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.