9.2 million populated city in Mexico ‘recognized’ UFC star Steve Erceg more than his home country

Steve Erceg gets confused after receiving attention from Mexican MMA fans ahead of his flyweight bout with Brandon Moreno this weekend.

9.2 million populated city in Mexico ‘recognized’ UFC star Steve Erceg more than his home country

Steve Erceg compares his stardom in Mexico City with Australia (via X)

Steve Erceg is among the most entertaining fighters in the UFC flyweight division, captivating fans with dynamic skills and Steve Carrell-like persona. Although relatively new to the promotion, he has already challenged for the title, undeniably proving his merit among elite contenders. His growing fan base mirrors his impressive achievements, as he has earned undeniable relevance at an international level. 

Steve Erceg is set to fight former flyweight champion Brandon Moreno at UFC Fight Night this Saturday in an exciting showdown. The hype surrounding this fight is massive, fueled by Mexico City’s deep-rooted and passionate fighting culture among local fans. In a recent interview, Erceg shared his unique experience competing there as an Australian fighter adapting to expectations.

I feel like I have got recognized more here than I do in Perth. I don’t know if that’s because people in Perth don’t wanna bother me. But I feel like more people came up to me here.

Steve Erceg via The Ariel Helwani Show 

Mexico City has a population of 9.2 million and has a huge culture of boxing and MMA. Through his five-fight UFC career, Erceg has only once been in Perth, where he lost to Kai Kara-France. It was his second loss in a row, the first one coming against the champion Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 301. Going into the UFC Fight Night in Mexico, Erceg is eager to bounce back and return to the win column. 

On the other hand, Moreno will go into the fight with a win, which he took against Amir Albazi at UFC Edmonton. Before that, he was on a two-fight losing streak, out of which one was a controversial decision against Pantoja. Moreno has won the flyweight title two times in the past but hasn’t been consistent in defending it.

UFC veteran talks about Brandon Moreno vs. Steve Erceg

Brandon Moreno struggles with inconsistency due to elite competition constantly exposing weaknesses in his striking, grappling, and overall fight IQ. His aggressive pressure style sometimes backfires against technical opponents who can counter his attacks and control the fight’s pace effectively. Defensive flaws make him absorb unnecessary damage, leading to close fights where minor mistakes cost him victories. 

Steve Erceg vs. Brandon Moreno face off
Steve Erceg vs. Brandon Moreno face off (via Instagram)

Years of grueling wars have taken a toll, causing injuries and dips in performance that make him vulnerable against well-prepared challengers. However, going into the upcoming bout, the Mexican fighter is confident. In a recent interview, former UFC fighter Paul Felder shared his opinion on Moreno.

He’s being put on the face of Mexican MMA and they want him there so much to draw attention, and that brings a lot of pressure to it…He likes to have his own team and camp around him. Then, it’s the financial burden. Bringing the whole team to altitude, prepping in altitude – it’s just so much that goes into that. Then how many people are hitting up somebody like Brandon Moreno when he’s in Mexico City and he’s getting ready for a main event and he’s got to do all the press that goes with it?

Paul Felder via Mike Bohn

The UFC has aggressively pushed to expand in Mexico by hosting events, opening a Performance Institute in the process. It has prompted stars like Brandon Moreno and Yair Rodriguez to spread the fan base. UFC Mexico City cards increased local interest while Dana White sought future champions. Development programs built talent, making Mexico a crucial market for the UFC’s growth.

UFC’s global expansion plan 

The UFC is actively exploring new venues to expand its global footprint. The CEO has talked about potentially holding events in big countries with active fan bases. One of them is Spain, and with Ilia Topuria‘s stardom, there is a great possibility of it happening soon. 

Dana White's plan to expand UFC
Dana White’s plan to expand UFC (via X)

Other than that, the UFC had also talked about events in Africa. The middleweight champion, Dricus Du Plessis, is a huge opportunity for the promotion to make it work. Beyond these specific locations, the UFC is planning to broaden its reach, including a fight night event Azerbaijan. They are planning on reducing events at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and increasing live events in various cities. 

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