Steve Erceg defeated Matt Schnell via KO, Round 2 - 0:26 at UFC Vegas 87 on Saturday, March 2, 2024, live from UFC APEX in Las Vegas, NV.
"I proved that I can strike... There is a guy coming off of two losses, Brandon Moreno, I don't care if it's in Australia or the Sphere, let's just make it happen," said Erceg after the fight. Moreno lost to Brandon Royval in his last fight at UFC Mexico on Feb. 24.
ONE AND DONE 😮💨
— UFC (@ufc) March 2, 2024
Steve Erceg kicks off this #UFCVegas87 main card with a second round KO! pic.twitter.com/Ac1uYVprnu
Mere seconds into the second round, the fight came to a dramatic climax. Erceg landed a right to the body and followed it with a left hook that flattened Schnell. Erceg's punch landed in the perfect position. Schnell just dropped to the canvas. The referee immediately ran in and stopped the fight.
Several fighters watching the afternoon UFC APEX card reacted on social media, with some hilarious posts.
UFC fighters react to Steve Erceg's walk-off knockout
Erceg looks like if Bem stiller and Steve carrel had a killer baby #UFCVegas87
— Renato Moicano UFC (@moicanoufc) March 2, 2024
That boy nice 🔥🔥🔥 he will fight for the belt someday
— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) March 2, 2024
After that first round we knew someone was eventually going out
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) March 2, 2024
Crazy knockout #UFCVegas87
— Renato Moicano UFC (@moicanoufc) March 2, 2024
Damn that was clean Erceg and Schnell are both dogs so this was bound to happen what a scrap #ufcvegas
— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) March 2, 2024
Apex always bringing the best fights OMG #UFC #UFCVegas87
— Thiago Moisés (@ThiagoMoisesMMA) March 2, 2024