Perth MMA fighter Steve Erceg says he will “shock the world” when he makes his long-awaited UFC debut in Canada.
Erceg’s path to his UFC debut has been a frustrating run.
The 27-year-old’s first two scheduled fights had to be canned due to visa issues, and his planned bout against Clayton Carpenter last month was also binned after the undefeated American succumbed to injury.
But Erceg (9-1) finally enjoyed a slice of luck when he was offered a bout at short notice against world No.10 flyweight David ‘Undertaker’ Dvorak (20-5).
That showdown will take place at UFC 289 in Vancouver on Sunday.
Erceg will start as the rank underdog, but the Perth-based fighter fancies his chances of causing an upset.
“Honestly it doesn’t matter – underdog or favourite. It’s a fight, anything can happen,” Erceg told AAP.
“I truly believe I’m going to shock him and shock the world.”
If all goes well, Erceg could be the UFC flyweight world champion in as little as three fights.
“I think it (a win against Dvorak) would stamp my name among the top of the division straight away,” Erceg said.
“It puts me in a good spot to fight some top names and get to a title shot quickly.
“I feel like I’m making up for lost time with all the visa issues and COVID and all the stuff that’s happened in recent years.”
Those issues started in 2022, when he was unable to gain a visa in time to compete in Dana White’s contender series.
“I actually never found out what happened,” Erceg said.
“They told me I’d get a letter eventually to tell me why they denied it, but that never came.
“Then the second time it was just a timing issue. I got offered the fight with four weeks notice, and the immigration, US embassy, couldn’t process it in time.
“So they had to delay the fight until it was processed.
“This time I got told on the Wednesday and by Thursday the visa came through. It was super easy. It took one day. It couldn’t have been easier.”
As for his nickname Astroboy?
“It’s honestly not a very good story,” he said with a laugh.
“I was just talking to my coaches and my coach’s girlfriend at the time about eight, nine years ago.
“She just randomly said, ‘What about Astroboy as a nickname?’
“Everyone seemed to like it. I have watched the show before. I guess I look a little bit like him, so it works out.”