UFC Fight Night: Tim Elliott vs Steve Erceg Preview & Prediction
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Two ranked flyweights go head-to-head in the featured fight of UFC Perth, veteran Tim Elliott takes on hometown favourite, and former title challenger, Steve Erceg.
Tim Elliott vs Steve Erceg facts
What time are Tim Elliott and Steve Erceg expected to walk out?
Where is UFC Fight Night: Della Maddalena vs Prates? RAC Arena, Perth, Australia
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Della Maddalena vs Prates? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 275
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Della Maddalena vs Prates on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night: Della Maddalena vs Prates? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and HBO Max / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Night: Della Maddalena vs Prates main card
Jack Della Maddalena vs Carlos Prates (Welterweight)
Beneil Dariush vs Quillan Salkilld (Lightweight)
Tim Elliott vs Steve Erceg (Flyweight)
Marwan Rahiki vs Ollie Schmid (Featherweight)
Shamil Gaziev vs Brando Pericic (Heavyweight)
Tai Tuivasa vs Louie Sutherland (Heavyweight)
UFC Fight Night: Della Maddalena vs Prates prelims
Cameron Rowston vs Robert Bryczek (Middleweight)
Junior Tafa vs Kevin Christian (Light Heavyweight)
Jacob Malkoun vs Gerald Meerschaert (Middleweight)
Colby Thicknesse vs Vince Morales (Bantamweight)
Ben Johnston vs Wesley Schultz (Middleweight)
Jonathan Micallef vs Themba Gorimbo (Welterweight)
Dom Mar Fan vs Kody Steele (Lightweight)
Tim Elliott: Unorthodox striker riding the wave of his late career
Tim Elliott (21-13-1) is currently riding a two-fight win streak, both via submission, the first over Su Mudaerji, and the second over Kai Asakura at UFC 319, who was brought in to dethrone the ex-champ Alexandre Pantoja. The 39-year-old former title challenger sits at number 11 in the flyweight rankings, and despite over a decade in the promotion, his unconventional style remains the same nightmare it always has been. Elliott combines elite collegiate wrestling pedigree with constant, unorthodox movement, and opportunistic submissions. Even in his defeat against Mokaev, he was actively threatening with elbows and submissions throughout the fight before being submitted late.
Steve Erceg: Former title challenger looking to capitalise on home soil
Steve Erceg (13-4) returns to Perth, after stopping a three-fight skid with a unanimous decision win over Ode Osbourne in August last year. Prior to that, “Astroboy” had risen rapidly to the top, finding a title shot just one year after he made his debut in the UFC. Erceg won his first two fights in the UFC dominantly, and followed up with a second-round knockout against Matt Schnell. Unfortunately, the Australian lost his title fight in a close five-round battle against Pantoja, and then proceeded to lose to both Kai Kara-France and Brandon Moreno. Erceg is a sharp technical boxer with a tidy ground game, evidenced by him taking the ex-champ the full five rounds in a competitive fight. However, his weakness is exposure to faster and more powerful strikers, Kara-France iced him out in round one, and even Ode Osbourne dropped him early on before he composed himself.
Tim Elliott vs Steve Erceg prediction
This is a matchup with more value on the underdog side than the bookies may suggest. On paper, Erceg’s title fight credentials and youth give him the edge, but Elliott’s chaotic style makes it awkward for Erceg to play into his strengths. Erceg’s boxing is at his best when he can plant his feet and let his hands go, and Tim won’t allow that. He moves constantly, switches stances, and forces his opponents into messy exchanges where his submission instincts thrive in the scrambles. Erceg wants a technical battle but Tim is incredibly unpredictable.
The blueprint to beat Erceg has been written by faster and more elusive strikers, and Tim is more elusive than any of them. The Pantoja fight showed that Erceg has the skills to stay competitive at the elite level, but I think over three rounds, Erceg may be a bit too late to start getting a read on Elliott. Tim has shown he can scramble out of bad positions and stay active off his back, so even if Erceg lands a takedown, the threat of a submission will keep him cautious.
On a normal occasion, I think Erceg beats his peers around his ranking, but in this specific matchup, across a three round fight, Tim’s awkward movement, pace, output, and his ability to dip in and out of exchanges should be enough to tally up points on a Perth crowd that’s expecting a hometown win.
Prediction: Tim Elliott to win by decision
