With Masvidal (35-17 MMA, 12-10 UFC) eyeing a UFC return after retiring from MMA in April 2023, a long-awaited matchup with Edwards is on the forefront of his mind. He thinks beating the former UFC welterweight champion would catapult him into a final late-career title run.
“If the UFC wants to make this happen, give me the Leon fight, and then after that, I’ll fight whoever has that damn belt,” Masvidal told Submission Radio. “I know Dana (White) is probably going to see this.”
Edwards has always wanted to get his revenge from Masvidal, who attacked him backstage at UFC London in March 2019. He almost got his wish when the pair were scheduled to fight at UFC 269 in December 2021, but the bout was scrapped when Masvidal withdrew due to injury.
Stylistically, Masvidal thinks he has all the tools to beat Edwards.
“In every way, shape, or form,” Masvidal said on how he beats Edwards. “I know for one thing, he can’t wrestle me for five rounds. So, I don’t have to worry about the takedowns, and I know on the feet, he’s fragile compared to me.
“The opponents we’ve faced, what he’s been able to do to them, what I’ve been able to do to them for the most part, besides Usman, I’ve been able to put a lot of guys away that he fought and went to decision with. The way he takes shots and the way I take shots, he’s just fragile compared to me, and if we get in that cage, I’m willing to prove how fragile he is compared to me.”
MMA Junkie fight analyst Dan Tom goes in-depth on the UFC on ESPN 64 main event flyweight fight in Mexico City.
MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom goes in-depth to break down the biggest fights in the UFC. Today, he takes a closer look at the UFC on ESPN 64 main event between former flyweight champion [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] and ex-title challenger [autotag]Steve Erceg[/autotag].
Supplemental info:
+ Former 2x UFC flyweight champion
+ Regional MMA titles
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt
+ Multiple grappling accolades
+ 5 KO victories
+ 11 submission wins
+ 8 first-round finishes
+ Consistent pace and pressure
+ Improved boxing technique
+ Accurate left hook
^ Coming forward or off the counter
+ Hard lead-side kicks
+ Improved wrestling ability
+ Good transitional grappler
^ Solid scrambles and submissions
Supplemental info:
+ Regional MMA titles
+ Jiu-jitsu black belt
+ National wrestling gold medal (Aus.)
+ Muay Thai state title
+ 2 KO victories
+ 6 submission wins
+ 5 first-round finishes
+ Consistent pace and pressure
+ Educated lead hand
^ Jabs, hooks, timing change-ups
+ Well-rounded striking arsenal
+ Strong inside the clinch
^ Sneaky elbows off frames
+ Good from front-headlock
^ Dangerous submission in transition
Brandon Moreno vs. Steve Erceg point of interest: Flyweight fisticuffs
Nov 2, 2024; Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Brandon Moreno (red gloves) fights Amir Albazi (blue gloves) in a flyweight bout during UFC Fight Night at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
The main event in Mexico City features a battle between top flyweights, Moreno and Erceg.
A well-rounded martial artist who is comfortable on their feet, Erceg poses threats in multiple phases. He’s a large flyweight who isn’t afraid to fight to his frame, and does a decent job of staying long with a solid jab and active kicking game.
Whether Erceg is looking to punish opponents down low with leg kicks or craftily come up high with question mark kicks, the 29-year-old challenger demonstrates excellent control of his lower extremities.
When it comes to his boxing game, Erceg shows an educated left hand that can offer change-ups in both his shot selection and timing. Inside the clinch, he offers the knees you’d expect from a fighter with his height and is also good about sneaking in elbows that he likes to fold over frames.
Although Erceg appears to do some of his best work when countering and sharpshooting from range, he’s not beyond being caught upright off the counter himself in exchanges.
Enter [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag].
Initially stepping onto the UFC scene as more of a grapple-first fighter, Moreno has since developed into a more complete and technical striking threat as he’s matured.
Still only 31 years of age, Moreno continues to display almost unshakable composure, win or lose, almost as if he’s determined to finish the fight stronger than his foe. But when you look beyond the brief, brash moments that allow his character to shine, you can see a more mature countering game at play.
Always a fan of the left hook (both coming forward and off the counter), Moreno does a much better job of variating both his timing and targets, often working them off of a jab. The theme of lead-side savvy travels fluently for the Mexican fighter in the way that Moreno attaches lead-leg kicks to his combinations when feeling in stride.
Moreno also has a knack for navigating extended exchanges, which, in this case, could lead to some grappling opportunities.
Brandon Moreno vs. Steve Erceg point of interest: Potential grappling threats
Nov 11, 2023; New York, NY, USA; Steve Erceg (red gloves) fights Alessandro Costa (blue gloves) during UFC 295 at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
Considering the potential for chaos on the feet, no one should be shocked if these two end up tangling on the floor.
Erceg, akin to Alexander Volkanovski, is also a national wrestling gold medalist in Australia and is not beyond switching gears to go for takedowns.
From double legs along the fence to reactive shots in the open, Erceg appears to be a well-versed wrestler from multiple spots. And when opponents attempt to shoot in on Erceg, the Australian standout shows a strong front-headlock that he’s able to parlay into positive positions and potential chokes.
Luckily for Moreno, the Mexican is far from a slouch in the grappling department.
Starting off his career as more of a jiu-jitsu fighter, Moreno smartly swam toward the wrestling side of things (from an offensive standpoint) after being afforded the chance to train stateside through the UFC’s former developmental program.
Although Moreno was still not beyond being taken down or scoring submissions off his back, he offered plenty of glimpses of improvement during his first run with the promotion.
Moreno has been much more aggressive on the feet during this second stint, but doesn’t seem to be ignoring the other parts of his game. As far as grappling and wrestling scrambles go, Moreno was able to come out on top of stanzas against some of the division’s best grapplers in Jussier Formiga and Askar Askarov (who he clearly beat, in my opinion).
Brandon Moreno vs. Steve Erceg odds
The oddsmakers and the public are favoring the Mexican fighter, listing Moreno -250 and Erceg +190 via FanDuel.
Brandon Moreno vs. Steve Erceg prediction, pick
Brandon Moreno
Considering the UFC’s current trend of booking fighters on losing skids opposite hometown heroes, then I suppose it’s not surprising to see the betting spread above. Alhough I don’t disagree with who is favored, I caution anyone feeling too confident about either side of this attraction.
Flyweight fights, given the speed and technicality of the action at play, often make for contests that are scored much more closely than some might expect.
Not only is Erceg a fighter who can compete with Moreno’s lead-handed savvy, but the Australian has proven he can carry a high output across five rounds. The elevation of Mexico City will certainly put Erceg to the test, but no one should be surprised he’s able to compete punch for punch with Moreno.
The potential problem, however, is that Moreno, who already has an experience edge, also appears to have some advantages in the wrestling and durability department.
Despite Erceg’s accolades, his wrestling still shows some room for growth when competing with the upper echelon of the weight class. Even though I wouldn’t go so far as to say Erceg is “chinny,” I can’t help but wonder when the point of diminishing returns will come as far as the amount of weight the Australian contender cuts to fight at flyweight.
I’m a big fan of Erceg and wouldn’t mind being wrong on this one, it’s just always hard to back a fighter after the UFC’s already backed them into a proverbial corner. I hope this isn’t another case of the promotion rushing (and potentially ruining) a young product by bringing it to market too quickly, but the pick is Moreno to take a competitive win on the scorecards.
Prediction: Moreno by decision
Brandon Moreno vs. Steve Erceg start time, where to watch
As the main event, Moreno and Erceg are expected to make their walks to the octagon at approximately 9:40 p.m. ET (7:40 p.m. in Mexico). The fight streams on ESPN+.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 64.
Din Thomas questions Leon Edwards’ grit after UFC Fight Night 255.
[autotag]Din Thomas[/autotag] questions [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag]’ grit after UFC Fight Night 255.
Former welterweight champion Edwards (22-5 MMA, 14-4 UFC) was stopped for the first time in his career when he was dominated and submitted by Sean Brady in Saturday’s main event at The O2 in London.
Thomas, who was in Brady’s (18-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) corner for the fight, thinks Edwards’ recent performances have proven that he lacks heart.
“I don’t want to be disrespectful toward Leon,” Thomas said on the “On Paper With Anthony Smith” podcast. “I still believe that skill for skill, like his body type and all that, that he was a great champion. He’s a great fighter. He’s still top-five material. But I just don’t think that Leon in his heart is a real true fighter.
“And I say in terms of, like, Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier, like these guys will fight you in a parking lot. I think he’s an athlete. I think he’s a performer. I think he’s creative. I think in the gym, he probably eats up everybody. He’s super magical. I just think when the lights come on and it’s time for him to really fight, despite not being a true fighter, he was still that good.”
Thomas pointed to the moment he knew Brady had Edwards. In Round 3, Edwards attempted a takedown of his own, but was immediately reversed.
“When he did that, I got quiet and I looked at John Marquez, the head coach, and said, ‘Did he just try to take Sean down?'” Thomas said. “And then when he got reversed, John was like, ‘Man, we could just play checkers and we could literally play chess right now because we don’t need to do anything.’ We just knew at that point, the fight was over. When Leon shot that takedown, he showed his hand that he did not want to be there anymore and that was a wrap.”
“I kind of thought that after I fought Leon, the motivation wasn’t there anymore,” Covington told Submission Radio. “I mean, I could tell in the fight. Like, I broke my foot immediately, and he did nothing. He didn’t try and come after me.
“He just, you know, tried to point coast to to a decision. So, I could tell after that fight, he just wasn’t hungry anymore. He’s made too much money. I made him too much money at that press conference. So, yeah, I just don’t think he’s motivated anymore, and he should hang them up.”
Covington vs. Brady next?
Covington is seeking big fights. When asked about Brady, who’s now the No. 1 ranked UFC welterweight, Covington didn’t appear too interested but is willing to fight him if offered.
“He’s still not a draw. He still doesn’t draw flies to sh*t,” Covington said. “So, I want to do good business for the company. Whatever the biggest and best fights that the company wants, that’s what I’m on board with. If he’s what’s on board, fine, if it’s a good matchup. He’s not going to take me down and submit me.
“It’s going to be a striking fight, and as we saw on the fight with Belal (Muhammad), we found out that kid has a glass jaw. So, the fact that you’ve got knocked out by Belal, that kind of shows the company everything that you’re made of. You’re not anything special. So, if the company wants me to end the hype, no problem. It’s a pretty easy matchup.”
Check out the latest episode of “Overreaction Time” covering the UFC London main event, Jon Jones’ latest drama in the Tom Aspinall saga, 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 reporter Farah Hannoun debate these “overreactions” on the following topics in mixed martial arts:
00:45 – UFC London: [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag] was overrated this whole time.
04:55 – Leon Edwards’ next fight should ABSOLUTELY be against [autotag]Jorge Masvidal[/autotag].
09:43 – UFC London: [autotag]Sean Brady[/autotag] reestablished himself as a legitimate welterweight title contender.
16:01 – [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] needing 6 more months to fight [autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag] is PREPOSTEROUS.
19:06 – If not a title shot, [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag]’s first lightweight opponent should be [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag].
Sean Brady doesn’t appreciate how Leon Edwards handled his loss to him at UFC Fight Night 255.
[autotag]Sean Brady[/autotag] doesn’t appreciate how [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag] handled losing to him at UFC Fight Night 255.
Brady (18-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) dominated and submitted former UFC welterweight champion Edwards (22-5 MMA, 14-4 UFC) in Saturday’s main event at The O2 in London. Brady is not one to engage in trash talk but explained how Edwards started with the disrespect.
“We did a faceoff at The O2, and it literally took five seconds, but when we did it, we walked up to each other,” Brady said on “The Ariel Helwani Show.” “And obviously, bro, I’m not 6 foot, I’m not 6-2. I’m 5-9, like I’ve never been tall.
“When he walked up to me, he was asking me about my height. He was like, ‘What are you, 5-8, 5-9?’ Like he was just being a d*ckhead. … From there on, I was like, I’m not touching this dude’s hand, and if he tries some stupid sh*t at the weigh-ins, I’m going to give it right back to this motherf*cker.”
The pair didn’t touch gloves in the octagon prior to their fight. Brady tried to console Edwards after beating him, but the former champion wasn’t having any of it.
“Personally, f*ck Leon,” Brady said. “F*ck him and his whole team, and that’s how I feel about the whole situation. I went up to him and was like, ‘Yo man, you’re a great champion.’ He just kind of brushed me off. Obviously, he’s upset, but even his whole team, I tried to say, what’s up. They were corny as sh*t, too, so it was just whack. My coaches didn’t even go over there. They were like, ‘F*ck that, we’re not saying sh*t to these dudes.’
“Even before they raised my hand, I tried to touch him behind Jason Herzog – he’s just salty. Then seeing all this sh*t he was saying about me throughout the week. I wish I was even f*cking meaner to this dude. That’s why I posted this sh*t about the ‘Headshot, dead,’ and them not having guns in London because now I’m going to make fun of you. I’m going to poke at you because you’re a f*cking asshole.”
Michael Bisping wants to see Leon Edwards matched with a fellow striker after UFC Fight Night 255.
[autotag]Michael Bisping[/autotag] wants to see [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag] matched with a fellow striker after UFC Fight Night 255.
Edwards (22-5 MMA, 14-4 UFC) suffered his second-straight loss when he was submitted by Sean Brady in Saturday’s main event at The O2 in London. The loss marked the first time Edwards was stopped in his career.
Former welterweight champion Edwards’ past five fights were against elite grapplers. He initially was scheduled to face Jack Della Maddalena at UFC Fight Night 255 before Della Maddalena was pulled and replaced by Brady. Bisping likes the idea of an England vs. Ireland matchup between Edwards and [autotag]Ian Machado Garry[/autotag] (15-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC).
“I like the Ian Garry matchup because I think Leon deserves to go out there and fight someone that’s going to give him a stylistically favorable matchup,” Bisping told TNT Sports of Edwards. “I don’t mean a winnable fight, but not a nightmare scenario where another guy is trying to take him down. Give him like what Jack (Della Maddalena) would have been. I think the biggest opponent for Leon Edwards now though is going to be himself. What’s going on in (his head)? Does he accept that, ‘OK, I was just beaten by two really high-level grapplers, maybe the two best grapplers in the division, and I’m still (33) years old, I haven’t slowed down, I haven’t got injuries, I’m not riddled with arthritis.’
“Does he have the strength to say, ‘Hold on a minute. I’m going to rebuild myself.’ Or does he succumb to the self doubt, because that starts to creep in now. You think, ‘Well, I’ve earned a lot of money, I’ve become the champion, I’ve traveled all over the world, I’m set up financially for life. I’m a kid from Birmingham who comes from nothing.’ Because the danger of allowing that mindset to come in is very, very easy, thinking I’ve had my time in the sun. That’s going to be the biggest fight, because if he doesn’t do that, if he can look past that, I still see a world where Leon Edwards could potentially be in in the title mix again. Granted, he’s going to need at least three wins, but he’s got to start getting some wins and finishing some people if those conversations are going to start again.”
On Spinning Back Clique,” the panel discusses Sean Brady’s submission win over Leon Edwards, the Jones-Aspinall update, and 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, Mike Bohn and Danny Segura will join host “Gorgeous” George Garcia live at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) to discuss and debate the following topics:
[autotag]Sean Brady[/autotag] made a big statement Saturday, going into enemy territory and submitting former UFC champion [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag]. It was a big win for Brady, who’s now knocking on the door of a title shot. We break down Brady’s win at UFC Fight Night 255 and discuss what’s next for both fighters at 170 pounds.
Brady wasn’t the only fighter who shined in London. We discuss and analyze some of the key results outside the main event of UFC Fight Night 255, including [autotag]Carlos Ulberg[/autotag] defeating former champion [autotag]Jan Balchowicz[/autotag] and [autotag]Kevin Holland[/autotag] getting back to his winning ways.
Big topics circled in last week’s news cycle. UFC CEO [autotag]Dana White[/autotag] commented on the highly anticipated matchup between [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] and [autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag] and where things stand in the making of the title unification bout. Additionally, [autotag]Michael Page[/autotag] commented about two potential opponents for his next bout. We weigh-in on those two topics, plus more.
The UFC returns to Mexico City this week. A key flyweight bout between former champion Brandon Moreno and ex-title challenger Steve Erceg headlines UFC on ESPN 64. We dissect the main event and highlight other bouts from the card.
Lastly, we open things up for you to participate on the show. We’ll be doing a live fan Q&A in which we’ll answer your questions about any topic in the MMA world. Submit your question during the show on the YouTube live chat. The best submissions will get featured on the show.
Edwards was starting to have some success on the feet in Round 3, but shot for a takedown – which Rogan thought was crazy. Brady eventually got the fight back to the ground in Round 4 and became the first fighter to finish Edwards.
“He’s going for the guillotine – look at this,” Rogan said on his Fight Companion for UFC Fight Night 255. “Look at this. One hand, one-armed guillotine. Oh my goodness. Oh my goodness. Oh my goodness. Oh my goodness.
“He’s got the hands now. He tapped! Wow, Sean f*cking Brady. Holy sh*t, what a performance. Shutout against one of the best of all time in the division, former champion. Beats his ass and submits him. F*cking unbelievable, man. I’m super impressed.”
With the win, Brady made a strong argument for a rematch with UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC), who makes his first title defense against Jack Della Maddalena in the UFC 315 main event May 10 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Muhammad handed Brady the lone loss of his career when he stopped him by TKO at UFC 280.
[autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag]’ career is in unprecedented territory after he was finished for the first time in a UFC Fight Night 255 main event loss to Sean Brady.
After losing the welterweight title to Belal Muhammad in July 2024, Edwards (22-5 MMA, 14-4 UFC) is now on his first skid after he was tapped out by Brady (18-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) in the fourth round of their headlining encounter at The O2 in London.
Given his well-documented challenges securing a title shot for the first time, there are many questions about what the road back to the top looks like for “Rocky.”
What makes the most sense for Edwards’ next fight? Watch the video above for thoughts and analysis on his future after UFC Fight Night 255.
