UFC Fight Night: Steve Erceg vs Ramazan Temirov Preview & Prediction
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A flyweight co-main event with potential ranking implications, former title challenger Steve Erceg looks to fend off the surging Ramazan Temirov.
Steve Erceg vs Ramazan Temirov facts
What time are Steve Erceg and Ramazan Temirov expected to walk out?
Where is UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs Guskov? Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs Guskov? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 282
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs Guskov on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs Guskov? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and HBO Max / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs Guskov main card
Magomed Ankalaev vs Bogdan Guskov (Light Heavyweight)
Steve Erceg vs Ramazan Temirov (Flyweight)
Islam Dulatov vs Wellington Turman (Welterweight)
Magomed Zaynukov vs Damian Rzepecki (Lightweight)
Rizvan Kuniev vs Tyrell Fortune (Heavyweight)
Abubakar Vagaev vs Saygid Izagakhmaev (Welterweight)
UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs Guskov prelims
Valter Walker vs Thomas Petersen (Heavyweight)
Dustin Jacoby vs Muhammad Said (Light Heavyweight)
Santiago Ponzinibbio vs Sam Patterson (Welterweight)
Ismael Bonfim vs Axel Sola (Lightweight)
Magomed Tuchalov vs Brendson Ribeiro (Light Heavyweight)
Nurullo Aliev vs Mike Davis (Lightweight)
Cody Gibson vs Abdul Hussein (Bantamweight)
Steve Erceg: “Astroboy” defends his top 10 spot
Steve Erceg (14-4) sits at #10 in the media rankings at flyweight and had challenged Alexandre Pantoja for the belt in only his fourth octagon appearance. The Australian has gone 2-2 since, dropping a decision to Brandon Moreno, and getting knocked out by Kai Kara-France, before rebounding with wins over Ode’ Osbourne and Tim Elliot. He’s the more polished fundamental striker, working in proper combinations rather than single shots, and he’s excellent on the mat with a real submission threat and slick scrambling. The concern is durability, his chin has been cracked by fighters with less power.
Ramazan Temirov: Uzbek pressure fighter with crazy round one power
Ramazan Temirov (19-2) is 2-0 inside the UFC, dusting up CJ Vergara inside a round on his debut before outpointing Charles Johnson over three. The Uzbek sets his own pace and refuses to take a backward step, loading up on every shot with max power rather than setting anything up with lighter work. He likes to throw in spinning back kicks into his combinations and mixes in explosive hooks to the body. Every knockout he’s scored has come in the opening round. Temirov can time a nice takedown, though his control on the mat is limited.
Steve Erceg vs Ramazan Temirov prediction
You can look at this fight split into two. The first round belongs to Temirov and the danger is legit. Every knockout he’s scored is within those first five minutes, Erceg’s chin has been rattled by less skilful men than this, and he’s been finished in the opening round before. If Temirov lands clean early, that’s the fight done.
Get past it though and the picture should flip entirely. Temirov’s power drops off after the first and he becomes a lot more predictable, leaning on overhands and settling into a point-fighting rhythm with more lateral movement. That’s the fight Erceg wants, the Aussie starts the exchanges, waits the counter, and comes back third. This reads great to judges, and he has far more tools to reach for.
Temirov’s aggression is a liability as well. He overthrows badly, particularly early, which opens him up to counters and takedowns. His defensive wrestling looks solid but its never been tested by anyone in Erceg’s bracket, and once he’s pressed onto the fence he’s open to kicks to the body and head too.
They’ve had roughly the same professional fights, but Erceg has done more of his work at this level. Survive the first and the experience and grappling should carry him home, with a sneak submission live in the second or third.
Prediction: Steve Erceg to win by decision
