Steve Erceg will be taking on UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 301 on May 4. The Australian fighter is currently ranked no.10 in the UFC’s flyweight division after only having made his debut in the promotion in 2023. But his impressive performance against Matt Schnell at UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs Gaziev led to a fast track to the title, a move that even surprised Erceg.

In an interview with Submission Radio he stated, “So, I was at the kitchen table eating KFC when I got the call, enjoying my break.” With a 3-fight win streak already under his belt, Erceg will be looking to etch his name in the history books if he prevails over Pantoja at UFC 301. But many fans have also found his choice of entrance music for his fights to be unique, as such, let’s take a look at ‘Astroboy’s theme song as he makes his way to the Octagon!

Steve Erceg has a unique choice when it comes to UFC walkouts

Steve Erceg began his fighting career in 2016 and competed in Australian organizations like Hex Fighting Series and Eternal MMA. After winning the flyweight title in Eternal MMA, and amassing a 9-1 record in his home country, he made the move to sign with the UFC.

But fans were intrigued by not just his fighting prowess, but also his choice of the theme for his walk to the cage. Erceg walks out to “You Don’t Mess Around With Jim” a song from the 1972 album of the same name by American singer-songwriter, Jim Croce.

He made his debut at UFC 289 against David Dvorak where he impressed the audience and the experts watching with an incredible unanimous decision victory that showcased his well-rounded MMA skills. The bout also won him his first ever, ‘Performance of the Night’ award.

For his next 2 UFC appearances at UFC 295 and UFC Vegas 87, Erceg used the same song. The lyrics of the track tell the story of a ‘pool hustler’ by the name of ‘Big’ Jim Walker who becomes a target of revenge by a man named Willie ‘Slim’ McCoy, who had been ‘hustled’ by Jim in the past. But while Erceg hasn’t yet made a statement about why he chose the song and the significance behind it for him, it does add another layer to his personality as it is a unique and memorable choice.

And while his theme music may remain the same at UFC 301, the news of getting a title opportunity after just 3-fights in the UFC drew an interesting response from ‘Astroboy’!

Erceg’s unexpected reaction to UFC 301 title shot

The upcoming UFC 301 event will feature an unexpected title challenger in the form of Steve Erceg, who secured a shot at flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja. Erceg’s meteoric rise to contention came swiftly, with the announcement arriving just two weeks after his impressive knockout victory over Matt Schnell at UFC Vegas 87. The news caught many off guard, including Erceg himself!

He stated in a recent interview, “It wasn’t a complete surprise just because I did get asked a few weird questions by the UFC broadcast team and that sort of stuff. Then, my dad actually predicted he thought that I’d get the fight next and I called him an idiot.”

While he did have to issue an apology to his father whose prediction did come true, Erceg expressed his thanks for the support pouring in from his hometown of Perth and across Australia, fueling his determination to bring the championship belt home.

And so, with the flyweight title on the line at UFC 301, Erceg’s journey from relative obscurity to championship contention serves as a testament to the unpredictability and excitement that defines the sport of mixed martial arts!