What is Steve Erceg's nickname?

Steve Erceg made his professional mixed martial arts debut in 2016 and has been a part of 15 professional bouts as of March 29, 2025. Currently a part of the UFC roster, Erceg competed in various fight promotions before making his way into the premiere fight promotion.

Steve Erceg squared off against Ryan Robertson on February 12, 2016, at CDL Supercard in a flyweight showdown in his first fight as a professional fighter. He submitted Robertson via a guillotine choke in the second round and kickstarted his career on a winning note. Erceg beat Shannon Ross on March 7, 2020, at Eternal MMA 52 by first-round submission to win the Eternal MMA flyweight title.

On June 10, 2023, at UFC 289, Steve Erceg made his first walk to the UFC octagon. In his first fight in the organization, the Australian native squared off against David Dvorak and came up victorious by outclassing Dvorak by a unanimous decision. Since his debut, Steve Erceg has competed five times in the UFC and has lost just two fights in the promotion. His last outing was at UFC 305: Du Plessis vs. Adesanya, against Kai Kara France, on August 18, 2024. Erceg lost this bout via a TKO in the first round.

Steve Erceg's Nickname

Steve Erceg’s nickname is “Astroboy.” Unlike many fighters whose nicknames were developed in the heat of competition, Steve Erceg's nickname, "Astroboy," has a more upbeat genesis. During a casual brainstorming session for a nickname, Erceg offered "Wonderboy" because he shares a first name with Stephen Thompson.

However, his coach's ex-girlfriend came up with the surprise idea of "Astroboy," citing Erceg's likeness to the popular anime character. Despite its unorthodox origin, the term stuck with people around him. It was catchy, memorable, and perhaps a little appropriate.