News Alexandre Pantoja to defend Flyweight title against Steve Erceg at UFC 301

[svmr_db]

I don't know why people are complaining about Erceg getting the shot, Mokaev is clearly not ready to fight Pantoja, he looked like crap vs Perez. It's a hard sell to fans to throw him in there with Pantoja when his last fight looked the way it did.

Erceg may not win but he will be more competitive vs Pantoja than Mokaev would be and at least he's coming off a great finish they can promote the fight with.

Also Royval is not an option, it hasn't even been 6 months since he fought for the title. Do Royval vs Mokaev next and the winner can get the next shot.

 

[Qays Stetkevich]

Not mad at this at all. Mokaev should’ve got the shot but this fight will be a banger

Finally someone's saying it. I don't think Erceg deserves it, but it's an EPIC opportunity to mix things up at the top big-time, and let's not forget that Pantoja is a scrappy banger. Erceg might just get mauled and dominated, but it could also be an exciting war.

 

[EricSpider]

It should be Mokaev. Still much better than another Royval fight tough

 

[svmr_db]

This thread needs some GIFs of Mokaev flopping to the floor vs Perez lol good luck trying to sell that as being a hyped / competitive matchup for a title fight.

 

[Ares Black]

Fuck it I picked Erceg with the the historic upset. If he can keep it standing he could do it.

 

[Ares Black]

How do you beat 3 cans in the UFC, with only 1 finish and end up getting a title shot?

By being Australian, affordable, and willing to fight in a very hostile environment.

 

[JTDarkseid]

EXCLUSIVE: Erceg look to become first WA UFC champion

Steve Erceg is on track to complete one of the most remarkable rises in MMA history and become the first WA UFC champion after accepting a fight to take on flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 301.

thewest.com.au

So undeserved. Should have been Mokaev for the title.

 

[RockyLockridge]

Mokaev has proved to be not ready yet either, but Erceg is far from ready wtf is this

Ok if both are unproven, Why kill off the POPULAR unproven one now?

 

[svmr_db]

How do you beat 3 cans in the UFC, with only 1 finish and end up getting a title shot?

Is Erceg the most deserving contender? No, but this is basically the same as Strickland's title shot in that he's the best of the available options:

• Royval - he just got whooped by Pantoja less than 6 months ago, there's no desire to see a third fight yet
• Albazi - injured
• Mokaev - clearly not ready for a title fight. his standup is shit and if he can't pull off a miracle sub vs Pantoja he would get 50-43'd.

 

[Ares Black]

Ok if both are unproven, Why kill off the POPULAR unproven one now?

It doesn't necessarily have to kill off a contender. If the fight is at all competitive then Erceg stakes his claim as a top fighter and is a win or two away from a rematch.

 

[UFCIsNOTRigged]

That's what I don't understand....

Unless Mokaev is injured and wasn't willing to take the fight. Makes no sense to skip over him. He has a much more impressive resume.

The UFC is developing Mokaev so when he gets a title shot, likely in the not too distant future, he can not only win the belt but hold onto it. Erceg in contrast is a fighter that the UFC has never had any interest in developing. Someone at the UFC in a position of power obviously likes Erceg, so they are willing to give him big opportunities, but whether he lives up to the moment and succeeds is totally on him.

Is it possible that Mokaev with his current skillset could beat Pantoja? Yes, but he would stand a much better chance of dethroning Pantoja with some additional work on his striking, and if Pantoja begins to show signs of being out of his athletic prime which he has not yet (though its obviously coming given his age).

 

[r-harper-1]

They better come up with a great co-main, & a feature fight too for that matter.

They should've just kept Alex/Jamamahalal for 301 & used Leon/Belal as the 300 co-main. It was such a panic move.

No Muhammad on 300 ….fuck that

 

[Vulve]

fucking nice
my boy deserves his ts

 

[jk7707]

I never thought I'd see the day where beating Matt Schnell could possibly get anyone a title shot. But here we are.

 

[Vulve]

ramadingdong mokaev btfo

 

[Neck&Neck]

WAR ERCEG!!!

 

[Lights Out 101]

Will revisit this thread once Astro Boy KO's Pantoja. Keep sleeping on him.

 

[WoozyFailGuy]

Anyone saying Mokaev should be fighting didn't watch his last fight. No point in him fighting now, kid has no striking whatsoever, gassed before the third round was up, and was basically a low single machine.
Mokaev in his current state loses to pantoja in his current state 99.8/100 times.

 

[fortheo]

Not that high on Erceg but definitely has potential to clip Pantoja

He's an even better grappler than he is a striker. People are complaining, but this is an interesting fight.

 

[jk7707]

Will revisit this thread once Astro Boy KO's Pantoja. Keep sleeping on him.

Yea, Erceg, the powerhouse with 2 tkos 13 fights. Vs Pantoja who has never even been rocked in a fight.