Brandon Moreno’s career in the UFC could not be described as anything less than an outrageous success. The two-time former flyweight champion has reached the highest of highs, been a part of history and been one of the key figures behind MMA’s boom in Mexico.
When it comes to competing on his home soil, however, that’s a part of Moreno’s UFC career he probably wants to forget about. He’s winless in three octagon appearances in Mexico, going 0-2-1, with the two defeats being in main events against Sergio Pettis and Brandon Royval.
On Saturday, however, Moreno (22-8-2 MMA, 10-4-2 UFC) gets the chance to turn the narrative in his favor. He’s positioned in another headlining spot at UFC on ESPN 64, this time against Steve Erceg (12-3 MMA, 3-2 UFC) at Arena CDMX in Mexico City (ESPN2, ESPN+).
The record at home has been a thorn in the side of Moreno. Top UFC analyst and color commentator Paul Felder understands why, but said if Moreno wants to get back to the title again, he is going to need to overcome this hurdle.
“He’s being put on the face of Mexican MMA and they want him there so much to draw attention, and that brings a lot of pressure to it,” Felder told MMA Junkie. “The fact that it is at altitude and he has to change the way that he wants to train. He likes to have his own team and camp around him. Then it’s the financial burden. Bringing the whole team to altitude, prepping in altitude – it’s just so much that goes into that. Then how many people are hitting up somebody like Brandon Moreno when he’s in Mexico City and he’s getting ready for a main event and he’s got to do all the press that goes with it?
“A main event somewhere else, it’s not as big a deal for him. He can kind of slip under the radar and just do the media. But when you’re the guy, you’re the Mexican fighter on the marquee there in your home country, it’s a lot. That’s what really gets to a guy like that. Some people handle that home advantage well and make it work, and I think sometimes it breaks guys mentally.”
According to the divisional standings and betting odds, Moreno, No. 3 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie flyweight rankings, is positioned well to get his hand raised against No. 9-ranked Erceg.
Felder notes not to count out the underdog in this position, however, and explains the two 125-pound contenders to put on an entertaining show under the spotlight.
“I do think it will be an exciting fight,” Felder said. “Any time Brandon Moreno is in there (it’s good), and Erceg when he’s on his game, we’ve seen him at his best like in that championship fight he lost, a razor close fight to Alexandre Pantoja. Then he had another setback after that (to Kai Kara-France), but I think this kid, if he can really dig in and have a fun scrap with Moreno and get a win, he puts himself right back in the mix at flyweight. I like both of those guys a whole lot. That fight is going to be a lot of fun.”
To hear more from Felder, check out his complete appearance above on “The Bohnfire” podcast with MMA Junkie senior reporter Mike Bohn.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 64.
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