- Steve Erceg fights for the UFC flyweight title at UFC 301 on Sunday
- The Australian star is often compared to Hollywood actor Steve Carrell.
- They made him fight with Dad before he allowed him to fight.
Australian UFC title contender Steve Erceg has opened up about his father’s hilarious reaction to his request to start competing in MMA as he prepares for the biggest fight of his career.
At UFC 301 on Sunday, Erceg will face UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja for the championship title in Brazil.
If the 28-year-old Perth product does the unthinkable and wins, his improbable run to the title will be among the fastest in UFC history.
‘Astro Boy’ has made just three appearances in the octagon and is ranked No. 10 in the flyweight division, but he sees himself taking the belt.
Steve Erceg (right) will face UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja (left) for the championship title in Brazil on Sunday.
Erceg revealed that his father didn’t think he was strong enough to start fighting, so he made the young man fight him in the backyard.
Erceg entered a local MMA gym at age 14 after being inspired by watching Frank Mir submit Brock Lesnar at UFC 81.
He would later make his professional wrestling debut in 2016, but before that he had to get permission from his father.
“I had to talk to my dad first, and his reaction was, ‘I don’t think you’re strong enough to start fighting,'” Erceg revealed on UFC 301 Countdown.
‘Then he said we would go out into the backyard and fight and see what happens there.
“So my dad and I had a little fight in the backyard and at the end he came out saying, ‘Yeah, you can have your first fight.’
It was the beginning of an incredible career on the national scene where he would eventually claim the Eternal MMA Flyweight Championship.
Fight fans have often drawn comparisons between Erceg and The Office’s Michael Scott, played by Steve Carrell.
However, the Perth star hasn’t let the memes and jokes get to him, and says he’s fine with that.
The Australian prodigy is often compared to The Office’s Michael Scott, played by Steve Carrell.
Erceg has had a notable winning streak both inside and outside of the UFC.
Erceg believes he will need security to protect him after defeating Alexandre Pantoja for the championship title on Sunday in Rio.
“If I couldn’t laugh, I’d be in trouble,” he said. fox sports.
“Being in the business that I’m in, people are always making memes, talking bad about me… but luckily I’m very prepared to handle all of that.”
However, Erceg believes he will need security to get him out of the sand in Rio on Sunday.
“Because I come to beat the champion in his hometown,” Erceg said.
“So it’s very likely that, as I walk into the octagon, the crowd will tell me that I’m going to die.
‘Just like later, when I have that belt, security will have to take me out because they will be throwing bottles at me.
‘I’ll have to get on a plane and get out of there quickly because people will want to kill me.
“That’s how I think it’s going to be.”
