Brandon Moreno achieved a significant milestone on Saturday night at UFC Mexico City by securing his first victory in his home country. Moreno faced Australia’s Steve Erceg in the main event, aiming to overcome a previous winless streak in Mexico City, where he held an 0-2-1 record. This loss drew attention to Moreno's prior struggles, including a controversial draw against Askar Askarov in 2019. Meanwhile, Erceg entered the octagon seeking to end a two-fight losing streak, including a title fight defeat to flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja.
In the opening round, Moreno showcased his striking skills, effectively utilizing his jab and searching for openings for his powerful left hook. Despite Erceg's height and reach advantage, Moreno demonstrated speed, landing a punch that sent Erceg staggering. Moreno followed up with a clean left hand later in the round, clearly establishing his striking dominance. No grappling occurred in the initial five minutes as Moreno focused on body shots and leg kicks, controlling the fight on his feet.
Moreno continued to press the action in the second round, appearing confident and a step ahead of Erceg, who attempted to establish his jab. As Erceg fired a knee to keep Moreno wary of takedown attempts, Moreno seized control, mixing in kicks to keep Erceg off balance. By the end of the second round, Moreno had a comfortable lead, while Erceg faced the challenge of adjusting his strategy.
Erceg improved his defensive efforts in the third round, managing to evade more of Moreno's strikes, but merely defending was not enough to win fights. Moreno maintained his varied attack, showing no signs of fatigue. Although Erceg landed a couple of low kicks and found openings for some combinations, the round remained in favor of Moreno.
As the fight progressed into the fourth round, Erceg connected with a few more strikes, making the exchanges more competitive. Moreno, however, remained the faster fighter. He landed a significant ground strike after taking Erceg to the canvas, closing the round strongly.
During the fifth round, Moreno’s momentum and support from the crowd grew. He unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks, taking control of the action. Although Erceg attempted a front kick, he struggled to keep pace. In the final minute, Moreno displayed tactical prowess, dumping Erceg to the ground and transitioning into a dominant side control position until the fight concluded.
The judges unanimously scored the bout in favor of Moreno, with all three official scores reading 49-46. This victory marked a triumphant return for Moreno in Mexico City, solidifying his status as a top contender in the flyweight division.
Official Result: Brandon Moreno def. Steve Erceg by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46).
