Brandon Moreno is eager to headline UFC 320 in Guadalajara, Mexico, following his recent win over Steve Erceg, despite previous losses to flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja, and believes his star power and fan draw make him the ideal choice for the event celebrating Mexican Independence Day.
Brandon Moreno might not fully grasp the extent of his star power, but he’s convinced there’s no better choice to headline UFC 320. This event, part of Noche UFC, is set for Sept. 13 in Guadalajara, Mexico.
After a unanimous decision victory over Steve Erceg at the recent UFC Mexico card, Moreno quickly shifted focus to future aspirations. He dreams of another title shot, especially with the UFC’s announcement about the September pay-per-view aligning perfectly with his win.
“That’s the goal for sure in Guadalajara,” Moreno stated at the post-fight press conference. “It’s perfect for everyone involved. If the UFC wants a pay-per-view event in September in Guadalajara, I’m their guy.”
It’s hard to disagree with Moreno’s reasoning, especially when considering the event celebrates Mexican Independence Day. Yet, convincing the UFC might be tricky since he’s already lost to Alexandre Pantoja thrice. One loss was during The Ultimate Fighter show and doesn’t appear on his official record.
Despite this, Moreno remains confident. His ability to draw a crowd and his dominance in the flyweight division should earn him serious consideration for another shot at Pantoja.
“I feel today I have enough argument to raise my hand and say I can be the main event in Guadalajara,” Moreno asserted. "Let’s see what happens."
He noted how pleased UFC Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell seemed with the crowd’s energy. “Who knows how much I move the needle? Maybe not too much. But every time I step into the octagon, people go crazy.”
Saturday’s UFC Mexico card was a sell-out with 19,731 fans and set a record for highest grossing gate at a UFC Fight Night event—over $2.53 million earned.
These factors certainly support Moreno’s case to headline another major UFC card in Mexico. As for Pantoja? He hasn’t been booked yet but might return sooner than September with potential challengers like Manel Kape or Kai Kara-France.
Moreno is eager to fight again in Mexico, especially after securing his first win there following an 0-2-1 record in Mexico City earlier in his career.
“Every single time when I got a loss [in Mexico City], I was confused,” Moreno reflected. “This time, I kept my thoughts clear and focused on putting all the work together.”
He felt different during this fight week—more experienced and energetic—and ultimately secured the win. “I’m happy,” he concluded.