[autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag]’s head coach [autotag]Sayif Saud[/autotag] thinks the public isn’t giving [autotag]Steve Erceg[/autotag] enough credit ahead of Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 64 main event.
Former two-time flyweight champion Moreno (22-8-2 MMA, 10-4-2 UFC) gets another headliner on home Mexican soil when he takes on Erceg (12-3 MMA, 3-2 UFC) at Arena CDMX in Mexico City (ESPN2, ESPN+). “The Assassin Baby” is the moderate favorite going into the five-round contest, and although his team at Fortis MMA and Saud have full confidence, they aren’t looking at this as a freebee in Moreno’s quest back to championship glory.
“Steve Erceg is a tough challenge,” Saud told MMA Junkie. “That’s kind of what’s getting lost in the weeds here. This kid is one of the toughest guys in the division. He lost to (Alexandre) Pantoja? OK. Everyone has been losing to Pantoja. Nothing but respect to the champ. And he got clipped by Kai Kara-France and that was a close fight and he caught him. … To look at Erceg like, ‘Oh yeah, he’s done.’ He’s the new breed. He’s got great boxing. Good jiu-jitsu. Very, very high fight IQ. Very, very smart. Very tough. Big, five-round cardio. He’s good.”
Saud understand that on paper Erceg, No. 9 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie flyweight rankings, looks to be in a rough spot on paper, but that also makes him more dangerous. He knows, because No. 3-ranked Moreno was just on a two-fight losing skid himself, and it took a lot of work to climb out of that hole.
He did it successfully at UFC Fight Night 246 in October, though, putting a five-round beating on Amir Albazi to take a lopsided unanimous decision. Now he looks to build on that momentum with another strong showing.
“Brandon’s in a different space since we took the break (after back-to-back losses),” Saud said. “The Albazi fight was one of the best fights he’s had. It was a masterpiece. It was five of rounds of him doing everything he wanted and he never got sloppy. It was really a nice performance. I think that was the key for him. He’s got the fire back.”
If Moreno wants to get the title back for a third reign, he will have to overcome what’s been a major career obstacle. He is 0-2-1 under the UFC banner when competing in Mexico, and has fallen short twice in the main event spot.
Saud said Moreno’s record in Mexico is not something that burdens him, and ultimately expect it to be put to rest with a victory.
“I would never say something is mental for Brandon Moreno,” Saud said. “It’s just a guy that’s overcome so much. But I would say the altitude is a big deal. That’s not a joke. Brandon’s attitude is he’s a two-time undisputed champion, looking to be a three-time. He’s looking to be the first one ever. He says, ‘You tell me I’ve got to win no matter what, so I’ve got to climb this mountain.’ I agree with that. So here we are.”
To hear more from Saud, check out his complete appearance on “The Bohnfire” podcast with MMA Junkie senior reporter Mike Bohn in the video above.
[lawrence-related id=2811428,2813397,2813288]
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 64.