Brandon Moreno delighted the crowd in Mexico City at Arena CDMX on Saturday, but it was a hard-fought victory.
In the main event of UFC on ESPN 64, Moreno (24-8-2 MMA, 12-4-2 UFC) defeated former UFC title challenger Steve Erceg (12-5 MMA, 3-4 UFC) by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46).
The five-round fight was a closely contested technical battle. While Moreno seemed to have the edge in most exchanges, Erceg made a strong case to sway the judges.
Starting strong, Moreno was quickly caught up by Erceg, leading to a back-and-forth contest. In the end, the judges at ringside awarded Moreno the unanimous decision victory, much to the delight of the passionate Mexican crowd.
Following his win, Moreno called for a shot at UFC 320, set for September 13 in Guadalajara, Mexico. The reigning champion Alexandre Pantoja is rumored to face Kai Kara-France next.
With this victory, Moreno adds another top contender to his list of defeated opponents. Erceg, on the other hand, continues to face tough competition without the desired outcomes, suffering his third consecutive loss.
The latest UFC on ESPN 64 results are as follows:
- Brandon Moreno def. Steve Erceg via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)
- Manuel Torres def. Drew Dober via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:45
- Edgar Chairez def. CJ Vergara via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:30
- Raul Rosas Jr. def. Vince Morales via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- David Martinez def. Saimon Oliveira via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:38
- Kevin Borjas def. Ronaldo Rodriguez via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Ateba Gautier def. Jose Daniel Medina via knockout (knee) – Round 1, 3:32
- Melquizael Costa def. Christian Rodriguez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Loopy Godinez def. Julia Polastri via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Rafa Garcia def. Vinc Pichel via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Jamall Emmers def. Gabriel Miranda via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:06
- MarQuel Mederos def. Austin Hubbard via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
For more details about the event, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 64.
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