Steve Erceg defeats Tim Elliott via unanimous decision at UFC Perth

Steve Erceg picked up a vital divisional win at UFC Perth on May 2, 2026, defeating Tim Elliott by unanimous decision with all three judges returning identical 29-28 scorecards.

Erceg, the 30-year-old Australian flyweight out of Wilkes Martial Arts, improved his professional record to 14-4 with the victory. Ranked ninth in the flyweight division, he put on a striking clinic against Elliott, outlanding him 137 to 84 in significant strikes across the contest. Landing at a 45 percent accuracy rate and generating four significant strikes per minute on average, the orthodox stylist showed why he remains a genuine contender at 125 pounds. The win is also his second in a row after he had dropped three consecutive bouts — a run that threatened to derail his UFC career entirely.

Elliott, the 39-year-old American southpaw competing out of Next Generation Mixed Martial Arts, drops to 22-15-1 with the defeat. Ranked eleventh in the flyweight division, the veteran entered the contest on the back of a two-fight winning streak that featured two stoppages. Known for a high-volume grappling game — averaging 3.71 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes — Elliott was unable to impose that game plan effectively as Erceg kept the fight primarily on the feet.

Why it matters

• Erceg's consecutive wins push him up the flyweight rankings from ninth, keeping him in the frame for a top-ten matchup.
• Elliott's loss snaps a two-fight streak and, at 39, raises questions about his path back toward contention.
• The striking disparity — 137 to 84 in significant strikes — underscores the style contrast between Erceg's sharp boxing and Elliott's grappling-based approach.