Brandon Moreno is confident he should headline UFC 320, the Noche UFC event in Guadalajara, Mexico, on September 13.
After defeating Steve Erceg at UFC Mexico, Moreno immediately set his sights on a title shot. The UFC`s announcement of the September pay-per-view just before his fight felt like destiny, motivating Moreno to pursue a fourth match against flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja.
“Fighting for the title in Guadalajara is definitely my goal,” Moreno stated at the post-fight press conference. “I believe it makes perfect sense, both for me and for the UFC. Headlining a Noche UFC pay-per-view event in Guadalajara in September? I`m the ideal choice.”
Moreno`s argument for being the main attraction in Mexico, especially for a card celebrating Mexican Independence Day, is strong.
However, convincing the UFC to grant him another title shot against Pantoja might be challenging, given Moreno has lost to him three times before. One loss was on The Ultimate Fighter, which isn`t on his official record, but Pantoja has defeated Moreno in two subsequent fights, including the title-winning bout in 2023.
Despite this history, Moreno believes his popularity and continued success in the flyweight division warrant consideration for the opportunity.
“I believe I`ve proven that I deserve to be the main event for the Guadalajara pay-per-view in September,” Moreno asserted.
“We`ll see what happens. I noticed Hunter [Campbell] seemed very pleased with the crowd and the atmosphere. The question is, how much impact do I really have? Flyweights often face this issue, which is frustrating. But I genuinely believe that every time I enter the octagon, the crowd goes wild. That`s undeniable. Let`s wait and see.”
UFC Mexico was a sold-out event with 19,731 attendees and the highest-grossing gate for a Fight Night, earning over $2.53 million.
These factors favor Moreno`s request to headline the next major UFC event in Mexico.
Pantoja`s next title defense is yet to be scheduled, but he is expected to return before September, with Manel Kape and Kai Kara-France as potential challengers.
Moreno is ready to compete again in Mexico, especially after securing his first victory there following an 0-2-1 record in Mexico City earlier in his UFC career.
“After every loss in Mexico City, I was puzzled,” Moreno reflected. “I felt like I was doing everything right but not getting the desired outcome. This time, I focused on clearing my mind, being focused, and executing my game plan.”
“Throughout fight week, I felt a different energy and experience. And in the end, we got the win. I`m happy.”
