March 18, 2024 8: 00 pm ET
UFC flyweight champ Alexandre Pantoja believes Steve Erceg’s title shot is a case of timing.
It came as a surprise to numerous that Erceg injury up getting the next shot at Pantoja after notching simply his 3rd octagon win with a knockout of Matt Schnell at UFC Fight Night238 He obstacles Pantoja for the flyweight title in the UFC 301 headliner May 4 in Rio.
While Pantoja (27-5 MMA, 11-3 UFC) likewise didn’t visualize Erceg (12-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) being his next challenger, he argued that everybody is gifted in the leading 15.
“I didn’t anticipate it to be Steve Erceg, however it’s a great name, too,” Pantoja informed MMA Junkie. “That’s amusing since if you watch my interviews, all the time I was talking about in the flyweight department, you can take somebody from No. 10 and battle with the champ or the No. 1 competitor, and it’s going to be a excellent match. In this department, all the guys are so good.”
Pantoja likewise didn’t have too lotsof fresh matches as choices. Erceg tossed his name in the hat in an interview with MMA Junkie, and Muhammad Mokaev and Brandon Royval likewise campaigned.
“I combated with all the department,” Pantoja stated. “I combated with the No. 1 (Royval) tw