Tag: Brandon Moreno

Steve Erceg explains Brandon Moreno callout after UFC Fight Night 238 victory

Steve Erceg walloped Matt Schnell at UFC Fight Night 238, then called out former champ Brandon Moreno. Here’s why.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Steve Erceg[/autotag] knows if he can beat them, he can join them.

That’s why Erceg (12-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) called out former flyweight champion [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] (21-8-2 MMA, 9-5-2 UFC) on the microphone Saturday at UFC Fight Night 238 following his big knockout of Matt Schnell (16-8 MMA, 6-6 UFC).

“He’s one of the best in the world, a former titleholder,” Erceg told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference. “He’s obviously coming off two losses and I’m looking to get myself into the top five. So I think a win over him not only improves my confidence because I’m beating somebody who was at that level, but really puts me into that title contention picture.”

Moreno, 30, is currently on a two-fight losing skid including a split decision main event loss Feb. 24 to Brandon Royval.

“I didn’t think that was his best performance,” Erceg said. “I don’t know if it was the range that was giving him trouble or – I’m not sure. He looked a little bit sloppy in that fight. Usually, he’s a really good boxer. He looked average last week.”

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If the UFC is as keen on the idea of the proposed matchup as he is, Erceg already has an event and location in mind.

“(I want to return) as soon as possible,” Erceg said. “Obviously, the Sphere (in Las Vegas in September). That’s a huge event. That’s UFC Noche. He’s Mexican. That would be absolutely epic. But if they come to Australia, I’d love to fight in Australia, as well, and have my home crowd cheering me on, getting to see me fight live.”

Erceg, 28, was thrown into the deep end immediately upon his UFC arrival. He fought then-UFC-ranked David Dvorak (and won) in his short-notice promotional debut. He then defeated short-notice newcomer Alessandro Costa prior to Saturday’s KO of Schnell.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 238.

Henry Cejudo: Brandon Moreno struggles to make flyweight, should fight me at bantamweight

Henry Cejudo doesn’t see why Brandon Moreno shouldn’t fight him at bantamweight.

[autotag]Henry Cejudo[/autotag] doesn’t see why [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] shouldn’t fight him at bantamweight.

Moreno (21-8-2 MMA, 9-5-2 UFC) called out Cejudo for a bantamweight bout last May, and Cejudo is willing to fight him at UFC 306 at the Sphere in Las Vegas – also known as “Noche UFC.”

Moreno is coming off a split decision loss to Brandon Royval in the UFC Fight Night 237 main event Saturday at Mexico City Arena. Cejudo (16-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC) says he’s merely responding to Moreno’s prior callout.

“This was Brandon’s idea – I’m just accepting his challenge,” Cejudo told MMA Junkie in an interview to promote his new “Pound for Pound” podcast with Kamaru Usman. “Once I lost to Aljamain Sterling, he says, ‘Henry, don’t retire yet. F the belts, F everything, this isn’t about that, let’s me and you fight.’ And after this fight, just like, ‘All right man.’ I was contemplating retirement, but I just couldn’t – once I watched the fight, I knew the errors, I knew everything pretty much that happened, you know?”

In a recent interview with The Schmo, Cejudo’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, suggested there’s reluctance to make Cejudo vs. Moreno because the UFC thinks “The Assassin Baby” is too small. Cejudo dismissed that notion.

“That’s the stupidest sh*t ever,” Cejudo said. “I know Brandon. The dude struggles to make 125 pounds. He’s too f*cking big. It’s time for him to move up. I’m short. It sucks to make 125 pounds. This is the same reason why I went up (to bantamweight). I think he’ll become more successful, and I personally think he’ll feel better.”

Cejudo contemplated retirement after getting outlasted by Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 298, but quickly changed his tune.

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4 biggest takeaways from UFC Fight Night 237: Is Brian Ortega’s rebirth a title threat?

Analysis of the biggest storylines coming out of UFC Fight Night 237, including the paths of Yair Rodriguez and Brian Ortega.

What mattered most at UFC Fight Night 237 at Mexico City Arena in Mexico? Here are a few post-fight musings …

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UFC Fight Night 237 matchmaker: What’s next for key winners and losers in Mexico City?

Time to play matchmaker for Brandon Royval, Brandon Moreno, Brian Ortega and Yair Rodriguez in the aftermath of UFC Fight Night 237.

After every event, fans wonder whom the winners will be matched up with next.

With another night of UFC action in the rearview mirror, it’s time to look forward, put on a pair of Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard’s shoes, and play UFC matchmaker for UFC Fight Night 237’s key winning fighters.

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UFC Fight Night 237 post-event facts: Yair Rodriguez hits unprecedented career slump

Check out all the facts from UFC Fight Night 237, which saw Yair Rodriguez hit the first losing skid of his career.

The UFC’s final event of February took place Saturday with UFC Fight Night 237 at Mexico City Arena in Mexico.

A flyweight contender re-emerged in the main event, when replacement headliner [autotag]Brandon Royval[/autotag] (16-7 MMA, 6-3 UFC) exacted revenge on former UFC champ [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] (21-8-2 MMA, 9-4-2 UFC) with a split decision victory in their rematch from November 2020.

For more on the numbers to come out of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC Fight Night 237.

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UFC Fight Night 237 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Headliners get combined $17,000

UFC Fight Night 237 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that continued after the UFC’s deal with Venum.

MEXICO CITY – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 237 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $135,500.

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 Fight Night 237 took place at Mexico City Arena. The entire card streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC Fight Night 237 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

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[autotag]Brandon Royval[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Brian Ortega[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Yair Rodriguez[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Daniel Zellhuber[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Fransisco Prado[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Yazmin Jauregui[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Sam Hughes[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Manuel Torres[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Chris Duncan[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Raoni Barcelos[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Cristian Quinonez[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Jesus Aguilar[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Mateus Mendonca[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Edgar Chairez[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Daniel Lacerda[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Fares Ziam[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Claudio Puelles[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Ronaldo Rodriguez[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Denys Bondar[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Felipe dos Santos[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Victor Altamirano[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Muhammad Naimov[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Erik Silva[/autotag]: $4,000

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’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 2371 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,500; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $42,000 while title challengers get $32,000.

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 2024 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $1,228,500
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $23,935,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 237.

UFC Fight Night 237 results: Brandon Royval upsets Brandon Moreno in Mexico

The winner of the UFC Fight Night 237 main event was Brandon, but not the one the Mexico City crowd in attendance hoped for.

The winner of the UFC Fight Night 237 main event was Brandon, but not the one the Mexico City crowd in attendance hoped for.

Saturday at Mexico City Arena, [autotag]Brandon Royval[/autotag] (16-7 MMA, 8-3 UFC) defeated former flyweight champion [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] (21-8-2 MMA, 9-5-2 UFC) by split decision (48-47, 46-49, 48-47).

The five-round non-title affair was filled with high-volume exchanges, despite the elevation. Royval overcame a bothersome left knee, which his Factory X corner iced between rounds, to defeat Moreno with his aggression and boxing.

Moreno was strong early, but as the fight progressed, Royval’s rate of success increased. The fight was razor-close going into the fifth round. Both corners indicated to their fighters the urgency of the moment.

The final minute of the bout was thrilling as the two flyweights wildly chucked fists at each other in a last-ditch effort to make their final impressions of three cage-side judges.

While the “Brandon” that rolled off Bruce Buffer’s tongue caused some confusion, the “Royval” sealed the deal.

The first meeting between the two took place in November 2020 and ended in unfortunate fashion when Royval injured his shoulder, which caused a stoppage with one second left in the first round. The win propelled Moreno to a title tetralogy against Deiveson Figueiredo. Upon his return, Royval went 3-1 en route a title challenge against Alexandre Pantoja, which he lost by unanimous decision in December.

It’s unclear if Royval will be next for Pantoja. UFC CEO Dana White would not commit to who the next flyweight contender is during his post-fight news conference.

Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 237 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 237.

Social media reacts to Brandon Royval’s upset of Brandon Moreno in UFC Fight Night 237 rematch

The MMA community reacted to Brandon Royval’s upset of former champ Brandon Moreno in their UFC Fight Night 237 rematch.

[autotag]Brandon Royval[/autotag] avenged one of the key losses of his career against [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] on Saturday at UFC Fight Night 237 – and did it in enemy territory.

Royval (16-7 MMA, 6-3 UFC) went into a hostile situation at Mexico City Arena in Mexico City and upset former two-time flyweight champion Moreno (21-8-2 MMA, 9-4-2 UFC) by split decision, getting one back after he suffered a first-round TKO loss in their first meeting back in November 2020.

With the win, Royval could potentially get another title shot against Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 301 in May.

Check below for the top X (formerly Twitter) reactions to Royval’s victory over Moreno at UFC Fight Night 237.

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UFC Fight Night 237 video: Brandon Moreno vs. Brandon Royval final faceoff for Mexico rematch

Check out the final staredown between Brandon Moreno and Brandon Royval ahead of their main event bout at UFC Fight Night 237.

MEXICO CITY – [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] and [autotag]Brandon Royval[/autotag] are ready for their rematch.

The two flyweight contenders were very respectful in their first faceoff at Wednesday’s media day, and the tone remained the same in their faceoff at the UFC Fight Night 237 ceremonial weigh-ins. Moreno and Royval headline the event, which takes place Saturday at Mexico City Arena.

Moreno (21-7-2 MMA, 9-4-2 UFC) and Royval (15-7 MMA, 5-3 UFC) first fought in 2020. The bout ended in a first-round TKO in favor of Moreno. Both fighters are coming off losses to Alexandre Pantoja in title fights.

Check out the video above to see the final staredown between Moreno and Royval from the UFC Fight night 237 ceremonial weigh-ins.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 237.

UFC Fight Night 237 video: Brandon Moreno, Brandon Royval make weight in Mexico City

The main event for the UFC’s long-awaited return to Mexico is official after the headliners made weight Friday.

MEXICO CITY – The main event for the UFC’s long-awaited return to Mexico is official after the headliners made weight Friday.

Ahead of UFC Fight Night 237 (ESPN+), which takes place Saturday at Mexico City Arena, former bantamweight champion [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] (21-7-2 MMA, 9-4-2 UFC) and [autotag]Brandon Royval[/autotag] (15-7 MMA, 5-3 UFC) stepped on the scale for their rematch at the official weigh-ins.

Check out the video from their trips to the scale above.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 237.