Steve Erceg breaks silence after brutal UFC Abu Dhabi knockout loss

Steve Erceg addressed his first-round knockout loss to Ramazonbek Temirov in the co-main event of UFC Abu Dhabi, confirming he is healthy after the brutal finish. The Australian flyweight, dropped by a pair of precisely timed right hands amid a striking barrage, posted a video message thanking the UFC and his support system while congratulating Temirov on the victory.

Erceg (14–5) had entered the bout confident, having completed a strong training camp. He came up short against Temirov (20–3), an Uzbek prospect who has established himself as one of the division's most dangerous rising contenders, finishing two of his three UFC wins in the opening frame. The loss marked Erceg's fourth defeat in the UFC and extended his recent struggles; the former title challenger has won only one of his last four fights.

The setback follows a dramatic arc for Erceg. He was fast-tracked to a flyweight title shot against Alexandre Pantoja in just his fourth UFC appearance in 2024, but came up short in what proved to be the start of a three-fight skid. He had recovered with consecutive wins over Ode Osbourne and Tim Elliott before the loss to Temirov. Erceg's promise to "bounce back stronger" suggests he intends to continue his UFC career despite the recent slide.