning a title shot in just his fourth Octagon appearance.
The fall was just as swift, as a unanimous decision loss against reigning 125-pound champ Alexandre Pantoja began a three-fight losing streak that had “Astro Boy” doubting himself. Those doubts might have been at the front of his mind in the opening round against Ode Osbourne in the UFC Vegas 109 co-main event, as Erceg was rocked and on the verge of being finished by his underdog opponent.
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“Yeah, pretty hurt. Part of the game plan though,” Erceg quipped at the post-fight press conference. “Dad told me, ‘Make sure you get hurt early, let him blow his load and figure it out after that.’” Ultimately, the Aussie maintained his wits and gradually took control over the bout’s final 10 minutes to earn a unanimous decision triumph in the 135-pound affair. It wasn’t a dominant victory, but it beat the alternative: an ugly four-fight losing streak.
“I thought I did enough, but you never really know,” Erceg said. “I had his back in the second, I had his back in the third, so I thought I did enough.”
While there’s no shame in losses to the likes of Pantoja, Kai Kara-France and Brandon Moreno, Erceg admitted to questioning whether he belonged after the skid.
Erceg Eyes Spot on UFC Perth Card
“Relieved. It’s been a while, so it’s good to be answering questions again after the fight,” Erceg said.
“[There was] heaps [of pressure]. Obviously you have doubts running through your head like, ‘Was I a fraud all along? Do I really belong? Do I deserve to be here?’ – all that nonsense. It’s good to fight a tough guy in the UFC who has been here for ages and get a tough win.”
Looking ahead, Erceg hopes to get a spot on the upcoming UFC card in Perth on Sept. 27.
“Yeah I think so. You never know, but I think at can [fight on that card] at the moment for sure,” he said.
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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