UFC on ESPN 72: Steve Erceg vs Ode’ Osbourne Preview & Prediction

Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!

Steve Erceg vs Ode’ Osbourne facts

What time are Steve Erceg and Ode’ Osbourne expected to walk out?

Where is UFC on ESPN: Dolidze vs Hernandez? UFC Apex, Enterprise, USA

Where can I get tickets for UFC on ESPN: Dolidze vs Hernandez? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC on ESPN 72

What TV channel is UFC on ESPN: Dolidze vs Hernandez on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – ESPN+

Where can I stream UFC on ESPN: Dolidze vs Hernandez? UK – TNT Sports subscribers can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and discovery+ / USA – ESPN+ & UFC Fight Pass

UFC on ESPN: Dolidze vs Hernandez main card

Roman Dolidze vs Anthony Hernandez (Middleweight)

Steve Erceg vs Ode' Osbourne (Bantamweight)

Iasmin Lucindo vs Angela Hill (Women’s Strawweight)

Andre Fili vs Christian Rodriguez (Featherweight)

Miles Johns vs Jean Matsumoto (Bantamweight)

Eryk Anders vs Christian Leroy Duncan (Middleweight)

UFC on ESPN: Dolidze vs Hernandez prelims

Julius Walker vs Raffael Cerqueira (Light Heavyweight)

Elijah Smith vs Toshiomi Kazama (Bantamweight)

Joselyne Edwards vs Priscila Cachoeira (Women’s Bantamweight)

Uros Medic vs Gilbert Urbina (Welterweight)

Gabriella Fernandes vs Julija Stoliarenko (Women’s Flyweight)

Cody Brundage vs Eric McConico (Light Heavyweight)

Steve Erceg: The fan-favorite “Astroboy” returns with a point to prove

Credited with handing current 125 pound kingpin Alexandre Pantoja one of his toughest tests to date, many thought that Steve Erceg (12-4) had done enough to take gold in a hard-fought decision loss to “The Cannibal” at UFC 301. Entering his first title tilt with a shiny 12-1 record, the fan-favorite “Astroboy” has regrettably fallen on tough times since his razor-thin defeat to Pantoja. Erceg was clubbed unconscious in harrowing fashion against Kai-Kara France, before dropping a clear cut decision to perennial top contender, Brandon Moreno in March. A slick striker with underrated grappling, the Australian makes his bantamweight debut on a mission to banish the demons associated with a three-fight losing streak.

Ode’ Osbourne: Can “The Jamaican Sensation” play spoiler in this one-off bantamweight showdown?

Serving as the other half of the co-main event of UFC on ESPN on ESPN 72, Ode Osbourne (13-8, 1 NC) enters this bout following a Performance of the Night winning TKO victory over Luis Gurule in April. Currently standing at 6-7 in the UFC since debuting in 2020, “The Jamaican Sensation” looks for what would be the biggest scalp of his career of his career by a considerable distance. The rangy Osbourne is a kill or be killed fighter, something that rarely sees him fail to entertain, but has also ended with him on the wrong end of a stoppage in 5 of his 6 UFC defeats.

Steve Erceg vs Ode’ Osbourne prediction

Contested at 135 pounds due to the short notice nature of this match-up after Alex Perez withdrew, both men could be close to their best without having to endure the draining cut to 125 pounds.

Unfortunately for Osbourne, his opponent would be hugely favored to win this one no matter the weight class; such is the apparent discrepancy in skill level between the two fighters. A former title challenger, Erceg has fought the cream of the crop at flyweight for the majority of his UFC run, while “The Jamaican Sensation” isn’t even currently ranked in one of the shallowest divisions that the UFC has to offer.

In terms of the actual contest, an extremely uncompetitive decision victory in favor of the Australian is the most likely outcome. While Erceg is arguably best known for a supremely nasty one-punch KO over Matt Schnell, he’s never actually been a consistent knockout threat throughout his career. “Astroboy’s” destruction of “Danger” was only his second KO in 16 pro fights, and it also came against one of the most notoriously chinny fighters in UFC history.

Osborne’s propensity for getting brutally finished is a concerning omen for the Jamaican and he could conceivably get flatlined out of nowhere here. However, the safer bet remains Erceg to swiftly find his flow state and cruise to a decision victory.