The 31-Year-Old Former Champion Finally Gets His Win at Mexico City
The 31-year-old two-time Flyweight Champion Brandon Moreno makes his first appearance in 2025 with a main event bout against electric striker Steve Erceg. Both fighters will be looking to make a statement and put their names in the running for a potential title shot against current champion Alexandre Pantoja. This fight should be non-stop action between two of the most exciting fighters the flyweight division has ever seen. I will recap the entire fight and what should be next for the winner and loser moving forward.
Round one opened with both fighters being patient, throwing faints, trying to get a read of one another. Overhand left landed on the button when Erceg tried to go forward. Moreno looks on point, mixing up his combinations to the head, leg, and body simultaneously. An Uppercut and straight right rocked Erceg. Erceg settled in well to end the round, but the big moments came from Moreno as his timing is on point so far. Moreno is back, landing his jab and setting up his straight right to start round two. Erceg landed a big right hand and knee when Moreno came in range. Huge combinations landed by both fighters as they threw in the pocket. Erceg is building as this fight is going on. Both fighters had their moments as this is a highly competitive battle. Erceg is working on his jab to start round three as Moreno continues loading up and working the body. Erceg is reading the timing and range of Moreno well now, as he can slip out of shots and counter effectively. Moreno is mixing his targets well and landing the more damaging shots, but Erceg’s output is keeping this a close fight.
To start round four, we need to see more output from both fighters, as it seems both are slowing down. Erceg is so technically sound, but Moreno keeps catching him at the end of his combinations. Erceg’s output slowing down is going to be his downfall, as Moreno is landing the most damaging shots. He needs a big moment. It’s most likely three rounds to one in favor of Moreno. Going into the fifth round, Erceg needs a finish to steal this win. Both fighters are fighting off their jabs, but they're so good defensively that it’s hard for either to land anything significant. Erceg landed a headlock but was off balance and allowed Moreno to take him down at the end of round five. It’s going to the scorecards for the decision, as it looks like Moreno was able to finally win in front of Mexico City. All three judges scored the fight 49-46 by your winner by unanimous decision Brandon Moreno.
This was a highly technical fight between two incredibly sound fighters. Moreno looked locked in throughout, and it seemed he just wanted this win more. Erceg fought well and grew as the fight progressed, but his output slowed as Moreno was able to fight at his own pace. I think Moreno should fight the winner of Pantoja vs. Kai Kara-France for one more chance at claiming flyweight gold. As for Erceg, I think he should fight Asu Almabayev as they were originally planned to fight this year before injuries changed that. We will see what Dana White and Hunter Campbell decide to do with each fighter moving forward.
