Welcome to the battle of the Brandon’s.
Former UFC Flyweight Champion Brandon Moreno returns to Mexico for another rematch. After Amir Albazi withdrew from their main event, Brandon Royval decided to give it a go in his place. Royval will try to avenge a 2021 TKO loss to Moreno, which was due to injury.
Moreno and Royval attempt to bounce back to title contention after suffering a decision loss to defending champion Alexandre Pantoja in both their last time out.
The flyweight headliner goes down from a packed house in Arena CDMX in Mexico City, Mexico where Moreno looks to finally win on home soil for the first time in the UFC. ‘The Assassin Baby’ has failed to do so on two occasions, one a draw and the other a decision loss to Pantoja in 2018.
Round 1:
The flyweights keep their distance for the first moments of the fight, moving all around the Octagon. Referee Herb Dean tells both men to get going after much inactivity shown on the feet. Both very evasive, Moreno and Royval miss on a ton of strikes. Royval lands a body kick and Moreno returns with a combination up top, Moreno lands a body kick and Royval looks to land big but doesn’t,
Royval fires a short blitz of strikes. Moreno lands an elbow before throwing a haymaker that misses. Royval lands a body kick. Moreno throws a few punches.
10-9 Moreno
Round 2:
Royval fires an inside leg kick. Moreno clips Royval with a crisp right hand. Jab lands for Moreno. Moreno loads up on his punches, swinging big and missing. Royval lands a body kick. Moreno is on the hunt for a knockout. Body kick lands for Royval. Royval tags with feints and follows it up with effective punches.
Body kick lands for Royval. Moreno is caught with another brutal body kick and retaliates with a takedown. Royvsal tries to work from bottom. Royval uses an omoplata submission attempt to escape and get back to his feet.
CDS: 10-9 Royval
Round 3:
Moreno lands a solid leg kick. Royval blocks a headkick from Moreno. Royval tags the body of his fellow Brandon with a kick. Moreno tries to get Royval to the ground but is unsuccessful in doing so. Low blow from Royval pauses the action. The flyweights get back to it, trading shots from up close and personal.
Royval fires more leg kicks and then a body kick. Moreno throws a punch to the body. Moreno clubs Royval with a strike and gets the fight to ground for a few seconds. Royval works the jab once he’s back up. More jabs from Royval. Moreno lands a leg kick.
CDS: 10-9 Royval
Round 4:
Moreno and Royval gets into a fast exchange of strikes. Moreno lands a great leg kick. Moreno ends his combinations with said leg kick. Moreno attempts a takedown but is denied by Royval. Moreno lands a leg kick, Royval follows it up several strikes. Royval takes the fight to Moreno, melting the Mexican with strikes before taking him down to the canvas. Moreno works his way back up to his feet. Royval jabs the face of Moreno.
Royval continues to string together his combos. Moreno lands a leg kick. Royval keeps Moreno at bay with strikes that just keep on adding on till the end of the round.
CDS: 10-9 Royval
Round 5:
Moreno clips Royval with a right hand. Royval and Moreno enter the clinch where the referee calls for action. Herb Dean breaks their position after inactivity. Moreno lands a solid right hand. Body kick lands for Moreno. Moreno lands a right hand. Royval tags Moreno with multiple shots. Royval continues to throw but eats a shot from Moreno himself. Moreno grabs the back of Royval in the clinch. The referee separates them. Royval and Moreno lob punches at each other. Moreno holds Royval in the clinch. After separating once again, the flyweights swing for the fences to end the fight.
CDS: 10-9 Moreno (total score: 48-47 Royval)
Official result: Brandon Royval defeats Brandon Moreno via split decision (48-47, 46-49, 48-47)
After hearing the judges scorecards, Royval assumed he had lost and shook his head in disappointment only to be happily surprised when his last name was read as the main event victor.
Check out the highlights below:
The #UFCMexico Main Event starts NOW on @ESPNPlus 🇲🇽 pic.twitter.com/fZmnZZ4loi
— UFC (@ufc) February 25, 2024
Heading to the championship rounds 👀
Who's winning on your scorecards? #UFCMexico pic.twitter.com/cJ1g2sAQCn
— UFC (@ufc) February 25, 2024
25 minutes in the books 🔥
The #UFCMexico Main Event is headed to the judges scorecards! pic.twitter.com/KD5dz0zeDs
— UFC (@ufc) February 25, 2024
Got the win on short notice 😤@BrandonRoyval wins the #UFCMexico main event by split decision! pic.twitter.com/wsYdXGxBZN
— UFC (@ufc) February 25, 2024
Brandon Royval is fired up!
He wants the rematch with Alexandre Pantoja after tonight's #UFCMexico win 👀 pic.twitter.com/ynUKqG7CXP
— UFC (@ufc) February 25, 2024
