Star delivers outrageous knockout of the year contender to stun UFC world

Fight fans couldn’t believe their eyes when a UFC star delivered one of the most hellacious KO finishes the Octagon has ever seen.

Zac Rayson

3 min read

March 3, 2024 - 12:51PM

It was a brutal day of action in Vegas.

Australia's Steve Erceg has claimed a thunderous knockout victory at the UFC Apex, crushing Matthew Schnell in the second round with a vicious walk-off KO.

Meanwhile, there was a knockout of the year contender, and another Aussie Tyson Pedro called time on his career after a tough loss.

Erceg had been using his pinpoint striking accuracy from range effectively throughout the first round. Less than 30 seconds into the second round, Erceg landed a brutal one-two, the second shot an explosive left hook that caught Schnell flush on the side of the head and sent him crumpling to the canvas.

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Speaking in commentary, MMA legend Michael Bisping roared: “It was a perfect shot, a perfect combination. A one-two, left hook right on the button … and you knew, the way that he hit the canvas, this fight is over!”

It was a third-straight UFC victory for ‘AstroBoy’ Erceg, who is now unbeaten in his last 11 bouts (12-1 overall) and will move into the top ten on the UFC flyweight rankings.

The 28-year-old said: “Man it’s amazing. So many people tell me I’ve got no head movement. I might not have proved I have head movement but I can f***ing strike!”

“He’s coming pretty hard. His hands do come down a lot when he starts swinging. I just felt like there was a home as he was striking me.”

He then called out Brandon Moreno – a former two-time UFC Flyweight Champion who is coming off two losses.

Stand up, WESTERN AUSTRALIA!!! Your boy Steve Erceg just delivered a BRUTAL KO for a third straight UFC win.

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— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) March 2, 2024

On the prelims of the card (UFC Vegas 87 at the Apex), Brazilian debutant Vinicius Oliveira delivered a staggering knockout of the year contender with a flying knee finish over Bernardo Sopaj.

11-3 Sopaj is a promising bantamweight talent, but the last-minute replacement for Yanis Ghemmouri couldn’t keep up with now 20-3 Oliveira.

Fading in the third round, Sopaj’s leg buckled badly after a low kick from Oliveira. As Sopaj retreated, clearly badly hurt, Oliveira hunted him across the cage and unleashed a flying knee to the chin.

Sopaj was out cold and the referee immediately waved off the fight with under 20 seconds remaining.

It was a brutal day of action in Vegas.

AUSSIE STAR RETIRES

Meanwhile, veteran Australian light heavyweight Tyson Pedro lost a tough unanimous decision (30-27x2, 29-28) to undefeated rising star Vitor Petrino (now 11-0).

Pedro started well with leg kicks but never managed to get into his rhythm against the powerful striking of his rival, and was dominated on the ground in the third round.

After the fight, his 11th in the UFC, Pedro called time on his career.

The Aussie classily waited for his opponent to be interviewed in the octagon before speaking.

“I didn’t want to take away from his win. I obviously bit of a different plan, going this way. It wasn’t the best performance,” he said.

“Thank you to all the fans. I wanted to say thank you very much to the UFC for everything they’ve done on this journey, especially thanks to my team, anyone that’s helped me get to this stage of my martial arts career.

“It’s been amazing but it’s always been my intention to show my daughter that as long as you work your arse off and grind towards what you love, you can do anything you dream of.

“I think my dreams have just changed at this point. So that’s it for me for the UFC.