Steve Erceg’s UFC 301 title shot has raised many eyebrows, and now the Flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja himself has stepped forward to clear the air.
In a surprising turn of events, Steve Erceg, a relative newcomer to the UFC and has competed in just three fights under the promotion’s banner, has been granted a title shot against Pantoja- the reigning 125-pound champion at UFC 301. The announcement by the UFC caught many off guard, given Erceg’s limited experience within the promotion.
Fighters and fans alike have expressed their opinions on this unexpected matchup. Some believe that Erceg’s recent performances justify his shot at the title, while others argue that more established contenders should have been given the opportunity.
Alexandre Pantoja says he wanted an ‘unknown’ opponent
But what does Alexandre Pantoja believe? In a recent clip shared by UFC Brasil on Instagram, the champion revealed why he accepted the fight- because he saw the Aussie fighter was just the one he was looking for.
“It’s funny, because that’s pretty much what I asked for. I was joking that I wanted a somewhat unknown opponent and this guy comes to me, who is tough. I even said, ‘I hope this guy moves up a category, because he’s huge’. Then he falls for me, but I say that jokingly. He’s a very tough opponent,” said Pantoja.
“I believe that, at this moment, he is more difficult than [Brandon] Royval, than [Brandon] Moreno, because he is a guy who comes from behind, with nothing to lose, he is number ten in the rankings, he comes fresh into the category. The only thing against it is that I think I have more fighting experience. I believe this will be used by me in the Octagon,” the champ added.
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