Brandon Moreno, a former two-time flyweight champion, achieved a decisive victory against Steve Erceg in a flyweight title eliminator bout at UFC Fight Night in Mexico City. As Saturday night’s event mostly illustrated, that assurance has stemmed from Moreno’s newfound striking prowess and tactical acumen. He went on to win by unanimous decision, sweeping the judges’ scorecards, winning 49-46 on all three cards.
Moreno negated Erceg’s height and reach advantage, clearly declaring his striking superiority throughout the fight — outlanding her 82-67 in total strikes. He did a great job dictating the distance and pace of the fight, preventing Erceg from taking it to the ground and making him fight on Jewell’s terms. Though Moreno had success in his striking, he wasn’t always clearly on his way to finding a finish. No surprise that he took every round except Round 3 on each judge’s scorecard, cementing his reign atop the UFC’s most rugged octagonal real estate.
Now 31, Moreno is still a local star in Mexico City. His win over Erceg was a huge boon for his career. At the same time, it worked to wipe the stigma off his most recent foray into UFC competition in Mexico. This win comes three months after Moreno’s previous victory in August, and his re-signing to the promotion soon after.
After the fight, Moreno said he couldn’t wait to get back into the octagon again. He asked to be included in UFC 320, which is planned for September 13 in Guadalajara, Mexico. Believing he has the ability to “move the needle,” he is looking forward to further establishing his presence in the division. He criticized UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell for advice on his next fight.
Moreno’s output against Erceg was a statement that he was prepared to retake his spot atop the flyweight division. He said he’s looking ahead to new prospects. Both fans and analysts can’t wait to see how Moreno grows as a fighter.
