Former two-time UFC Flyweight champion, Brandon Moreno, will enjoy the support of a partisan crowd when he meets Brandon Royval in UFC Mexico’s headliner at the Arena CDMX in Mexico City. The Assassin Baby remains a firm fan favourite and will be keen for an immediate response since losing his title to Alexandre Pantoja last time out.
As expected for an event hosted in Mexico’s capital, the card is stacked with Mexican talent across the weight classes. All-action Featherweight Yair Rodriguez faces Brian Ortega in a co-main event that has been tipped as a fight of the night. Fans will also be treated to 19 year old prospect, Raul Rosas Jr, who takes on TUF Season 29 champion Ricky Turcios.
Brandon Moreno vs Brandon Royval
On paper, a split decision loss to Alexandre Pantoja amounts to little concern. The Brazilian is a technical savant and has justly earned his reputation as an elite Flyweight operator. Rewatching the five-rounds, however, raises red flags upon Moreno’s return. The 30-year-old was typically active on the feet, peppering Pantoja at distance with extended combinations. Unfortunately for the champion, he was unable to keep himself standing in the second-half of the fight – noticeably dropping in output as he was out-struck and out-wrestled. Are the scars of Moreno’s back-and-forth quadrilogy with Deiveson Figueiredo finally starting to emerge?
While it is very easy to plug Brandon Royval for his kill-or-be-killed approach, his chances at a title shot are slim at best. For all of Royval’s ingenuity and risk-taking, it papers over a fundamental lack of ring IQ and strategy. Moreno’s chin is damn near unbreakable, and while Royval’s BJJ cannot be overlooked, it would be surprise to see him trap Moreno in just his second career submission loss.
Moreno vs Royval Prediction: Moreno TKO Round 2
Yair Rodriguez vs Brian Ortega
Prepare yourself for a battle between the two coldest men at Featherweight. That isn’t to undervalue their skillsets, but rather to raise personal wrinkles with the pair’s career inactivity. Rodriguez, to his credit, has taken time off to lick his wounds after his beating from Alexander Volkanovski, but he has shared a similar tendency with Ortega in waiting for fights to fall into their lap. Ortega last fought nearly two years ago, spending less than a round in the octagon, and the kicker? Rodriguez was his opponent.
There is relatively little that can be gleaned from the duo’s first match-up. The Mexican looked comfortable in preventing Ortega’s takedowns and the balance of power was even when T-City was forced to retire with a shoulder injury within five minutes. Despite the soul-crushing end to Rodriguez’s title shot against Volkanovski, El Pantera has at least banked ten rounds of fight time since his clash with Ortega.
Rodriguez vs Ortega Prediction: Rodriguez Decision
Daniel Zellhuber vs Francisco Prado
If not for the location of Saturday’s card, neither prospect would be featured so prominently in the pecking order. Daniel Zellhuber stands like the second coming of Stretch Armstrong, yet the Lightweight has struggled to find the finishes that defined his early career. The 24-year-old will hope that a second-round submission over Christos Giagos last September will see a turn around in his form, however, against a similarly aged opponent. Emerging from the South American regional MMA scene, Francisco Prado may have underlined his survivability during a punishing debut loss against Jamie Mullarkey, but the 21-year-old offered little else.
Zellhuber vs Prado Prediction: Zellhuber Submission Round 3
Raul Rosas Jr vs Ricky Turcios
After suffering a first career loss last April, Raul Rosas Jr revealed a maturity beyond his years when he successfully returned with a one-minute KO over Terrance Mitchell in September. El Nino Problema may still find himself two years too young to drink in the US, but the New Mexican fighter is already being touted as the hottest prospect on the UFC roster. For opponent, Ricky Turcios, he has fast learnt that a TUF championship is no longer the bargaining chip of old.
Rosas Jr vs Turcios Prediction: Rosas Jr Decision
Yazmin Jauregui vs Sam Hughes
Denise Gomes may have sent Yazmin Jauregui to the shadow realm in just twenty seconds last July, but the 24-year-old is by no means damaged goods. The Tijuana native is a firecracker in the octagon, applying heavy pressure on the front-foot and generally disregarding the tepid pace set by fellow Strawweight peers. While Sam Hughes will eagerly accept Jauregui’s lead, she will find herself outgunned on the feet.
Jauregui vs Hughes Prediction: Jauregui Decision
UFC Mexico Undercard Picks
Manuel Torres vs Chris Duncan Prediction: Duncan TKO Round 1
Cristian Quinonez vs Raoni Barcelos Prediction: Barcelos Decision
Jesus Aguilar vs Mateus Mendonca Prediction: Aguilar Decision
Edgar Chairez vs Daniel Lacerda Prediction: Chairez Submission Round 1
Claudio Puelles vs Fares Ziam Prediction: Ziam Decision
Luis Rodriguez vs Denys Bondar Prediction: Rodriguez Decision
Victor Altamirano vs Felipe dos Santos Prediction: Altamirano Decision
Muhammad Naimov vs Erik Silva Prediction: Naimov Submission Round 2
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