Steve Erceg defeats Tim Elliott by unanimous decision at UFC Perth

Steve Erceg picked up a hard-fought unanimous decision victory over Tim Elliott at UFC Perth, with all three judges returning identical 29-28 scorecards in the flyweight contest.

Erceg, ranked ninth in the flyweight division, was the sharper striker throughout, outlanding Elliott 137 to 84 in significant strikes across the three rounds. The 30-year-old Australian, fighting out of Wilkes Martial Arts, now carries a 14-4 record and has strung together back-to-back wins inside the UFC. Operating from an orthodox stance at five-foot-eight with a 68-inch reach, Erceg lands an average of four significant strikes per minute at 45 percent accuracy, and also mixes in takedowns at a rate of 1.15 per 15 minutes to keep opponents honest.

Elliott, the 39-year-old American southpaw from Next Generation Mixed Martial Arts, entered the bout on a two-fight winning streak built entirely on stoppage finishes. Holding a record of 22-14-1 and ranked 11th at flyweight, Elliott is known for his relentless pressure and elite grappling output, averaging 3.71 takedown attempts per 15 minutes along with 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes. That threat was not enough on the night, and the decision loss snaps his recent momentum.

Why it matters

• Erceg climbs to 14-4 and consolidates his position at ninth in the flyweight rankings with consecutive UFC victories.
• Elliott falls to 22-14-1, ending his two-fight stoppage streak, and may slip further down the top-15 at flyweight.
• The striking margin — 137 to 84 in significant strikes — suggests Erceg was in control on the feet despite Elliott's grappling volume.
• The result keeps Erceg firmly in contention in a competitive 125-pound division.