Can the Baby Assassin Put Himself Back in Title Contention with an Impressive Win?
The UFC returns to Mexico City for UFC Fight: Brandon Moreno vs. Steve Erceg this Saturday. This highly anticipated main event could go a long way in each fighter making a strong case for a potential rematch with current champion Alexandre Pantoja. The flyweight division is in limbo with Pantoja almost lapping the entire division. Moreno is hungry to get another shot at becoming a three-time Flyweight Champion. At the same time, Erceg is looking to bounce back from a devastating knockout loss to Kai Kara France in his last fight. Will the Assassin Baby show why he’s still one of the best in the division, or will Astro Boy show why he still should be a title contender?
Moreno last time out bounced back from back-to-back losses against a rising contender, Amir Albazi. It was a complete performance as he was able to showcase his striking, grappling, and wrestling abilities.The 31-year-old has put on some of the most legendary battles with former champion Deiveson Figueiredo. Those fights brought the absolute best out of one another and showed that there are levels to the division. This upcoming matchup stylistically should favor Moreno as his striking defense and counter ability will serve him well against Erceg’s style. His ability to mix things up and grapple will force Erceg to expend energy having to defend, and just like his fight against Pantoja, eventually you will be able to succeed and get him down. He hopefully will be more active against a striker, as he got outpointed against Brandon Royval the last time he visited Mexico City.
Erceg shot up the ranking quickly with impressive performances left and right. He was able to land a title shot in just his fourth fight in the UFC. He took the current champion into deep waters and made a strong case in many fans' minds that he should have won the title. After a setback loss in his last fight, the pressure is on to get back in the win column with so many fighters eager to get a crack at Pantoja. The way he was able to defend most of the grappling that Pantoja threw at him, there's a good chance he can keep this fight on the feet for the most part, which will give him the best path to victory. He is electric on the feet and could sleep anyone at any time. Moreno has a good chin on him, so he will need to throw more combinations instead of loading up on one shot. If he can put Moreno on the back foot and throw consistently, the pressure could allow him to get his hand raised in this contest.
With both fighters having the ability to win this fight, I believe that Moreno is more well-rounded, which will allow him to pull this win off. He is so experienced in five-round fights and how to pace himself effectively throughout. If he can get a finish in this fight or dominate convincingly, he will put himself in serious consideration for a title shot. Most likely, Dana White will schedule a number one contender fight between himself and rising star Manel Kape. Whichever outcome happens, one thing is certain: this fight will be incredible and one you don’t want to miss.
