Former UFC fighter Muhammad Mokaev appeared to enjoy watching Steve Erceg experience a difficult night at the office this past weekend.
Erceg was among the home fighters in action at the UFC 305 pay-per-view event in Perth, Australia, taking to the Octagon amid crowd adoration inside the RAC Arena. Unfortunately for the recent flyweight title challenger, he joined the likes of Tai Tuivasa and Junior Tafa on the list of unsuccessful Aussies on fight night.
"AstroBoy's" co-main event opposite Kai Kara-France didn't reach the first horn, with the New Zealander earning a quick knockout to complete his emphatic return to action Down Under.
The difficult result for Erceg came just three months on from a competitive battle with champion Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 301 in Brazil, where he came inches away from upsetting the odds and capturing the flyweight gold.
But Erceg has now had his pursuit of a second title opportunity quickly stalled, and Mokaev, for one, seems to be taking joy from that fact...
Mokaev Cries Karma After Erceg Flattened By Kara-France At UFC 305
While Erceg isn't one for trash talk and heated feuds, he did recently get on the wrong side of Mokaev after giving his take on the Dagestan-born Brit's sudden UFC exit.
After the promotion chose not to re-sign "The Punisher, with Dana White citing issues away from the cage, Erceg claimed that Mokaev had displayed disrespectful behavior toward UFC staff.
The free agent was quick to dismiss those allegations, and he reiterated that Erceg is a 'liar' while reacting to an image of the Aussie following his first knockdown at the hands of Kara-France at UFC 305.
'That's what u get for lying," Mokaev wrote.
After this past weekend's result, Erceg has slipped to #8 in the flyweight rankings. Mokaev, meanwhile, lost his place high up the pecking order following the completion of his contract at UFC 304 in Manchester, where he got the better of Manel Kape in a lackluster affair.