After a hard-fought loss to Brandon Moreno at UFC Mexico City, Steve Erceg remains one of the top contenders in the flyweight division. Despite the defeat, he showed incredible durability, crisp striking, and the ability to go five rounds against a former champion. While he came up short, Erceg is still a dangerous threat in the division and has plenty of room to grow.
A logical next step for Erceg would be a matchup against Tatsuro Taira, another rising star in the flyweight ranks. Taira, a dynamic Japanese prospect, recently suffered his first professional loss to Brandon Royval in a competitive five-round battle. With both fighters looking to rebound and make their case for title contention, a showdown between Erceg and Taira would be an exciting clash of styles.
Erceg’s well-rounded skill set, with strong striking and submission abilities, would be tested against Taira’s slick grappling and high fight IQ. Both fighters have shown the ability to finish fights, but they’ve also demonstrated toughness and the ability to go the distance. The winner of this matchup could find themselves right back in the title picture, potentially earning a shot at the top five.
A fight between Erceg and Taira could serve as a co-main event or a Fight Night headliner, delivering an elite technical battle between two of the division’s best prospects. The UFC flyweight division is deeper than ever, and this fight would help determine the next wave of challengers.
Steve Erceg – Last Five Fights:
* Loss – Brandon Moreno, Decision (unanimous) – UFC on ESPN: Moreno vs. Erceg (March 29, 2025)
* Loss – Kai Kara-France, TKO (punches) – UFC 305 (August 18, 2024)
* Loss – Alexandre Pantoja, Decision (unanimous) – UFC 301 (May 4, 2024) – For the UFC Flyweight Championship
* Win – Matt Schnell, KO (punch) – UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Gaziev (March 2, 2024) – Performance of the Night
* Win – Alessandro Costa, Decision (unanimous) – UFC 295 (November 11, 2023)
Tatsuro Taira – Last Five Fights:
* Loss – Brandon Royval, Decision (split) – UFC Fight Night: Royval vs. Taira (October 12, 2024) – Fight of the Night
* Win – Alex Perez, TKO (knee injury) – UFC on ESPN: Perez vs. Taira (June 15, 2024) – Performance of the Night
* Win – Carlos Hernandez, TKO (punches) – UFC Fight Night: Song vs. Gutiérrez (December 9, 2023)
* Win – Edgar Chairez, Decision (unanimous) – UFC 290 (July 8, 2023)
* Win – Jesús Santos Aguilar, Submission (triangle armbar) – UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Spivac (February 4, 2023) – Performance of the Night
