Some Brandon Moreno next fight news should arrive in the coming months, now that he is the undisputed king of the UFC flyweight division. When the Mexican star is ready to return to the Octagon there are several talented fighters ready to be his next title challenger.
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Who will Brandon Moreno next fight be against?
At UFC 283, Brandon Moreno brought an end to his four-fight series against Deiveson Figueiredo and is now the man running the 125-pound roost in the UFC. However, there are several fighters worthy of title opportunities. That is why Alexandre Pantoja, Kai Kara-France, and Matheus Nicolau are strong options for his next bout.
- The Cannibal: Alexandre Pantoja and Moreno have a long history. The Brazilian owns wins over the Mexican during their stint on “The Ultimate Fighter” in 2016 and in a rematch two years later. Meaning, seeking long-sought revenge is an easy sell in a potential championship clash. Plus, Pantoja is the top-ranked contender in the division.
- Don’t Blink: Kara-France was one of the hottest fighters in the weight class before being handed a loss by Moreno last year. If the Australian can get a big win in his next fight, a case could be made for a rematch in 2023.
- The Next Big Thing: Nicolau could be the next big star at flyweight. He is 7-1 in the UFC over two stints and has won six straight overall. If the UFC wants something new and not a redo of previous fights, Nicolau would be a fresh and worthy option.
Brandon Moreno vs Deiveson Figueiredo 4 recap
In fight four of the greatest feud in UFC flyweight history, Brandon Moreno used a balanced attack to outwork, and damage former champion Deiveson Figueiredo en route to a doctor stoppage technical knockout before the fourth round.
What happened: In their fourth fight, “The Assassin Baby” ventured away from engaging his foe in an all-out striking battle, and mixed things up by using his improved wrestling to score takedowns and win rounds early in the fight. While the Brazilian showed strong defense at times, the game plan was a smart one that Figueiredo did not seem to expect.
The fallout: In the third round, a punch that was followed by an accidental scrape of the eye did major damage to the former champion. By the end of the frame, Figueiredo’s left eye had swelled up to a point where he could not open it, forcing the Octagon-side doctor to call a halt to the bout and award the victory to Moreno.
The roadmap: The mostly likely fight next for Brandon Moreno is probably Alexandre Pantoja. It has a good back story and Pantoja has been deserving of a title opportunity for well over a year.
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): 21-6 (5 knockouts, 11 submissions)
- Brandon Moreno UFC record: 10-3-2
- “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 4-2-1 with his only defeat being to Figueiredo
- The three Brandon Moreno vs Deiveson Figueiredo bouts is viewed as the best trilogy in division history. Every matchup was highly competitive and each man has 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 $1.5 million.