Brandon Moreno doesn’t know the magnitude of his star energy, however he believes there’s no one higher suited to headline UFC 320—the newest installment of Noche UFC—when the promotion lands in Guadalajara, Mexico, on Sept. 13.
Following a unanimous decision win over Steve Erceg to cap off the newest UFC Mexico card on Saturday, Moreno wasted no time turning his consideration to the long run with hopes that he can get one other crack at gold for his subsequent combat. Simply earlier than he walked out for the primary occasion, the UFC introduced the information in regards to the September pay-per-view and it felt like destiny for Moreno to win after which search out a fourth combat in opposition to reigning flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja.
“That’s the aim for positive in Guadalajara,” Moreno mentioned in the course of the UFC Mexico post-fight press conference. “I feel it’s excellent. Even for the UFC, for the promotion. In the event that they wish to get a pay-per-view occasion in Noche UFC in September in Guadalajara, I feel I’m the correct selection.”
It’s powerful to argue in opposition to Moreno’s logic no less than in relation to reserving a serious native attraction for the cardboard that’s constructed round celebrating Mexican Independence Day.
The one downside Moreno would possibly face is convincing the UFC to present him one other crack at Pantoja contemplating he’s already fought and misplaced that combat on three totally different events prior to now. A kind of losses got here on The Final Fighter actuality present, so it doesn’t truly seem on his report, however Moreno nonetheless fell to Pantoja in two subsequent bouts, which incorporates the combat the place the Brazilian captured the 125-pound title in 2023.
Nonetheless, Moreno is aware of his capability to attract a crowd and his continued dominance within the flyweight division ought to no less than earn him consideration for that chance.
“I really feel at this time I’ve sufficient argument to boost my hand and say I could be the primary occasion within the pay-per-view in Guadalajara in September,” Moreno mentioned.
“Let’s see what occurs. I noticed [UFC Chief Business Officer] Hunter [Campbell] and he appeared very pleased with the individuals, with the group. That’s the factor, who is aware of how a lot I transfer the needle? Possibly not an excessive amount of. Flyweights, at all times with the identical downside, that’s loopy. However I actually consider each single time I step within the octagon, the individuals goes loopy. That’s a reality. Let’s see what occurs.”
Saturday’s UFC Mexico card featured a sold-out crowd with 19,731 followers in attendance and the best grossing gate for a UFC Combat Night time occasion in historical past with over $2.53 million earned.
These sorts of things bode effectively for Moreno’s request to headline the subsequent main UFC card in Mexico.
As for Pantoja, he nonetheless hasn’t been booked for his subsequent title protection, though all indicators level in direction of him returning sooner than September with potential opponents Manel Kape and/or Kai Kara-France ready within the wings.
It stays to be seen what occurs for Moreno, however he’s completely happy to serve as long as his subsequent combat places him again in Mexico once more, particularly after he lastly acquired his first win there after beginning his UFC profession with an 0-2-1 report competing in Mexico Metropolis.
“Each single time after I acquired a loss [in Mexico City], I used to be like I don’t know what occurred right here,” Moreno mentioned. “I’m doing all of the job. I’m doing the job and I’m not getting the consequence I need however I don’t know. This time I simply tried to maintain all these ideas out of the dialog and simply come right here, be very clear and put all of the job collectively.
“I felt all this combat week like every part feels totally different. I had the expertise. I’ve the vitality and on the finish, we secured [the win]. I’m completely happy.”
