Brandon Moreno vs. Steve Erceg: What’s at Stake?
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UFC Mexico delivers an action-packed card featuring rising prospects and established stars. Top flyweight contenders Brandon Moreno and Steve Erceg headline in a potential title eliminator. The event takes place at Arena CDMX in Mexico City on March 29th, and will stream live on ESPN+.
UFC Mexico’s Flyweight Main Event
A former flyweight champion meets a former title challenger, with a lot on the line. The division’s title picture remains uncertain, making this a crucial fight for both men. Brandon Moreno (22-8-2) looks to build momentum after a dominant win over Amir Albazi in November. Meanwhile, Australia’s Steve Erceg (12-3-0) hopes to rebound from the first TKO loss of his career—a first-round stoppage against New Zealand’s hard-hitting Kai Kara-France last August.
Title Shot Implications
The flyweight division is currently experiencing levels of stagnation at the top. This results from reigning and defending champion Alexandre Pantoja’s dominance against the rest of the division’s best. Pantoja has already conquered half the top fifteen fighters, even defeating some twice. Acknowledging his dominance, the promotion has already gone to great lengths to find fresh matchups that capture the public’s imagination. Recent matchups against Kai Asakura, Steve Erceg, and Brandon Royval have all checked different boxes.
Pantoja’s toughest title fights have come against both of UFC Mexico’s featured flyweights. Moreno lost his title to Pantoja via split decision at UFC 290 in July 2023. Erceg did not earn a split decision, but he also gave Pantoja a razor-close fight where some felt he won. The company will likely factor in these close fights with Pantoja. But, they may use them as a driving point to make rematches with either contender. Saturday’s outcome will determine the next steps. Moreno or Erceg could surpass fellow contenders Manel Kape and Kai Kara-France in the title picture.
Ties to Pantoja
Former flyweight champion and face of Mexican MMA, Brandon Moreno, still has a score to settle with the reigning champion. The score sits at 3-0 Pantoja. The two champions initially fought on Season 24 of The Ultimate Fighter in 2016. They fought for a second time at UFC Fight Night 129 in 2018. Their third meeting came in July 2023, when Pantoja dethroned Moreno for the title. Still, at 31, Moreno has much left to give inside the cage. His dominant unanimous decision win over Amir Albazi proved that. Moreno’s last two losses were both by split decision. They came against Pantoja and number one contender Brandon Royval. Who’s to say that Moreno can’t supersede Royval and other top contenders with a highlight-reel victory over the impressive Australian?
Erceg, 29, is still young in the sport. He has plenty of time to make his way to a Pantoja rematch. That said, he now finds himself on a two-fight losing streak. Erceg burst onto the UFC scene emphatically, showcasing his polished all-around skillset inside the cage. His record backed it up. Erceg is now in uncharted territory following back-to-back losses to Kai Kara-France and Alexandre Pantoja. So, a victory is needed to get back on track to the title. The Aussie challenged Pantoja for the title last May and put up a better fight than most pundits expected. This razor-close title-challenging performance keeps a Pantoja-Erceg rematch relevant—for now. A win over former champion Moreno would only strengthen its case.
Both fighters understand the high stakes of this pivotal matchup, especially with the division’s stagnant title picture adding to its significance.
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