Opening up the main card of UFC Vegas 89, Matt Schnell and Steve Erceg look to climb the rankings as they face off in the flyweight division.
Steve Erceg Sparks Matt Schnell In The Opening Round
Holding a professional record of 16-7(1), Schnell is known for his submission skills and has garnered attention with two ‘Fight of the Night’ bonuses in 2022. Despite suffering a knockout loss to Matheus Nicolau in his last outing, Schnell’s experience and offensive grappling make him a dangerous opponent. His striking accuracy stands at 39%, landing around 4.24 significant strikes per minute, with a takedown accuracy of 44%. Schnell has a reach advantage of 70 inches, which he utilizes effectively in both striking and grappling exchanges.
Steve Erceg
On the other hand, Erceg boasts a record of 11-1, marking his presence in the UFC with a steady and less tumultuous career compared to Schnell. Erceg has showcased his skill set across various organizations, ultimately defending the Eternal MMA flyweight title before joining the UFC ranks. His UFC debut against David Dvorak saw him coming out as the underdog, yet he secured a unanimous decision victory. Erceg’s striking accuracy is slightly lower than Schnell’s at 38%, with an average of 3.6 significant strikes landed per minute. His grappling game is strong, with a takedown accuracy of 75%, making him an excellent contender on the ground.
The matchup is expected to test Schnell’s chin, which has taken considerable damage in recent years, against Erceg’s precise striking and grappling. While Erceg may not possess knockout power, his jab and leg kicks are expected to maintain distance and control the pace of the fight. The bout could ultimately come down to grappling exchanges, where both fighters excel in scrambles. Although Erceg is favoured to win by decision due to his ability to control the fight with takedowns and maintain distance, Schnell’s experience and knack for finding submissions in scrambles make him a significant underdog worth watching.
What Unfolded at UFC Vegas 87
In the first, Schnell tries to take control of the centre of the Octagon and land immediately, but it’s Erceg who’s finding the right moments to land and put himself in harm’s way, coming off the better of the two in the opening first. The Erceg jab is finding its home and has Schnell bleeding from the eye. Erceg landed the biggest punch of the fight, which stumbled Schnell back momentarily. However, after feeling a bit too comfortable, he ate a huge combination of Schnell’s of his own. A display of boxing from both fighters in the first, with Erceg’s showing superior.
The second started and it was quickly finished after Erceg pulls off a highlight walk-off knockout. A one two, left-hook, and that’s a wrap.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
