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Brandon Moreno, the flyweight champion, aims at bringing a UFC pay-per-view event to Mexico. For this purpose, Moreno plans to defend his championship for the first time against Alexandre Pantoja in his homeland. Pantoja is a competitor he has previously faced in defeat.
Brandon Moreno has targeted a rematch against Pantoja in June. Following Shakiel Mahjouri of CBS Sports, the two-time UFC champion did admit that he is keen on the fight subject to the results of a knee MRI. But The Assassin Baby has revealed that he can tweak his plans and fight in September if UFC agrees to his wish, calling it an ideal scenario.
“I would like to fight two more times this year – one in June and then again in November or December,” Moreno told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “I was fighting three times a year. I had that rhythm before the whole thing with Figueiredo started, so I’d like to pick that rhythm back up.
“But if UFC gives me the perfect excuse to wait until September for a pay-per-view in Mexico City, the launch of the Performance Institute (in Mexico), which I think this year gets launched, I think that’s an incredible excuse. I wouldn’t be surprised if they offer me, Pantoja, for the next one, so I think that would be the ideal scenario for me.”
At UFC 283 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the native of Tijuana defeated longtime opponent Deiveson Figueiredo to reclaim the flyweight championship. By way of a third-round TKO, Moreno was capable of ending their four-fight saga.
Alexandre Pantoja is well-known to Brandon Moreno. Twice, the two 125-pounders have faced off. Their maiden encounter took place in an exhibition match during the 24th edition of The Ultimate Fighter in 2016 and once more at UFC Fight Night 129 two years after that. Moreno is now hoping to get an advantage over his enmity foe Pantoja after failing to do so both times.
“When I fought him, and it’s not making excuses, Pantoja never fought the best Brandon Moreno at that time. I truly believe that, and I would love to prove that in the future.”
Pantoja is not somebody that Moreno genuinely dislikes. However, Moreno and Pantoja interacted backstage following Moreno's victory at UFC 283. Moreno claimed during the post-fight media briefing that his former competitor was first extremely pleasant but transformed into a very little bit blunt.