Latest news with #SteveErceg
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
UFC 317 free fight: Kai Kara-France TKO's Steve Erceg to earn title shot
Kai Kara-France's last win was a big one. Back at UFC 305 in August, Kara-France stopped former title challenger Steve Erceg. Not only did the New Zealander snap a two-fight losing streak, but he also earned a title shot out of the victory. Kara-France stayed patient, let Erceg chase and pressure him, and when the time came, he knocked down Erceg with a big overhand left and then followed up with ground-and-pound to close out the show. Advertisement You can watch Kara-France's latest win in the video above. Kara-France (25-11 MMA, 8-4 UFC) returns to the octagon this Saturday in the co-main event of UFC 317, which takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. He takes on champion Alexandre Pantoja (29-5 MMA, 13-3 UFC) in a five-round bout. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 317 free fight: Kai Kara-France vs. Steve Erceg
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Steve Erceg vs. Alex Perez added to UFC Fight Night on Aug. 9 event
Former UFC flyweight title challengers will square off in August. Steve Erceg (12-4 MMA, 3-3 UFC) takes on Alex Perez (25-9 MMA, 7-5 UFC) at a UFC Fight Night event on Aug. 9 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, promotion officials announced Sunday night. Perez has lost four of his past five, most recently injuring his knee in a TKO loss to Tatsuro Taira in their UFC on ESPN 58 main event in June 2024. Less than two months earlier, he knocked out Matheus Nicolau at UFC on ESPN 55 to earn a Performance of the Night bonus. Advertisement Erceg will also look to rebound. He saw his 11-fight winning streak snapped when he challenged Alexandre Pantoja for the flyweight title at UFC 301 and went on to drop two more fights to Kai Kara-France, and most recently Brandon Moreno at UFC on ESPN 64 in March. Latest UFC Fight Night lineup: Roman Dolidze vs. Anthony Hernandez Steve Erceg vs. Alex Perez Eryk Anders vs. Chris Duncan Angela Hill vs. Iasmin Lucindo Rafael Cerqueira vs. Julius Walker Gabriella Fernandes vs. Julija Stoliarenko Mayra Bueno Silva vs. Joselyne Edwards This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Steve Erceg vs. Alex Perez joins UFC Fight Night on Aug. 9 lineup
USA Today
02-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Steve Erceg vs. Alex Perez added to UFC Fight Night on Aug. 9 event
Steve Erceg vs. Alex Perez added to UFC Fight Night on Aug. 9 event Former UFC flyweight title challengers will square off in August. Steve Erceg (12-4 MMA, 3-3 UFC) takes on Alex Perez (25-9 MMA, 7-5 UFC) at a UFC Fight Night event on Aug. 9 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, promotion officials announced Sunday night. Perez has lost four of his past five, most recently injuring his knee in a TKO loss to Tatsuro Taira in their UFC on ESPN 58 main event in June 2024. Less than two months earlier, he knocked out Matheus Nicolau at UFC on ESPN 55 to earn a Performance of the Night bonus. Erceg will also look to rebound. He saw his 11-fight winning streak snapped when he challenged Alexandre Pantoja for the flyweight title at UFC 301 and went on to drop two more fights to Kai Kara-France, and most recently Brandon Moreno at UFC on ESPN 64 in March. Latest UFC Fight Night lineup:
USA Today
29-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ex-champ Brandon Moreno explains why UFC Mexico win ranks in top three career moments
Brandon Moreno just logged one of his best career moments – even if it wasn't exactly legacy defining like others in his decorated MMA career. Moreno (23-8-2 MMA, 11-4-2 UFC), the first-ever Mexico born UFC champion, fought last month headlining UFC on ESPN 64 against Steve Erceg. The key detail about this flyweight contest is that it took place on home soil for Moreno. He entered the bout with a ton of pressure. Not only was he fighting for title contention, and headlining a UFC event, but he was also winless in his home country – at least under the UFC banner. This was the fourth time Moreno competed in Mexico, and he had a 0-2-1 record. A win at UFC on ESPN 64 was a must. "What took me to get the win meant so much to me," Moreno told MMA Junkie in Spanish. "I never gave up, and I always pushed forward. I remember when I got this fight offered, I was like, 'Man, again. Mexico City. The altitude. Everything that entails fighting in Mexico.' But I spoke to my team, and I wasn't going to win or try to go around the obstacle. I was going through it, and I was going to surpass it, and that's what happened. That's what made it extra special." After defeating Steve Erceg by unanimous decision, Moreno was visibly emotional. Getting his hand raised in front of his people meant the world to him. "I have three best moments in my career," Moreno said. "My UFC debut, when I win the UFC title, and this one (the win in Mexico)." Moreno thinks having the ability to turn the page – win or lose – after a fight is key for a fighter's wellbeing. Unlike other sports, fighters don't get many chances throughout a year to put behind losses or snap losing streaks. Yet, Moreno admits things have been good after his latest outing. "After you win, everything is good," Moreno said. "Even the flights. You're there in the plane after you win, and you're all chatty with whoever you're with, and you're just in a good mood. However, when you lose, you're just thinking, 'Man, I lost,' and you're a little sad. So yeah, everything is much better when you win."
USA Today
02-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, April 1: Brandon Moreno climbs to No. 2
UFC on ESPN 64 took place this past Saturday at Arena CDMX in Mexico City, producing a key move in the men's flyweight division. In the main event, former 125-pound champ Brandon Moreno finally picked up a UFC win on home soil by defeating former title challenger Steve Erceg in a unanimous decision. Moreno entered the week at No. 3 in the flyweight division and, with the result, climbed up one spot to claim No. 2, behind the champ Alexandre Pantoja. Check out all the latest pound-for-pound and divisional USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings.
