The Brandon Moreno next fight news should come by the summer. While his legions of fans wait, we look at three likely opponent options and recap his disappointing loss to Brandon Royval in February.
Who will Brandon Moreno next fight be against?
As a former champion Moreno deserves to face elite fighters in the UFC flyweight rankings. But after two straight losses, he may have to face competitors outside the top five. That is why matchups with Amir Albazi, Tim Elliott, or Manel Kape make sense next.
- Starboy: Kape has battled injuries and failed bookings in recent years but is still a contender in the weight class. If he wants to lock up a title fight in 2024, beating the two-time champion is the fight he needs.
- Wiley Vet: If the UFC wants to just put on a barnburner Moreno vs. Elliott could easily headline a fight night card and would be a wild battle for however long it lasts.
- The Prince: Albazi and Moreno were set to headline the Mexico City card before “The Prince” was forced out of the bout. Rebooking the fight would make sense for both sides.
Brandon Moreno vs Brandon Royval II recap
While Moreno vs. Rovyal II was a very competitive and close fight, the length and jab of the American were a problem all night en route to a second straight loss for “Assassin Baby.”
What happened: Early on it seemed like Moreno would be able to overcome the size advantages that “Raw Dawg” had. However, after the first round Royval used a consistent jab and played a distance game to score points. He also made it hard for the Mexican to land a takedown and keep him grounded. Cutting off a key option to victory for Moreno.
The fallout: The judges gave the fight to Royval by split decision after five very close rounds. The loss was a major setback for the former champion and guarantees he is out of the title fight conversation for 2024 — barring injury.
The roadmap: Moreno needs at least two big wins to get back into contention. That is why matchups with Albazi and Kape — a pair of red-hot contenders — seem to be likely matchups for his return.
What makes Brandon Moreno so popular?
Moreno is the first Mexican-born fighter to ever win a UFC title. His MMA story is one of perseverance in a career where many doubted his potential to be a top star in the sport. Now, after more than a decade as a cage fighter, Moreno is one of the best 125-pound fighters on the planet and the most popular MMA competitor from Mexico.
- Brandon Moreno record (overall): 21-8-2 (5 knockouts, 11 submissions)
- Brandon Moreno UFC record: 10-5-2
- Brandon Moreno height: 5-foot-7
- “Assassin Baby” rose to notoriety as a contestant on Season 24 of The Ultimate Fighter
- Despite losing his first fight on TUF, Moreno impressed UFC decision-makers and was offered a contract several months after the show aired
- After a 3-2 run in the promotion, Moreno was one of several flyweight talents cut by the UFC during a time when the division seemed on the brink of being shuttered
- Following his release, Moreno successfully competed once for Legacy Fighting Alliance before he was offered a new UFC contract three months later
- Since his return, Moreno is 6-2-1 with his only defeat being to Figueiredo
- The four Brandon Moreno vs Deiveson Figueiredo bouts are viewed as the best series of fights in division history. Every matchup was highly competitive and each man had a win, loss, and draw.
Brandon Moreno net worth
The measure of a fighter is often in dollars and cents stacked up during a career of fisticuffs. After 11 years in combat sports, Brandon Moreno’s net worth is estimated to be $1 million.
How old was Brandon Moreno when he started MMA?
The former UFC flyweight king actually made his MMA debut back in 2011. What makes it all the more impressive is that he became a professional cage fighter at the shocking age of 17 years old.
What martial art does Brandon Moreno use?
Brandon Moreno does not heavily lean on any specific martial art, however, his strongest base art early in his career was Brazilian jiu-jitsu. But he has rounded out his game over the last five years and is a complete MMA fighter now.
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