Tag: Brandon Moreno

Coach: Brandon Moreno ‘most complete’ flyweight, matches up best with UFC champ Alexandre Pantoja

Sayif Saud still thinks Brandon Moreno has the best chance to dethrone UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja.

[autotag]Sayif Saud[/autotag] still thinks [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] has the best chance to dethrone UFC flyweight champion [autotag]Alexandre Pantoja[/autotag].

Moreno (22-8-2 MMA, 10-5-2 UFC) has lost to Pantoja three times, most recently falling short by split decision in their title fight at UFC 290 in July 2023. He went on to lose a unanimous decision to Brandon Royval this past February, before opting to take some time off.

However, the former two-time UFC flyweight champion returned with a bang when he snapped Amir Albazi’s six-fight winning streak with a dominant performance in the UFC Fight Night 246 main event this past November.

“You look at the talent of the flyweights, I mean they are so good, all of them,” Saud told MMA Junkie. “Manel (Kape) looked amazing, Royval. But to me, Brandon (Moreno) is still the most complete one overall, and I think when you look at Brandon’s last fight with Pantoja, I feel like if that was judged now with the judging now, we win that fight off of damage.

“That fight was so close, and it’s kind of gotten lost in the cards because Brandon has lost to him before. But the thing is, I feel like Brandon now is even better, but Pantoja is even better. The reason you can’t say anything is because Pantoja is going out there and dominating people and finishing them. It’s like you’ve got to put a new name in the hat.”

Saud knows another fight with Pantoja is a tough sell, but with the way the champion has been tearing through competition, he doesn’t see Moreno being too far away from a potential fourth fight.

“We’ve just got to see what happens with Brandon, and Brandon is one fight away I think all the time,” Saud said. “But, with who? And I understand Mick Maynard and the UFC not giving us the title shot right now. They’ve already fought so many times, even though I think it’s probably the best fight, personally. I think Kai (Kara-France) is amazing and is going to do great on the feet (vs. Pantoja), but I just don’t know if he’s going to be able to handle that ground game. But, he’s not easy to take down either.

“You saw Albazi take him down and take his back although Kai handled it, and you saw what Brandon did to Albazi. Albazi couldn’t even get close to him. It wasn’t even close. So I think Brandon probably matches up the best with Pantoja, and I think he could absolutely win that fight, but because of their past and history, we’ve just got to sit and wait and see what happens, see if somebody drops from Manel and Royval, if one of them gets hurt, step in and fight that guy, (or) fight somebody else, and see what happens.”

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Brandon Moreno determined to reclaim UFC title, breaks down what could come next

Back in the win column after taking a break, Brandon Moreno is confident he has another UFC flyweight title reign in him.

There’s no denying how tough it is to win a UFC championship, but historically it might be even tougher to reclaim a UFC title after losing it.

[autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag], who held the UFC flyweight title just a year ago, is on a mission to regain what was once his after making his return earlier this month and dominating top contender Amir Albazi in the main event of UFC Fight Night 246. It was an impressive showing from Moreno (22-8-2 MMA, 10-5-2 UFC) that got his fans hopeful in his ability to compete at the championship level.

“The Assassin Baby” has set his sights again on UFC gold, and he’s confident he can once again rule the division.

“Right now I’m very focused on the title,” Moreno told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “I seriously think that I can become champion again, especially after the showing that I had (against Albazi), so I’m going to stay on that path.”

Moreno lost the UFC flyweight title in July 2023, coming up short in a split decision against Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 290. He then dropped another split decision to Brandon Royval in February before announcing a break from MMA competition that lasted eight months.

The 30-year-old is happy to be back in the win column, but he knows there’s work to be done before he can realistically get a crack at the title.

“Being very honest with myself, I think that sporting wise, Royval is likely the one who most deserves the opportunity,” Moreno said of the title picture at flyweight. “I have no problem saying that at all. He’s done a very good job, and in his last fight against Tatsura (Taira), he looked very good. It was a great fight. There’s also Kai (Kara France), but he’s in a very weird position because I do think he can deserve it, he did have an incredible knockout against (Steve) Erceg, but I think my performance was very good, and Royval is right there, too. I think Kai has the most awkward position.

“So for me, I think I need to do one more fight. And as far as names, there’s Tatsuro Taira, Manel Kape is there, as well. I don’t know what’s going to happen with Kai Asakura – if he loses (to Pantoja at UFC 310), that can be an option. So I’m just going to be ready for whatever comes next. I’m just going to keep healthy and stay ready.”

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Photos: Jon Jones’ UFC 309 custom Venum fight shorts feature tattooed Bible verse, roaring lion heads

Check out photos of Jon Jones’ custom shorts for his title fight against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309.

Unique fight shorts are the new wave in the UFC, and heavyweight champ [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] will rock his first custom Venum fight kit shorts at UFC 309 when he puts his title on the line against Stipe Miocic.

Jones has only competed once thus far in the Venum era. He wore black shorts when he made his heavyweight debut against Ciryl Gane at UFC 285. Jones won the vacant UFC heavyweight title that night by submitting Gane in the first round.

Jones will wear his first custom Venum kit for his first title defense on Nov. 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

The black shorts feature two red roaring lion heads with gold lettering for Jones’s name, the UFC and Venum logos, and Philippians 4:13, the Bible verse the champ tattooed on his chest.

Jones joins the recent wave of custom Venum kits, which have caught the attention of fans as the designs allow some star fighters to differentiate themselves in the cage.

UFC light heavyweight champ Alex Pereira wore a vibrant tribal design at UFC 300, while former bantamweight champ Sean O’Malley debuted neon pink shorts at UFC 306 as recent examples of popular custom offerings.

Last week at UFC Fight Night 246 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, former UFC flyweight champ [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] rocked custom Mexico-themed shorts that turned many heads as well.

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Brandon Royval: Brandon Moreno’s win over Amir Albazi cleared way for my UFC title shot

Brandon Royval explains why he loves his position in the UFC flyweight title picture thanks to Brandon Moreno beating Amir Albazi.

It was in [autotag]Brandon Royval[/autotag]’s best interest for [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] to beat [autotag]Amir Albazi[/autotag].

Former champion Moreno (22-8-2 MMA, 10-5-2 UFC) returned in peak form when he battered a tough Albazi (17-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) for five rounds in this past Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 246 main event in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Considering that Royval’s past two wins have come against Moreno then formerly unbeaten Tatsuro Taira in a Fight of the Night effort, the 32-year-old thinks he just became the clear-cut No. 1 contender.

“I think the only thing that it cleared up completely was that I’m next for the title shot,” Royval told MMA Junkie. “I think that’s what it did. It just cleared the way for me and keep everything going. I thought he (Moreno) looked sick. I had such a good time watching him. I liked the look in his eye when he walked out. The moment he walked out, I was like, ‘All right, cool, this is what I want to see: a pissed-off Brandon Moreno ready to go.’

“And he fought with a f*cking attitude and chip on his shoulder, and I loved that. I really, in my head, just think the flyweight division – I feel we get a lot of criticism of because the top three, top four guys are just clearing out everybody and just kind of staying in the top three, top four, but I feel like the flyweight division has been more exciting than it’s ever been.”

Royval (17-7 MMA, 7-3 UFC) won’t immediately get his wish. He has to wait for flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja to defend his title against ex-RIZIN champion Kai Asakura on Dec. 7 at UFC 310 – but he expects to face the winner.

“If they’re not going to bring anybody in, and it’s between me, Moreno and Kai Kara-France, it’s definitely me,” Royval said. “I feel like that’s the only thing that makes sense. Moreno and Kai Kara-France have some sick wins against some sick opponents, and they did a great job. But that being said, I have a win over both those guys, and I think if it’s between us three, it’s me.”

Royval has no issue with newcomer Asakura getting a title shot in his UFC debut. In fact, after fighting both Moreno and Pantoja twice, he could use a new face.

“I’m a fan of it,” Royval said on Asakura’s addition. “I want fresh blood, too. We’re talking about three rematches as a possibility. Like, I could fight Kai Kara-France next, Brandon Moreno, and Pantoja next, and the only one I’m ready to go do is fight Pantoja next. If Kai Asakura wins that belt, I think that’s going to be one of the better fights of the year. Me and Kai Asakura are both guys who bring fights.”

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USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, Nov. 5: Former champ Brandon Moreno on the rise again at flyweight

Check out the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings following UFC Fight Night 246 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

UFC Fight Night 246 took place last weekend in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and it produced a key update in the men’s flyweight rankings.

Former UFC flyweight champion [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] turned in a dominant performance against Amir Albazi in the main event. Moreno controlled the fight from beginning to end, only losing one round on one judge’s scorecard.

Entering the week at No. 5, Moreno replaces Albazi at No. 3, who falls down one spot in this week’s rankings update.

The co-main event featured a top 10 women’s flyweight bout between No. 4 Erin Blanchfield and No. 9 Rose Namajunas. Blanchfield had to dig deep to overcome the early advantage of the former strawweight champion, but she pulled out a big win to keep her name in title contention.

Check out all the latest pound-for-pound and divisional USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings.

UFC Edmonton review: Is Brandon Moreno still a title threat? Did Erin Blanchfield show evolution?

Brandon Moreno and Erin Blanchfield both came through with big wins at UFC Edmonton. We discuss on “Spinning Back Clique.”

Big things are happening in both the UFC men’s and women’s flyweight divisions.

This past Saturday at UFC Fight Night 246, former UFC champion [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] returned after taking a break from MMA competition to defeat streaking contender [autotag]Amir Albazi[/autotag] in the main event. In the co-main, [autotag]Erin Blanchfield[/autotag] got her hand raised after going toe to toe in a hard-fought decision with former champion [autotag]Rose Namajunas[/autotag].

What’s next for Moreno and, more importantly, is he still a threat to the title? Did Blanchfield show evolution, and should UFC grant her wish to fight Alexa Grasso?

MMA Junkie’s Brian “Goze” Garcia, Nolan King, Danny Segura and host Gorgeous “George” discuss the performances and what should come next for the fighters involved.

Watch their discussion in the video above, and don’t miss this week’s complete episode of “Spinning Back Clique” below on YouTube.

https://youtube.com/live/G_MvMlbjAX0

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Overreaction Time: UFC drops the ball, Colby Covington’s time up, DDP makes a big mistake, more!

Check out the latest episode of “Overreaction Time” as host Simon Samano and Mike Bohn cover big UFC event developments and more.

The time for overreacting is here!

Check out the latest episode of “Overreaction Time” at noon ET/9 a.m. PT as host Simon Samano and MMA Junkie senior reporter Mike Bohn debate these “overreactions” on the following topics in mixed martial arts:

  • UFC dropped the ball by not booking [autotag]Shavkat Rakhmonov[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Ian Machado Garry[/autotag] at UFC 310.
  • [autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag] should be cut from the UFC.
  • [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] has another UFC flyweight title run in him – and this one will last a while.
  • [autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag] wanting [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag] instead of [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] is a big mistake.
  • Just a reminder: [autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag] has no chance of beating [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag].

Watch the full episode in the video above.

Spinning Back Clique REPLAY: Brandon Moreno’s return, Belal Muhammad out of UFC 310, Max Holloway’s move

On “Spinning Back Clique,” the panel discusses Brandon Moreno’s return, Belal Muhammad’s UFC 310 withdrawal and much more.

Check out this week’s “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly live show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts.

This week’s panel of Brian “Goze” Garcia, Nolan King and Danny Segura will join host “Gorgeous” George Garcia live at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) to discuss and debate the following topics:

  • UFC Fight Night 246 went down Saturday in Canada and left us with two key results at men’s and women’s flyweight. In the main event, former champion [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] successfully returned to action after taking a break from the sport by dominating [autotag]Amir Albazi[/autotag] in a unanimous decision win. Also, [autotag]Erin Blanchfield[/autotag] outpointed [autotag]Rose Namajunas[/autotag] in a hard-fought decision to cement herself as a top title contender. What happens next? We discuss.
  • Bad news. UFC welterweight champion [autotag]Belal Muhammad[/autotag] suffered a foot injury and was forced out of his title bout against [autotag]Shavkat Rakhmonov[/autotag] in the main event of UFC 310. This leaves a big hole to fill since the bout was scheduled to headline the final pay-per-view of the year. Should the UFC implement an interim title? If so, who should fight for it? We react to Muhammad’s injury and how it impacts both UFC 310 and the welterweight division.  
  • A lot of news went down this past week, including fight bookings and retirements. Former UFC champion [autotag]Germaine de Randamie[/autotag] announced her retirement from the sport; the UFC booked a key welterweight bout between [autotag]Ian Machado Garry[/autotag] and [autotag]Joaquin Buckley[/autotag] for December; and featherweight all-time great [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] revealed he is moving back up to lightweight. We analyze those headlines and more.
  • We close out the show by previewing Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 247 event in Las Vegas. We break down the welterweight bout between [autotag]Neil Magny[/autotag] and rising contender [autotag]Carlos Prates[/autotag] headlining the card, along with other standout bouts.

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Mick Maynard’s Shoes: What’s next for Brandon Moreno after UFC Fight Night 246 win?

What does the future hold for UFC Fight Night 246 main event winner Brandon Moreno? We attempt to play matchmaker.

Former champion [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] returned with a statement performance Saturday against Amir Albazi in the UFC Fight Night 246 main event.

After taking a brief break from competition, Moreno (22-8-2 MMA, 10-4-2 UFC) came back in prime form to batter and bloody Albazi (17-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) for five rounds en route to a unanimous decision at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Moreno is undoubtedly a key name in the flyweight division with a legacy in the weight class, but given he’s fought most of the top names already, and some of them multiple times, it puts him in a curious position in terms of a title path.

What should be next for Moreno? Watch the video above for thoughts and analysis on his future after UFC Fight Night 246.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 246.

UFC Fight Night 246 post-event facts: Edmonton return produces third-longest card in UFC history

Check out all the facts from UFC Fight Night 246, which was the third-longest event in UFC history in terms of fight time.

UFC Fight Night 246 on Saturday opened the promotion’s November event schedule with a 13-fight lineup that went down at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

In the main event, former flyweight champion [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] (22-8-2 MMA, 10-4-2 UFC) returned from a self-imposed hiatus with force to batter and bloody [autotag]Amir Albazi[/autotag] (17-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) for five rounds en route to a unanimous decision.

For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC Fight Night 246.

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The UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payout for the event totaled $196,500.

[autotag]Dustin Stoltzfus[/autotag], [autotag]Jasmine Jasudavicius[/autotag], [autotag]Charles Jourdain[/autotag], [autotag]Youssef Zalal[/autotag]. earned $50,000 UFC Fight Night 246 fight-night bonuses.

UFC Fight Night 246 had an announced attendance of 16,439 for a live gate of $2,600,463.

Betting favorites went 11-2 on the card.

Betting favorites improved to 27-10 in UFC headliners this year.

Total fight time for the 13-bout card was 3:06:38.

The 3:06:38 of total fight time marked the third-longest event in UFC history behind UFC 263 (3:19:32) and UFC 251 (3:07:27).

Moreno improved to 7-3-2 since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in September 2019.

Moreno’s 10 victories in UFC flyweight competition are tied for fourth-most in divisional history behind Demetrious Johnson (13), Joseph Benavidez (13) and Alexandre Pantoja (12).

Moreno has earned four of his 10 UFC victories by decision.

Albazi has suffered both of his career losses by decision.

Albazi has completed at least one takedown against all six of his UFC opponents.

[autotag]Erin Blanchfield[/autotag] (13-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC) has earned four of her seven UFC victories by decision.

[autotag]Rose Namajunas[/autotag] (13-7 MMA, 11-6 UFC) fell to 2-2 since she moved up to the women’s flyweight division in September 2023.

Namajunas has suffered five of her seven career losses by decision.

[autotag]Brendson Ribeiro[/autotag] (16-7 MMA, 1-2 UFC) earned the first decision victory of his career.

[autotag]Caio Machado[/autotag] (8-4-1 MMA, 0-3 UFC) was unsuccessful in his light heavyweight debut.

Machado has suffered all four of his career losses by decision.

[autotag]Jasmine Jasudavicius[/autotag] (12-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC) has earned both of her UFC stoppage victories by submission.

[autotag]Ariane da Silva[/autotag] (17-10 MMA, 6-7 UFC) suffered the first submission loss of her career.

[autotag]Dustin Stoltzfus[/autotag] (15-7 MMA, 2-6 UFC) has earned two of his three UFC victories by stoppage.

[autotag]Mike Malott[/autotag] (11-2-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) earned the first decision victory of his career.

[autotag]Trevin Giles[/autotag] (16-7 MMA, 7-7 UFC) fell to 2-4 since he dropped to the welterweight division in January 2022.

Giles suffered the first decision loss of his career.

[autotag]Aiemann Zahabi[/autotag]’s (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) five-fight UFC winning streak at bantamweight is tied for the third-longest active streak in the division behind Merab Dvalishvili (10) and Mario Bautista (seven).

Zahabi has earned four of his six UFC victories by decision.

[autotag]Pedro Munhoz[/autotag] (20-10 MMA, 10-10 UFC) fell to 1-5 with one no contest in his past seven fights dating back to August 2021.

Munhoz has suffered all 10 of his career losses by decision.

[autotag]Charles Jourdain[/autotag] (16-8-1 MMA, 7-7-1 UFC) was successful in his UFC bantamweight debut.

Jourdain has earned 14 of his 16 career victories by stoppage.

[autotag]Victor Henry[/autotag] (24-7 MMA, 3-2 UFC) suffered his first stoppage loss with a submission defeat.

[autotag]Youssef Zalal[/autotag] (16-5-1 MMA, 6-3-1 UFC) improved to 3-0 since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in March 2024.

Zalal has earned 13 of his 16 career victories by stoppage.

[autotag]Jack Shore[/autotag] (17-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) fell to 1-2 since he moved up to the featherweight division in March 2023.

Shore has suffered all three of his career losses by stoppage.

Shore has suffered two of his three career losses by submission.

[autotag]Chad Anheliger[/autotag] (13-8 MMA, 1-3 UFC) has suffered two of his three UFC losses by decision.

[autotag]Jamey-Lyn Horth[/autotag] (7-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) has earned both of her UFC victories by decision.

[autotag]Ivana Petrovic[/autotag] (7-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) has suffered both of her career losses by decision.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 246.

UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on X @MJCflipdascript.