Ramazan Temirov Stops Steve Erceg in Abu Dhabi

Ramazan Temirov delivered one of the defining performances from UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs Guskov in Abu Dhabi, stopping former title challenger Steve Erceg in the opening round. The 29-year-old Uzbek fighter used a damaging spinning back kick to the body, then built on that breakthrough with constant forward movement and heavy punches until Erceg could no longer withstand the attack. The result gave Temirov the 12th knockout victory of his career and placed his name firmly in the conversation at 125 pounds.

The UFC Octagon returned to the United Arab Emirates for the event at Etihad Arena on July 25, 2026, and Temirov’s finish stood out as a major statement in the flyweight division. Erceg arrived with the distinction of being a former title challenger, giving Temirov a proven opponent for a performance that UFC.com described as huge. Temirov did not simply land one isolated strike and retreat. After the body kick dropped Erceg, he stalked him around the Octagon, working with fastball overhands while continuing to apply pressure. That sustained approach is central to understanding why the finish matters: Temirov turned a pivotal early moment into a complete first-round takeover.

Temirov turns body kick into a finish

The decisive sequence began when Ramazan Temirov landed a huge spinning back kick to Steve Erceg’s body and dropped him. From there, Temirov pressed the action rather than allowing Erceg time to reset. UFC.com’s event recap described Temirov stalking his opponent around the Octagon and throwing fastball overhands, an attack that paired force with urgency. As the first round continued, Temirov began to find his range more consistently. Once he connected, the finish followed.

Temirov’s performance was defined by more than a single technique. The source specifically credited his relentless pressure, heavy hands and sheer energy as too much for Erceg to handle. Those details show the different layers behind the stoppage: the spinning kick created the opening, his positioning kept Erceg under threat, and his punches maintained the momentum. In a bout against a former title challenger, that combination gave Temirov a clear showcase for the attributes UFC.com emphasized. He left Abu Dhabi with a first-round finish, a career knockout milestone and a stronger profile in the 125-pound picture.

A larger moment at 125 pounds

UFC.com characterized Uzbekistan as having a legitimate contender at 125 pounds in Temirov. That assessment was tied directly to the Erceg result and the manner in which it was achieved. Temirov said after securing his 12th knockout win that he was ready to take over the division. The source did not confirm a next opponent or title shot, and it stated that whether his next fight will be for the title remains to be seen. Still, it made clear that Temirov’s next Octagon appearance is expected to come in a fight with major championship implications at 125 pounds.

• Ramazan Temirov dropped Steve Erceg with a spinning back kick to the body before finishing him in the first round.
• The Abu Dhabi victory marked Temirov’s 12th knockout win of his career and strengthened the UFC.com view of him as a 125-pound contender.

Ramazan Temirov’s Abu Dhabi performance supplied both an emphatic finish and meaningful division context. He stopped a former title challenger in the first round, did so through a sequence built around a body kick, pressure and heavy hands, and added a 12th career knockout to his record. A title shot has not been confirmed, but UFC.com’s assessment leaves little doubt about the scale of the opportunity ahead: Temirov has emerged from this result as a serious figure in the 125-pound championship picture.

Sources: UFC.com