Ivan Erslan hasn’t had the start to his UFC career that the Croatian veteran had hoped.
Erslan (14-5, 1NC) was a two-time title challenger in his old home of KSW, but has started his UFC run at 0-2. Despite that, thanks in part to a Junior Tafa injury, Erslan finds himself in the co-main event at UFC Perth, where he faces Jimmy Crute.
“It’s been a tough start for me. They give me pretty hard tests in first two fights. I got Ion Cutelaba and Navajo Stirling. I could do much better, I think my lack of experience in UFC got me,” Erslan said during this week’s UFC Perth media day. “I feel if I go now inside these two fights, I win this. But never mind.”
Instead, he added that “I feel good coming into this one. I think Jimmy is stylistically a much better fight for me than the previous two guys. So I’m really confident going into this one.”
Erslan added that there are “no doubts” heading into his co-main event fight with Crute, and called it an “opportunity to change my career.”
“I’m in a big stage, I’m co-main event, and now everything is on me. I will not miss this chance for sure. I’m going all in in this fight, I don’t care what he’s bringing. I know I’m capable of winning this fight.”
As far as enduring a hostile crowd with Crute being at home in Australia, Erslan noted that Croatia doesn’t get UFC events anyway. He’s used to a hostile crowd. “I will get them to my side when they see, when the fists start to fly. They will like it. [The] crowd likes an open fight, and I’m ready to bring them this.”
Watch the full UFC Perth media day appearance by Ivan Erslan above.
