Brandon Moreno secured a unanimous decision victory over Steve Erceg in UFC Mexico’s main event, showcasing superior striking and relentless work rate to win in front of his home crowd, as he aims for a spot on the UFC 320 card in September.
Brandon Moreno finally delivered a stellar performance in front of his home crowd. The former flyweight champion displayed superior striking skills across five rounds, defeating Steve Erceg in the UFC Mexico main event on Saturday.
Although it wasn’t a completely one-sided bout, Moreno’s ability to outwork and outstrike Erceg gave him a clear edge. This victory was significant for Moreno, especially after going 0-2-1 in his previous appearances in Mexico City since joining the UFC roster.
The judges’ scorecards unanimously read 49-46, handing Moreno the win. This marks his second consecutive victory following an extended hiatus due to back-to-back losses. Now, he’s eyeing a spot on the UFC 320 card, set to return to Mexico for the Noche UFC event on September 13.
“I’ve gone through so much to be here,” Moreno expressed passionately to the audience. “This is all for you.” His words resonated with fans who struggled to get tickets for the event.
Addressing Hunter Campbell, Moreno said, “Who really knows what I deserve? But I believe I can move the needle. Let’s f*cking go for the pay-per-view in Guadalajara!”
While not his cleanest performance, Moreno did enough to secure the win. Erceg might look back with regrets, realizing a few mistakes cost him dearly.
“I thought I landed pretty well but obviously it wasn’t enough,” Erceg admitted. “I went five rounds, I’ll keep getting better. I’ll get back.”
For nearly 25 minutes, it was a striking contest where Moreno aimed for a knockout. He landed various punches and combinations, tagging Erceg hard in the opening round.
Erceg hung tough despite taking more punches than he delivered. He showcased slick straight punches and timely uppercuts whenever Moreno advanced.
Moreno relentlessly pursued power punches but struggled to string combinations together. Yet, his speed left Erceg unable to evade his biggest shots.
Erceg seemed to anticipate much of Moreno’s offense but couldn’t capitalize with effective counters. As time dwindled, Moreno consistently flicked out a left jab followed by an overhand right that kept Erceg cautious.
A late head kick from Moreno thrilled the crowd but ultimately led to a stalemate as both fighters hit the floor. Nevertheless, Moreno’s relentless work rate secured him the decision victory.
Given his status as a former champion with a massive fan base in Mexico, it’s likely Moreno will feature at UFC 320 in September. The only question is who he’ll face next—plenty of top flyweights are eager for a marquee spot on that pay-per-view card.