UFC star Steve Erceg reflects on costly mistake in world title loss to Alexandre Pantoja

• Erceg’s decision to make a late withdrawal proved its undoing
• The Australian just had to win the round to claim the world title
• Erceg did not receive any performance bonus

Rising UFC star Steve Erceg has opened up about the ‘gaffe’ that cost him the flyweight belt, but says anyone who thinks he sucks can tell him to his face – in the cage .

Erceg’s battle with undisputed flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja in Brazil on Sunday was in the balance after four rounds.

Until then, Erceg controlled the fight when standing, but Pantoja had the advantage when it came to grappling.

Erceg entered the fifth and final round thinking he had to finish Pantoja to be crowned the winner.

In reality, Erceg only needed to win the fifth round on points to emerge victorious.

Erceg’s decision to twice attempt a takedown in the fifth round proved to be his undoing, with Pantoja able to take advantage of the situation to consolidate the victory.

The judges scored the fight 48-47, 48-47, 49-46.

“Obviously, with hindsight, it’s 20/20,” Erceg told AAP on Monday.

“I was winning on the feet. But I thought if I gave him the opportunity to shoot first (with a takedown), that might also cause me to lose the fight.

“So I thought I’d shoot first, and since he’s tired, I thought he’d slow down and I could stay on top.

“But obviously it didn’t work out that way and it ended up causing me to lose the fight, so that’s what I meant by ruining everything.”

Despite his excellent performance, Erceg was not rewarded with any of the subsequent US$50,000 performance bonuses, all of which were paid to the Brazilian fighters.

Sunday’s fight was only Erceg’s fourth in the UFC arena.

And although he was upset by the defeat, Erceg says the performance at least proved she deserved to be “among the big dogs.”

But the 28-year-old is also aware of the criticism.

“Of course people are going to have a lot to say about my wrestling or my IQ,” Erceg said.

“But if they have something to say and they think I’m rubbish, well, you know where to find me – in the cage.”

“I mean, everyone who analyzes the fight has a very similar point of view to me: I lost the fight, he didn’t win the fight.

“There are a lot of analysts whose opinions I respect who have said exactly that: I made a big mistake.

“It’s obviously not easy to hear, but it’s what I need to hear.”

Erceg is keen to return to the cage for UFC 305 in his hometown of Perth on August 18.

The West Australian needed just three UFC wins before landing his first shot at the flyweight belt, but he knows his next title fight may not happen as fast.

“It might take me three fights to get back there, it might take eight fights. You never really know,” he said.

As for the next fight on his wish list?

Erceg wants to continue fighting the elite, citing No. 1 challenger Brandon Royval, No. 5 Alex Perez and No. 6 Muhammad Mokaev as possibilities.