UFC Mexico City Preview
The UFC is invading Arena CDMX in Mexico City, Mexico on Saturday, March 29 for UFC on ESPN 64. The main event will be in the flyweight division between former two-time champion #2 Brandon Moreno and former title challenger #8 Steve Erceg.
Moreno is 4-2 in his last six fights having most recently defeated Amir Albazi by unanimous decision in November. He suffered two straight split decision losses one of which he lost the title to Alexandre Pantoja and the next loss was a rematch to #1 contender Brandon Royval, but he returned to championship form in his last fight against Albazi.
The Mexican fighter has already put together a hall of fame worthy career and feels his experience will help him against Erceg. "It's weird because in other fights, a lot of people were talking about that," he said.
"Like, 'Brandon Moreno has a lot of time fighting in the company, he has so many fights in the UFC, so he has a lot of experience.' But I don't feel like I had the ability to take advantage of that experience before.
"But now, after my last fight against (Amir) Albazi in Canada, now I can feel how that experience can work in my benefit. So I'm just excited to fight against Steve. I know he's very motivated to fight against me. So it's gonna be a nice fight.”
Through the experience the former champion has put himself in the best position mentally. "I think (it's helped) with the confidence. Because, man, I have so many years in this game, it's definitely not my first rodeo!" he grinned.
"I think (it's given me) the confidence to understand that I'm really good. The confidence to understand I can take the fight where I want to take it. So I think that's the difference.”
e continued, "I feel I’m in an amazing moment. I feel very young, but, at the same time, I have so many years doing this. So it's amazing, between being young and having the experience.
"I think when you start this game, you are very young and very excited, full of energy, but you don't have the experience. And the other side, though, the opposite side, is when you have all the experience of the game, but your body starts to feel not the same.
"So, right now, I feel in an amazing balance. I feel I’m in the best shape of my life. I feel in my prime, and I have to show it. I have to execute, like my coaches say, but I'm ready to do it."
With a win on Saturday Moreno could re-enter the title conversation. "I know the state of the flyweight division right now," he said.
"It's a lot of fighters, a lot of contenders, trying to get the opportunity for the title.
"I know I was the champion. I know I had the opportunity before. So I was very, very conscious to understand that maybe I had to fight one or two more times in the future.
"So, that's what I'm doing right now. I fought Albazi. I won. I got the victory. Now I want to get this one on Saturday, and after that, let's see what happens.”
Is the 31-year-old thinking about a title shot? "My main focus right now is, don't even think of the past," he said.
"I'm just trying to be very focused on Steve Erceg. He's a very dangerous opponent. I think he's very motivated, because he's coming for a big moment in the company, so I think he's gonna (try to get) that victory again.”
'
Moreno continued, "So, with that being said, again, I'm not thinking about the past, I'm trying to be very, very focused on my present, and that's it.
"A lot of people think he won that fight against Pantoja. Right now he's not in his best moment – he came from a loss with Kai Kara-France. But that makes a fighter very dangerous, because he wants to win. He wants to get the title opportunity again in the future.”
He concluded, "He knows if he beats me this Saturday, it can be a really good step for that goal in the future. He's a really good boxer, good distance, a good jiu-jitsu, good ground game."
Aside from Albazi, Moreno has key wins over Deiveson Figueiredo (twice), Kai Kara-France (twice), Brandon Royval, Jussier Formiga and Dustin Ortiz. A win over Erceg will without a doubt get people talking about a third fight with Pantoja.
Erceg is coming off two-straight losses, the first was for the title at UFC 301 where he lost by unanimous decision to Alexandre Pantoja. His last loss was a devastating TKO loss to Kai Kara-France at UFC 305 in August. He started 3-0 in the UFC before being granted a title shot but he could erase his recent losing streak by defeating Moreno.
The Australian commented on his quick rise in the UFC. “It’s been a wild ride,” Erceg said. “I've got to fight all the best guys very quickly and, honestly, I wouldn't change it. All I want to do is fight the toughest guys. And I feel like even though I've had some losses now, it's character building, and you learn a lot, and I'm going to be a better fighter and a better person for the experiences I've had.”
Erceg believes he has learned from his losing streak. “The fact that I'm getting exposed to the level of athlete I'm getting exposed to definitely makes you become better faster,” he said. “So I just think, ‘Man, if I got here at 21, how good I'd be by now?’
How does he feel about facing Moreno in hostile territory? “I'm competitive enough that all that stuff goes out the window like, ‘Hey, none of that. It's my turn,’” he said. “I won't have to think, ‘Oh, no, that's Brandon,’ right?
“It will just be, ‘I'm going to win this fight and stop me if you can.”
The rest of the main card:
Manuel Torres vs. Drew Dober; 155 lbs
Kelvin Gastelum vs. Joe Pyfer; 185 lbs
Raul Rosas Jr. vs. Vince Morales; 135 lbs
David Martinez vs. Saimon Oliveira; 135 lbs
Ronaldo Rodriguez vs. Kevin Borjas; 125 lbs
ESPN+ Prelims:
Edgar Chairez vs. CJ Vergara; 125 lbs
Jose Medina vs. Ateba Gautier; 185 lbs
Christian Rodriguez vs. Melquizael Costa; 145 lbs
Loopy Godinez vs. Julia Polastri; 115 lbs
Rafa Garcia vs. Vinc Pichel; 155 lbs
Jamall Emmers vs. Gabriel Miranda; 145 lbs
Marquel Mederos vs. Austin Hubbard; 155 lbs
