After missing out on a flyweight title shot, Brandon Moreno and Alex Perez will fight each other to potentially settle the No. 1 contender.
Neither [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] nor [autotag]Alex Perez[/autotag] were chosen as the next UFC flyweight title challenger, but both men still could be in play if needed.
As it stands, Moreno (17-5-1 MMA, 6-2-1 UFC) and Perez (24-5 MMA, 6-1 UFC) are expected to fight each other Nov. 21 at UFC 255. A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed the planned booking to MMA Junkie on Monday following an initial report from Spanish-language website Milenio.
UFC 251 currently is set to be headlined by a 125-pound title fight between champion Deiveson Figueiredo and ex-bantamweight champ Cody Garbrandt, who was chosen to challenge for the belt over top contenders Moreno and Perez. Should Garbrandt, who’s making his flyweight debut, not make weight, the UFC could turn to Moreno or Perez to step in.
Perez, meanwhile, is No. 5 at 125 pounds and is riding a three-fight winning streak. His most recent victory also came against Formiga in June at UFC 250. Perez won the fight by TKO with vicious leg kicks.
Prior to Garbrandt getting the nod, both Moreno and Perez had expressed their desire to challenge Figueiredo, who claimed the vacant title last month with a first-round technical submission of Joseph Benavidez. If nothing else, Moreno vs. Perez could serve to determine the following No. 1 contender.
With the addition, the latest UFC 255 lineup includes:
Champ Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Cody Garbrandt – for flyweight title
Champ Valentina Shevchenko vs. Jennifer Maia – for women’s flyweight title
Brandon Moreno doesn’t necessarily think the best version of Joseph Benavidez showed up to fight Deiveson Figueiredo.
Like many fans watching from home, [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] didn’t enjoy seeing [autotag]Jospeh Benavidez[/autotag] come up short in his most recent and likely last UFC title fight.
The Mexican fighter was heartbroken to see his friend and former coach on “The Ultimate Fighter” get choked unconscious by Deiveson Figueiredo in a fight for the vacant flyweight belt that headlined UFC on ESPN+30 this past Saturday in Abu Dhabi. It was a title rematch from February, when the first bout ended in controversy – there was an illegal head clash during the fight, and Figueiredo couldn’t claim the title after winning because he missed weight.
Benavidez, 35, was part of the UFC flyweight division inauguration back in 2012, thus considered a pioneer in the weight class. He’s also been a top contender for years but was never able to capture UFC gold, having gone 0-4 in UFC title fights at 125 pounds.
As expected, Moreno (17-5-1 MMA, 5-2-1 UFC) was sad to see Benavidez unable to reach his title dreams.
“Joseph, I really like him a lot. I appreciate him,” Moreno told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “What I saw on Saturday broke my heart and made me mad, because that guy Deiveson tries to be nice, but he also makes ugly statements, and I don’t like him. Seeing how Joe lost and how he broke down in the post-fight press conference and started crying, personally, it broke me. I felt sad and at the same time mad. I don’t want to see it as a vengeance, but I simply want to beat Deiveson Figueiredo.”
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Part of Moreno feels relieved he won’t have to fight Benavidez. The 26-year-old has trained a good amount with Benavidez and doesn’t think fans saw the veteran at his full potential.
“Personally, I think that wasn’t Joe in there,” Moreno said. “I think maybe the pressure of the whole moment, the comments, I don’t know. I don’t think he was 100 percent. I heard his interview post-fight. He said he felt very good and physically ready for the fight. But I know him, and I’ve trained with him, and I don’t think that was the Joe that I’m used to seeing.
“Even in the back take he defended well, but normally if someone takes his back, he escapes immediately. It doesn’t last long. Obviously, I can’t take away anything from Deiveson, who performed well and looked very polished, and we saw a lot of power from his right hand. So congratulations to him. He did a good job, but I’m ready for this.”
Brandon Moreno wants to fight champ Deiveson Figueiredo.
[autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] is confident he’ll be competing for UFC gold in his next bout.
The Mexican flyweight contender thinks it’s clear that he’s the next challenger for newly crowned flyweight champion [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag], captured the vacant belt this past Saturday in the UFC on ESPN+ 30 main event. The Brazilian defeated long-time contender Joseph Benavidez by first-round submission after a dominant performance.
Although Figueiredo expressed interest in former dual champion Henry Cejudo, who’s retired, or a potential title fight in a weight class above, Moreno (17-5-1 MMA, 5-2-1 UFC) thinks it’s obvious what’s next for Figueiredo (19-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) – especially given some of the other results that night.
“I think it’s clear who’s next, and that’s me,” Moreno told MMA Junkie in Spanish on Sunday night. “I think if Alexandre Pantoja would’ve won, he could’ve had a great argument to be like, ‘Hey, I also deserve it,’ and I think there could’ve been a dispute on who takes the next title shot. But since he lost, I think people who saw me fight Askarov, I think 80, 85 percent thought I won. That’s how I see it. …
“So I think the path has been cleared, because also with Deiveson winning, having to fight Joe wouldn’t have been cool. I wouldn’t have liked to. I would’ve done it, and I’m sure he would’ve done it, too. Maybe I’m a little more sentimental; to him, it could’ve been easier. But with Deiveson, I have no relationship. It’s a clear fight, and that’s what should happen next for the flyweight division. I heard him at the post-fight presser already saying dumb things of wanting to go up to 135 pounds and all this, but I pray to God that nobody listens to him so he can stay and defend his title.”
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Moreno is unbeaten in his last four bouts, with three victories and a controversial draw to Askar Askarov, who defeated Alexandre Pantoja on Saturday. He last fought in March, outpointing Jussier Formiga in a unanimous decision.
With Pantoja, the only other athlete in title contention, now coming off a loss, Moreno is confident in his chances of getting the next shot. The former LFA champion likes how he matches up against the new UFC champ, as he wasn’t blown away by Figueiredo’s showing against Benavidez.
“Even though the fight was dominant, and even impressive (to some), I didn’t feel too impressed,” Moreno said. “I think Joe wasn’t mentally ready. It’s happened to me that I wake up the day of the fight, and I feel ready and strong, but the moment I get into the octagon something happens with my mind or the nerves beat me, and my mentality changes.
“I think that probably happened to Joe, and he didn’t feel 100 percent ready at that exact moment, and that’s why Figueiredo looked so dominant. I think Figueiredo has a lot of power in his hands. He’s a fighter that’s very strong, but personally (I) think he’s a slow fighter. I think I’m much quicker. I think I’m much more explosive, and that’s what I bring to the table. That’s what’s going to give me the edge in the fight.”
Moreno says he’s ready to fight whenever but expects the champion to want to take a break before starting a training camp again for his first title defense. “The Assassin Baby” thinks a November return would make sense for a title fight with Figueiredo.
Joseph Benavidez could stand in Brandon Moreno’s path to a UFC flyweight title shot.
[autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] knows there’s a possibility that he could fight his good friend, [autotag]Joseph Benavidez[/autotag].
Benavidez is scheduled to rematch Deiveson Figueiredo on July 18 for the vacant UFC flyweight title, and top contender Moreno is aiming to fight the winner. Moreno (17-5-1 MMA, 5-2-1 UFC) was coached by Benavidez on Season 24 of “The Ultimate Fighter” in 2016 and considers him a mentor.
Should Benavidez win the title, Moreno would have to fight him to fulfill his championship aspirations, and “The Assassin Baby” hopes his friendship with Benavidez wouldn’t be affected in the process.
“I knew Joe knew that it was a possibility in the future,” Moreno told MMA Junkie. “Right now I’m No. 3 in the rankings, and Joe maybe can be the next champion. So he knows, and I know, that we can fight each other, and it’s fine. It’s part of our job, but I hope my relationship with Joe won’t change after that. Even if he wins or I win in a possible fight with each other, I think we can still be really good friends.
“Joe, for me, is like a real mentor. He’s a really important part of my development like a professional fighter. It’s a sad moment in my career, but I love Joe, and I know it can be an amazing fight, so I’m just waiting for the result between them. So it’s hard, but it is what it is.”
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In his second stint in the UFC, Moreno positioned himself as a top contender after notching back-to-back wins over Kai Kara-France and Jussier Formiga. With no fight currently booked, Moreno wants to sit out until he gets his crack at gold and is even willing to serve as a backup for the July 18 title fight.
“I think I’m ready for the fight for the title,” Moreno said. “I know the rematch between Figueiredo and Joe B. is on July 18, I think, so I’ll be ready for the time. So I need to wait for that rematch, and Pantoja and Askar Askarov will fight on the same card, so right now I’m in a little camp, and I’ll be ready if something happens in that fight. Figueiredo didn’t make weight last time, so I’ll be ready.”
While there were concerns about COVID-19, Brandon Moreno was glad to fight and get paid.
[autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] was one of the last fighters on the UFC roster to compete before events were postponed due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.
The flyweight contender competed at UFC on ESPN+ 28 last Saturday in Brazil, defeating seasoned veteran Jussier Formiga via unanimous decision.
With the impressive showing in Brasilia, Moreno (17-5-1 MMA, 5-2-1 UFC) picked up his second straight win, managed to stay undefeated in his last four outings, and positioned himself among the top contenders at flyweight.
But most importantly, Moreno was able to collect a check for his handiwork in the cage.
“To be honest with you, I’m a very responsible person when it comes to money, I don’t know how, but I am,” Moreno told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “But seriously speaking, I’ve had very good examples and I’ve had good people around me that have always worked hard and been responsible and disciplined with all that. I don’t think it would’ve affected me econimically that much if I wouldn’t have fought. I would’ve had money to sustain my family for at least four months, easy. But I’m not going deny that it was a relief to be able to fight, get my money, and be more financially stable.”
The fighters who competed at UFC Brasilia were the last competitors to get paid by the UFC. The following three events on the UFC schedule were postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak, leaving dozens of fighters in limbo and without a check.
UFC Brasilia remains the last event for the time being, as nearly the entire sports world is coping with the effects of COVID-19. The card went down without fans in attendance at the Ginasio Nilson Nelson, as the state government in Brasilia banned all large gatherings.
Moreno feels fortunate to have been able to compete.
“Yeah, that’s a big problem, and after my fights I did think, ‘I did run with luck because even the Brasilia event was close to canceling at some point,'” Moreno said. “But good that the government allowed the event to go on behind closed doors. But yeah, to be sincere with you, I do feel like I ran with good luck to be able to get money and be able to have resources to take on this problem.”
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Although precautions were taken to avoid potential coronavirus spread at UFC Brasilia, there were still risks and concerns about continuing the event given the nature of the virus.
Moreno said he hasn’t experienced any symptoms and is doing his best to follow the recommended guidelines from experts now that he’s back home with his family in Tijuana, Mexico. He hopes things return to normal sooner rather than later.
“It’s affecting our sport in a serious level, even my work as an analyst I was supposed to commentate UFC Columbus and that got canceled,” Moreno said. “So now I’m not working that day. I just have to wait for things to get better and hope this virus doesn’t hit us hard. I’m going to stay home, going to try to go out the least possible, going to take care of myself, and just wait for all this to get better.
“You can control things up to certain point, but beyond that there is nothing to do. That’s what I have in mind and just wait for the UFC to return to normal activity.”
For now, Moreno will stay put, but he wants to fight for gold upon his return, whether it’s waiting for the potential title fight rematch between Deiveson Figueiredo and Jospeh Benavidez or maybe replacing either fighter in the next flyweight title fight booking.
“Look, I want to avoid Joseph as much as I can,” Moreno said. “If I fight Joe, I’d love for him to be champion or that I was the champion, either of us as title holders. Because I wouldn’t like to fight him, you know all my history with him and our close relationship. My plan is to fight Figueiredo or wait for the winner of the rematch.
“I’ve been fighting at a high pace, so it could serve as a time to rest some old injuries. I’m going to wait for that or if they say you’re fighting Figueiredo, I’ll be ready.”
In case you haven’t noticed, Gilbert Burns has won five straight fights as he makes his move up a deep division.
Plenty has been said about [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag]’s statement win over Kevin Lee at UFC on ESPN+ 28, and not without good reason: This was a signature victory for “Do Bronx” as he inches closer to the top of the pack in the lightweight division.
But that wasn’t the only statement made last Saturday in Brasilia, Brazil. In the evening’s co-feature bout, [autotag]Gilbert Burns[/autotag] earned an important victory of his own with his first-round finish of the great Demian Maia.
That’s five wins in a row for the Hard Knocks competitor by way of Brazil, and that’s enough to move him up in a deep welterweight division, where he’s now No. 12 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings.
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Additionally, [autotag]Nikita Krylov[/autotag] at light heavyweight (14) and [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] at flyweight (5) had victories that bolstered their spots in their respective weight classes.
So what does this all mean? Hear from rankings chair “Gorgeous” George of MMA Junkie Radio and MMA Junkie lead reporter John Morgan as they discuss last weekend’s only show with real rankings implications in the latest edition of the MMA rankings report.
All the notable stats and figures to come out of UFC on ESPN+ 28, which took place in Brasilia, Brazil, and saw Charles Oliveira submit Kevin Lee.
The UFC returned to Brazil on Saturday for what turned out to be a historic event for multiple reasons. The card, which took place at Ginasio Nilson Nelson in Brasilia, was held behind closed doors because of concerns about the spread of coronavirus.
Those concerns didn’t prevent the athletes from stepping into the octagon, though, and in the main event [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] (29-8 MMA, 17-8 UFC) continued to prove himself as one of the best in the UFC right now when he scored a third-round submission of [autotag]Kevin Lee[/autotag] (18-6 MMA, 11-6 UFC) to extend his winning streak and further etch his name in the record books.
For more on the numbers behind Oliveira’s win, as well as the rest of the card, check below for 50 post-event facts to come out of UFC on ESPN+ 28.
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General
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UFC on ESPN+ 28 tied UFC on ESPN 4 for the most consecutive decisions on a single UFC card with nine.
The UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payout for the event totaled $209,500.
Debuting fighters went 1-0 at the event.
Oliveira, [autotag]Gilbert Burns[/autotag], [autotag]Maryna Moroz[/autotag] and [autotag]Mayra Bueno Silva[/autotag] earned $50,000 UFC on ESPN+ 28 fight-night bonuses.
UFC did not provide a live gate or attendance figure due to the closed-door nature of the event.
Betting favorites went 7-4 on the card. One fight ended in a draw.
Betting favorites fell to 5-3 in UFC headliners this year.
Total fight time for the 12-bout card was 2:28:46.
Main card
Charles Oliviera
Oliveira improved to 8-1 since he returned to the UFC lightweight division April 2017. He’s 10-3 (with one no contest) in the organization at 155 pounds.
Oliveira’s seven-fight UFC winning streak at lightweight is tied for the third longest active streak in the division behind Tony Ferguson (12) and Khabib Nurmagomedov (11).
Oliveira’s seven-fight UFC stoppage streak is the longest active streak in the company.
Oliveira’s seven-fight UFC stoppage streak is tied with Chuck Liddell for second longest in company history behind Anderson Silva (eight).
Oliveira’s 16 stoppage victories in UFC competition are tied with Donald Cerrone for most in company history.
Oliveira’s 14 submission victories in UFC competition are most in company history.
Oliveira’s eight submission victories in UFC lightweight competition are second most in divisional history behind Jim Miller (nine).
Oliveira’s five guillotine-choke victories in UFC competition are most in company history.
Oliveira has been awarded 16 fight-night bonuses for UFC bouts, the second most in company history behind Cerrone (18).
Oliveira has been awarded 10 “Performance of the Night” bonuses, the most in company history.
Lee fell to 2-4 in UFC headline bouts.
Lee fell to 1-1 since he returned to the UFC lightweight division in November.
Lee has completed at least one takedown in 15 of his 17 UFC fights.
Lee’s 37 takedowns landed since 2014 in UFC lightweight competition are most in the division.
Lee has suffered four of his six career losses by stoppage.
Gilbert Burns
Burns (18-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC) improved to 3-0 since he returned to the welterweight division in August 2019. He’s 4-0 when fighting at the weight class.
Burns has earned 14 of his 18 career victories by stoppage. That includes seven of his 11 UFC wins.
[autotag]Demian Maia[/autotag] (28-10 MMA, 22-10 UFC) fell to 13-6 since he dropped to the UFC welterweight division in July 2012.
Maia’s total fight time of 6:34:40 in UFC competition is third most in company history behind Frankie Edgar (7:15:51) and Rafael Dos Anjos (6:43:11).
Maia suffered his first knockout loss since Aug. 29, 2009 – a span of 3,850 days (more than 10 years) and 26 fights.
Maia’s 67 takedowns landed in UFC competition are sixth most in company history.
Maia’s 253 takedown attempts in UFC competition are the most in company history.
Renato Moicano
[autotag]Renato Moicano[/autotag] (14-3-1 MMA, 6-3 UFC) was successful in his UFC lightweight debut.
Moicano has earned all three of his UFC stoppage victories by submission.
[autotag]Damir Hadzovic[/autotag] (13-6 MMA, 3-4 UFC) suffered the first submission loss of his career.
[autotag]Nikita Krylov[/autotag] (26-7 MMA, 8-5 UFC) improved to 2-2 since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in September 2018.
Krylov improved to 11-4 since he dropped to the light heavyweight division in March 2014.
Krylov earned the first decision victory of his career.
[autotag]Johnny Walker[/autotag] (17-5 MMA, 3-2 UFC) suffered consecutive losses for the first time in his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since March 2019.
Walker suffered the first decision loss of his career.
[autotag]Francisco Trinaldo[/autotag] (25-7 MMA, 15-6 UFC) has earned nine of his past 12 victories by decision.
Preliminary card
Brandon Moreno
[autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] (17-5-1 MMA, 5-2-1 UFC) improved to 2-0-1 since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in September 2019.
[autotag]Jussier Formiga[/autotag] (23-7 MMA, 9-6 UFC) suffered consecutive losses for the first time in his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since March 2019.
[autotag]Randa Markos[/autotag] (10-8-1 MMA, 6-7-1 UFC) fell to 3-4-1 in her past seven UFC appearance dating back to August 2017.
Markos’ seven losses in UFC competition are tied with Angela Hill for most by any female in company history.
Markos has suffered seven of her eight career losses by decision.
[autotag]Aleksei Kunchenko[/autotag] (20-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) has suffered consecutive losses after starting his career on a 20-fight winning streak.
Kunchenko has suffered both of his career losses by decision.
Maryna Moroz
Moroz (10-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) improved to 2-0 since she moved up to the UFC women’s flyweight division in March 2019.
Moroz’s 130 significant strikes landed set a new single-fight record for a three-round UFC women’s flyweight fight.
Moroz has earned four of her five UFC victories by decision.
Silva (6-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) had her six-fight winning streak snapped for the first defeat of her career.
[autotag]Bea Malecki[/autotag] (4-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) earned the first decision victory of her career.
UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.
Gilbert Burns and Renato Moicano were among those with specific names in mind for their next fights after UFC on ESPN+ 28 in Brasilia.
Earning wins in the UFC is certainly no easy task, but what comes next is often even more important: the post-fight callout.
So after Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 28 event in Brasilia, who took advantage of their time on the mic? See below for this week’s Callout Collection – and just how realistic each one is.
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First up, let’s take a look at the preliminary card.
Amanda Ribas
Wants to fight: [autotag]Paige VanZant[/autotag]
The callout: “I want two weeks to enjoy the victory. And then I want to fight Paige VanZant. We were scheduled, and I still want to face her. If she wants to fight at flyweight, I’m here, waiting.
“But I am ambitious. I would also like to fight the winner of the fight between Carla Esparza and Michelle Waterson. I’m sure it would be a great fight.”
The reality: Will we ever see Paige VanZant in the octagon again? If she does come back, [autotag]Amanda Ribas[/autotag] is as interesting an opponent as anyone, but she’s just one of a number of UFC fighters who have expressed an interest in welcoming “12 Gauge” back to the octagon. VanZant would likely want the highest-ranked opposition available and, while Ribas is certainly on the up, she might not carry enough upside to convince PVZ to sign the bout agreement. If and when she returns, I’d expect VanZant to face a more established name. As for Ribas, there’s another exciting matchup waiting to be made, with Angela Hill tweeting UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard saying she’d like to face the Brazilian next.
UFC on ESPN+ 28 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that launched after the UFC’s deal with Reebok.
Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 28 event took home event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $209,500.
The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.
UFC on ESPN+ 28 took place Saturday at Ginasio Nilson Nelson in Brasilia, Brazil. The entire card aired on ESPN.
The full UFC on ESPN+ 28 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:
Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Reebok’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $3,500 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,000; 6-10 bouts get $5,000; 11-15 bouts earn $10,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $15,000; and 21 bouts and more get $20,000. Additionally, champions earn $40,000 while title challengers get $30,000.
In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.
Full 2020 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:
