Brandon Moreno returned to the Octagon on Saturday night for a high-stakes scrap with one-time title challenger Steve Erceg in the UFC Mexico main event.
Coming off a big win over Amir Albazi in November, the former flyweight champion looked to secure another shot at the 125-pound crown with a win over Erceg. Of course, Erceg went into the evening’s headliner determined to score himself another crack at the belt currently wrapped around the waist of Alexandre Pantoja.
Erceg came up short against ‘The Cannibal’ last May, but gave the champ his toughest test to date. If he can bag a win over Moreno in Mexico City, he’ll all but guarantee himself a rematch with Pantoja.
Round 1
Erceg throws a jab, and Moreno immediately tries to respond with a looping overhand right. Moreno throws another right hand that connects. Erceg fires off a couple of calf kicks to Moreno’s lead leg. Moreno jabs and rips to the body with a left hook. Erceg doubles up on the jab and puts a stiff left hand behind it. Moreno connects with a left of his own. Moreno tags Erceg with a massive right hand hidden behind an uppercut. Erceg stumbles, but doesn’t go down.
Moreno jabs to the body and goes back upstairs with a right. Erceg fires back with a couple of jabs. Moreno lands against with a nasty right hand, and Erceg responds with an uppercut in close. Erceg throws a one-two and puts a body kick behind it. Moreno makes him pay with yet another right hand, but Erceg’s chin is holding up so far, and he makes it out of the first despite taking some big shots from ‘The Assassin Baby.’
Round 2
Moreno continues to go to the right hand as Erceg continues pumping his jab. Erceg connects with a step-in knee up the middle. Moreno lands an inside leg kick, followed by another. Moreno sticks Erceg with a power right. Erceg answers back with a right, but Moreno targets the body, landing a thudding shot. Erceg lands another jab and is starting to find his rhythm. Moreno grabs Erceg’s leg for a potential takedown attempt, but he quickly gives up on it.
Erceg eats another right hand for Moreno. Erceg jabs and throws an uppercut that doesn’t get through Moreno’s guard. Erceg throws a front kick and eats a quick left from Moreno in response. Erceg lands a right and follows it up with a left that lands. Erceg clips Moreno with a right just before the bell.
Round 3
Moreno swings big with a couple of left hands, clearly looking for a highlight-reel finish, but Erceg is getting into his groove and staying out of danger. Erceg connects with a calf kick and lands a nice uppercut as the misses continue to pile up for Moreno in round three. Moreno lands an inside leg kick. Erceg triples up on the jab. Moreno throws a right hook, but Erceg slides out of range and lands a combination.
Erceg goes back to the step-in knee up the middle. Moreno is chasing down Erceg with less than a minute to go, but he’s not landing as cleanly as he did during the first two rounds. Erceg throws a combination with another knee that Moreno blocks just before the bell.
Round 4
Moreno connects with a left, and Erceg replies with a stiff jab that pops the former champion’s head back. Moreno swings big once again, and Erceg makes him pay with a stiff kick to the midsection. Erceg partially connects with a head kick. Moreno comes back with a knee. Moreno is putting on pressure and looking for a home-run shot, but Erceg is doing an excellent job of keeping him at bay with the jab.
Morerno is doing a little talking inside the Octagon, getting a smile out of Erceg. ‘Astro Boy’ appears to have a slight cut on the right side of his face. Erceg blocks a left hand from Moreno. With 30 seconds to go in the round, Moreno shoots in for a takedown against the fence. Moreno gets Erceg down to the mat just as the horn expires and appears to land a late shot, but no damage is done.
Round 5
More of the same in round five with Moreno swinging big and Erceg avoiding the danger, but offering little in return. Moreno connects with a left hand followed by a leg kick. Moreno tries to land another leg kick, but Erceg checks it. Erceg lands a left and then goes high with a head kick, but Moreno blocks it. Moreno turns it up, landing a combination punctuated by a body kick. Erceg connects with a jab before retreating.
Moreno with a right hand that sends Erceg back. Moreno lands another right, and Erceg fires back with a counter left. Moreno throws a head kick that takes Erceg off balance. Moreno goes down with him and gets into side control. With only 10 seconds left, Moreno looks to land some late elbows and hopefully walk away with another big win on the scorecards.
Official Result: Brandon Moreno def. Steve Erceg via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)
Check Out Highlights From Brandon Moreno vs. Steve Erceg at UFC Mexico:
Brandon Moreno and Steve Erceg go the distance!
How did you score it?! #UFCMexico pic.twitter.com/QxePPN52w4
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) March 30, 2025
VICTORY FOR THE ASSASSIN BABY 🇲🇽
Brandon Moreno battles for 5 rounds to get his first win on home soil! #UFCMexico pic.twitter.com/p1QzlYiEUq
— UFC (@ufc) March 30, 2025
Brandon Moreno wants in on the Noche UFC card in Guadalajara! 🇲🇽#UFCMexico | LIVE on TNT Sports & discovery+ pic.twitter.com/sNEN9ihOB3
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) March 30, 2025
