Brandon Moreno's Future After Two Losses
After suffering his second consecutive defeat at UFC Mexico City, speculation swirls about Brandon Moreno's next steps. The former flyweight champ now faces a crossroads — analysts debate whether he'll stay at flyweight, take time off, or pursue a different path that could realign the division's hierarchy.
Brandon Moreno is the first and only Mexican-born champion in UFC history, having held the flyweight title on two separate occasions. His journey to the top was a turbulent one; he was even cut from the UFC in 2018 after a loss to Alexandre Pantoja, only to rejoin the promotion and eventually capture the belt. Moreno's career is famously intertwined with Deiveson Figueiredo, against whom he fought an unprecedented four times. This series of fights defined the flyweight division for years, with their first encounter in 2020 ending in a draw, followed by a submission win for Moreno, a decision loss, and finally a TKO victory to unify the championship in January 2023. The first of his latest two losses came in a title defense against Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 290 in July 2023, a grueling five-round battle that ended in a split decision. The fight was a rematch of a 2018 bout, also won by Pantoja, and marked another chapter in their long-standing rivalry that began on "The Ultimate Fighter" in 2016. His most recent defeat was a split decision loss to Brandon Royval in the main event of UFC Fight Night in Mexico City. The loss was particularly significant as it marked the second time in his career that he has suffered back-to-back defeats. At 32 years old, the former champion is now at a pivotal moment in his career. While still a top-ranked flyweight, he faces a tough road back to title contention in a division filled with dangerous opponents. Analysts suggest several possibilities for Moreno's future, including a potential move up to the bantamweight division for a fresh start. Other options include taking on another top-ranked flyweight contender to prove he remains a threat in the 125-pound weight class. The path he chooses will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the landscape of the flyweight division.
