Steve Erceg was perhaps one round away from pulling off the upset at UFC 301.
However, the opportunity slipped away from the game Australian in the fifth round against Alexandre Pantoja, when the reigning champion countered a takedown and assumed top position, ultimately bleeding out the clock to clinch his victory from there. While Erceg often got the better of his opponent during exchanges, that decision might have cost him dearly, as Pantoja earned scoredcards of 48-47, 48-47 and 49-46 from the cageside judges.
“I thought that if I could win that last round at least, I’d give myself a chance,” Erceg said in his post-fight interview.