Steve Erceg empowered by positive affirmations, sports psych for UFC Perth

Steve Erceg thinks there's power in speech.

That's why he's keeping it positive ahead of Saturday's UFC Fight Night 275 at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.

"I think part of it is, honestly, what you say makes a big difference," Erceg told reporters at a pre-fight news conference (h/t Southern Cross Combat). "When I think about the fight and say, 'Oh, I'm nervous.' Then, all of a sudden, I'm going to become more nervous. If I say, 'I'm excited,' all of a sudden I'll become more excited. What you speak and what you say translates into actions. Rather than thinking, 'Oh, Tim Elliott's good.' I'm thinking, 'Oh, I'm a bad man. He has to fight me.'"

Erceg (13-4 MMA, 4-3 UFC) worked with a sports psychologist to put the new methods into practice. He said his nerves are a lot lower coming into his fight vs. Elliott (21-13-1 MMA, 10-11 UFC).

"I think a lot of introspection, naturally," Erceg said. "I think looking at myself and trying to better myself, you learn a lot from all your experiences. But especially losses and trying to figure out what the highest-level athletes do compared to what I'm doing and what I'm thinking. Yeah, for sure I've been talking to a sports psych as well, and that's been helping. ... The nerves still come and go, but I'm a lot more relaxed. I'm more relaxed, for sure."

Erceg battles Elliott on the main card. While the fight is certainly important, Erceg doesn't see it as being immediately impactful to the title picture. He comes into the fight having snapped a three-fight skid in August.

"He looked really good (in his most recent fight)," Erceg said. "I've said it plenty of times. He's coming to make it messy. If I get drawn into his game too much, that's where he's going to really succeed. I'm going to go in there and do my thing. I obviously want it cleaner than he wants it. If I can do that, it's going to be a good night for me.

"... I think that it's very unlikely to be in the title mix immediately (with a win). I guess it depends on your definition of 'in the title mix.' I think I've got at least three or four fights to prove myself and get back, especially because of the parity at the moment in the division. I'm not looking at one big statement. I'm looking at good performances and stacking them up. I'm leaving no doubt that I should be there again."

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Steve Erceg empowered by positive affirmations, sports psych for UFC Perth