Steve Erceg and Muhammad Mokaev‘s rivalry has been everything but respectful, and recent occurrences suggest there is no hope of reconciliation. Their animosity worsened when ‘Astroboy’ accused Mokaev of mistreating UFC employees prior to his controversial release. However, Mokaev refused to let the situation go. Following Erceg’s horrific knockout loss to Kai Kara-France at UFC 305, ‘The Punisher’ texted him, mockingly asking him if he had “woken up.” While some might have let it go, Erceg made sure to have the final word.

The Australian flyweight spoke candidly on The Ariel Helwani Show. “Muhammad Mokaev messaged me after I got knocked out and asked if I’ve woken up, so yeah, I think he’s a knob,” Erceg said with a grin. “I imagine he was pretty upset he got cut.” Erceg rejected Mokaev’s comments as simply resentment over his UFC departure. Unlike ‘The Punisher,’ who currently competes in Brave Combat Federation, Erceg is focused on the top of the UFC flyweight category and is not spending time on a fighter who is no longer with the company.

Dana White‘s rejection to extend Mokaev’s contract was already a hard reality check for the undefeated flyweight, and Erceg’s comments only made matters worse. The head honcho has been vague about Mokaev’s firing, merely mentioning “behind-the-scenes” concerns and stating that the UFC matchmakers were dissatisfied with his actions. While ‘The Punisher’ hinted at future plans with a mysterious “signed” post on X, the reality remains: his UFC career ended on horrible terms, and ‘Astroboy’ made sure to remind him of that.

With Steve Erceg all geared up to fight former champion Brandon Moreno in Mexico City, there’s little need to continue the feud. But by taking one final shot at Muhammad Mokaev, ‘Astroboy’ made it clear: he’s moved on to bigger fights, whereas ‘The Punisher’ is stuck throwing jibes from the sidelines. In fact, such has been Steve Erceg’s journey in the Dana White-led promotion so far that even Brandon Moreno’s coach couldn’t help but be all praise for the MMA fighter.

Brandon Moreno’s coach praises the underdog Steve Erceg

With Steve Erceg preparing to meet Brandon Moreno, the emphasis has switched from verbal sparring to proving himself inside the cage. Despite being dubbed an underdog, ‘Astroboy’ has at least one high-profile supporter: Brandon Moreno’s head coach, Sayif Saud. While most see this as Moreno’s chance to reassert himself as a title contender, Saud sees Erceg as more than simply a stepping stone. Instead, he sees a fighter who has been ignored and underappreciated but is still one of the division’s most dangerous threats.

“People aren’t giving Steve Erceg enough credit,” Saud stated ahead of UFC on ESPN 64. He argued that Erceg’s potential should not be defined by losses to Alexandre Pantoja and Kai Kara-France, especially given Pantoja’s recent dominance in the division. Aside from that, Saud commended Erceg’s technical ability, describing him as a “new breed” of flyweight with crisp boxing, strong fight IQ, and relentless cardio.

He said, “Steve Erceg is a tough challenge. That’s kind of what’s getting lost in the weeds here. This kid is one of the toughest guys in the division.” It’s unusual for a rival camp to provide such a good review, but it simply affirms the idea that Erceg’s rise isn’t just hype—it’s real.

Nonetheless, Moreno’s team maintains its confidence. Saud admitted that Moreno is in a much better space now, particularly following his overwhelming victory over Amir Albazi last October. While history implies Mexico has not been the kindest battleground for Moreno, his mindset remains unshaken. He’s not here to relive past struggles; he’s here to make history by winning a third title.

As for Steve Erceg, this fight is more than just a chance to silence critics. If he pulls off the upset, it sends a clear message to the entire flyweight division: he’s not just here to compete; he’s coming to dominate. What do you think? Who will win the fight? Let us know in the comments.