Overview
- Ramazan Temirov stopped former title challenger Steve Erceg by TKO at 4:21 of Round 1 in the UFC Abu Dhabi co‑main event on Saturday, July 25, 2026, after landing a series of crushing right hands that ended the bout.
- Temirov earned a Performance of the Night bonus for the finish and immediately called out top competition, naming No. 6 Lone'er Kavanagh as a possible next opponent.
- The win extends Temirov’s overall streak to 12 and his UFC record to 3‑0, while Erceg — who had been ranked around No. 13 entering the fight — is expected to lose his spot in the short term and likely take time off to recover.
- Erceg posted a social‑media video saying he is okay and thanking supporters, but the severity of the face‑plant knockout raises health and matchmaking concerns that will shape his near‑term career path.
- Temirov’s comeback carries context: this was his first fight after a roughly one‑year suspension for a positive test in 2025, and the emphatic finish immediately puts him into the division’s ranking conversation and nearer higher‑profile matchups.