UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Erceg
Brandon Moreno lands a cracking left hook on Alexandre Pantoja. Credit: Zuffa LLC.
The UFC heads to Mexico City, Mexico with a stacked Fight Night card. The entire card has been loaded with exciting matchups and plenty of local talent, all sure to put on a show this weekend. In the co-main event, two Lightweight brawlers go toe-to-toe when the heavy-handed Manuel Torres squares off with the always-game Drew Dober. In the main event, we’ll see former Flyweight champion Brandon Moreno look to extend his winning streak when he squares off with former title challenger Steve Erceg. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.
Ronaldo Rodríguez vs. Kevin Borjas
Ronaldo Rodríguez fires a left hook at Ode’ Osbourne. Credit: MMA Fighting.
Flyweight Bout
Ronaldo Rodríguez: 17-2-0, 7 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.
Kevin Borjas: 9-3-0, 8 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.
Rodríguez is on a seven-fight win streak and has UFC victories over Denys Bondar (14-5-0) and Ode’ Obsourne (12-8-0). He’s a well-rounded, technical fighter who’s constantly coming forward and pursuing a finish. He favors power to volume and remains technical throughout, keeping his shots straight and tight while often looking to counter-strike. Rodríguez is highly durable and always willing to eat a shot to land one, regularly walking through punches to land his own offense. He has great scrambles and reversals on the mat, never accepts position on his back, and regularly throws up submission attempts. Training at ADAM Coatzacoalcos, he’s constantly pursuing a finish in top position, throwing ground and pound to open submission opportunities. Rodríguez has 19 pro fights along with 21 amateur bouts, making him highly experienced and visibly comfortable inside the cage despite his young age.
Kevin Borjas cracks Victor Dias with a right hand. Credit: Ag. Fight.
Borjas has won three of his last five fights and is looking for his first UFC victory. He’s a technical, powerful striker who’s always looking to let his hands go. He fights behind his jab, constantly pumping it out to set up his best shot, a straight right. Borjas has excellent footwork and distance management, rarely throwing kicks but always keeping his opponent on the end of his punches. He’s accurate and throws every shot with power and purpose, varying his attacks well and regularly ending combinations with body shots. Training at Pitbull Martial Arts, he hasn’t landed a takedown in the UFC but has shown solid reversals and get-ups when it goes to the mat. Borjas has secured over half of his victories via first-round knockout, but he has solid cardio and is always dangerous.
David Martínez vs. Saimon Oliveira
David Martínez attempts a wild axe kick on Xavier Franklin. Credit: Bloody Elbow.
Bantamweight Bout
David Martínez: 11-1-0, 9 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.
Saimon Oliveira: 18-5-0, 5 KO/TKO, 11 Sub.
Martínez is on a seven-fight win streak and is making his UFC debut. He is a lifelong karate practitioner and utilizes it well, regularly unloading powerful kicks while remaining elusive. He’s in perpetual movement, constantly floating along the outside while looking to counterstrike and catch his opponent when they enter the pocket. Martínez favors power to volume, often blitzing forward to unload bombs and kicks, but he remains technical throughout and won’t get sloppy. Training at Bonebreakers MMA, he’s exceptionally quick on his feet and with his hands and varies his attacks well, constantly blasting his opponents with leg kicks when at range. He’s unlikely to initiate grappling exchanges but has shown solid takedown defense and ability in the clinch. Martínez has an impressive arsenal of flashy kicks and will regularly throw them while constantly pursuing a knockout.
Saimon Oliveira fires an uppercut at Tony Gravely. Credit: Doc’s Sports.
Oliveira has won three of his last five bouts and is looking for his first UFC victory. He’s a wild, well-rounded scrapper who throws everything with knockout intentions. He uses a classic Muay Thai stance but is anything but orthodox, constantly attempting spinning attacks and other flashy maneuvers. Oliveira favors power to volume, regularly unloading naked kicks and single punches. He is landing, on average, over one takedown per fifteen minutes, often punching his way into the pocket before pursuing a takedown. Training with Astra Fight Team, he has solid top pressure, transitions from position to position fluidly, and won’t put himself in bad spots. Oliveira has finished nearly all his victories and has particularly dangerous chokes, with seven of his eleven submissions coming via guillotine.
Raul Rosas Jr. vs. Vince Morales
Raul Rosas looks to lock up a choke on Aoriqileng. Credit: MMA Junkie.
Bantamweight Bout
Raul Rosas Jr.: 10-1-0, 2 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.
Vince Morales: 16-9-0, 7 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.
Rosas Jr. has won four of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Ricky Turcios (13-5-0), Aoriqileng (25-12-0), and Terrence Mitchell (14-4-0). He’s a dangerous submission artist with excellent wrestling and BJJ. He’s averaging about four takedowns landed per fifteen minutes and is very active on top, constantly pursuing submissions and advancing position. Rosas Jr. was the youngest debuting fighter in UFC history, debuting at 18 years old in 2022. Training at 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu, he pushes a heavy pace on the ground and always finds his way to his opponent’s back, where he’s most dangerous. He has solid power in his hands but typically won’t waste much time before shooting in for a takedown. Rosas Jr. has an excellent arsenal of submissions and is unpredictable on the ground.
Vince Morales fires a right hook at Jonathan Martinez. Credit: MMA Mania.
Morales has won three of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Aiemann Zahabi (12-2-0), Louis Smolka (17-9-0), and Drako Rodriguez (7-4-0). He is a well-rounded scrapper who’s comfortable anywhere and always willing to exchange in the pocket. He’s in perpetual motion and throws everything in combination, regularly looking to set up his right hand. Training at Syndicate MMA, Morales has solid footwork and moves in and out of the pocket well, performing his best when controlling the center and the pace. He’s incredibly tough, regularly surviving in deep waters, and he’s always willing to eat a shot to land one. He has excellent leg kicks and mixes up his shots well, attacking the head and body evenly. Morales tends to heat up as the fight continues and has secured seven of his twelve finish victories after the first round.
Kelvin Gastelum vs. Joe Pyfer
Kelvin Gastelum catches Daniel Rodriguez with a clean straight left. Credit: MMA Fighting.
Middleweight Bout
Kelvin Gastelum: 20-9-0, 6 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.
Joe Pyfer: 13-3-0, 9 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.
Gastelum has won two of his last five bouts and has victories over Daniel Rodriguez (18-5-0), Chris Curtis (31-12-0), and Jacare Souza (26-10-0). He’s a well-rounded fighter who’s highly durable and comfortable wherever the fight goes. He’s constantly moving and feinting on the feet, never staying in one spot or keeping his head on the centerline for long. Gastelum is willing to eat a shot to land one and has solid power, throwing every punch in combination and with purpose. Training at Fight Ready, he’s averaging about one takedown landed per fifteen minutes and has a black belt in BJJ. He has heavy ground and pound and dangerous chokes, with three of his four submissions coming via rear naked choke. Gastelum has earned eight bonuses in his twelve-year promotional tenure and is never in a boring fight, win or lose.
Joe Pyfer elevates Abdul Razak Alhassan for a brutal slam. Credit: MMA Fighting.
Pyfer has won four of his last five outings and holds UFC victories over Marc-Andre Barriault (16-9-0), Abdul Razak Alhassan (12-7-0), and Gerald Meerschaert (37-18-0). He is an explosive striker with one-punch knockout power who constantly pursues a finish. He has solid, technical hands, always keeping his guard high, his shots tight, and never telegraphs. Training at Marquez MMA, Pyfer has excellent head movement and footwork, never staying on the centerline, and can land damage going forward or backward. He has a solid grappling game with great takedowns, smothering top control, and submission ability to back up his brutal ground and pound. He does his best work on the inside with his hands but will throw heavy kicks at range, particularly to the legs. Pyfer always leaves everything inside the cage, holding seven first-round finishes while only reaching a decision twice in his career.
Manuel Torres vs. Drew Dober
Manuel Torres lands a cracking uppercut on Frank Camacho. Credit: MMA Fighting.
Lightweight Bout
Manuel Torres: 15-3-0, 7 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.
Drew Dober: 27-14-0, 15 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.
Torres has won four of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Frank Camacho (22-10-0), Nikolas Motta (15-5-0), and Chris Duncan (13-2-0) . He’s an explosive striker who throws every shot with knockout intentions and always comes forward. He throws wide, looping hooks, constantly attacks from different angles, and has power in both hands. Training at Entram Gym, Torres has only been to one decision in his career, with all of his other bouts ending in the first round. He has excellent distance management, moving in and out of the pocket without absorbing damage. He’s willing to grapple and is strong inside the clinch, but he is always ready to brawl and can produce a flash knockout at any time. Torres can do significant damage without much space, especially with his elbows.
Drew Dober connects with a brutal right hook on Rafael Alves. Credit: MMA Fighting.
Dober has won two of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over Bobby Green (32-17-1), Terrance McKinney (16-7-0), and Nasrat Haqparast (18-5-0). He is an excellent striker with a Muay Thai background and a black belt in Taekwondo. He always stays technical and throws all his punches tight and straight, rarely throwing looping shots. Dober throws everything with knockout intentions and carries his power across all three rounds. Training with Elevation Fight Team, he has excellent head movement and varies his shots, attacking the head and body evenly. He’s willing to brawl in the pocket but doesn’t get sloppy, has solid footwork, and is always coming forward. Dober does a great job of moving in and out of the pocket, throwing kicks at range, and landing damaging combinations in close.
#2 Brandon Moreno vs. #8 Steve Erceg
Brandon Moreno secures a perfect rear naked choke on Deiveson Figueiredo. Credit: MMA Mania.
Flyweight Bout
Brandon Moreno: 22-8-2, 5 KO/TKO, 11 Sub.
Steve Erceg: 12-3-0, 2 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.
Moreno has won three of his last five outings and has UFC victories over #1 ranked Flyweight Brandon Royval (17-7-0), #3 ranked Flyweight Amir Albazi (17-2-0), and #4 ranked Flyweight Kai Kara-France (25-11-0). Training at Fortis MMA, he uses crisp boxing and extended combinations to damage his opponents. He remains patient and looks for openings but is more than willing to throw down and brawl in the pocket. Moreno has excellent top control and a slick submission game on the mat, particularly chokes. He also has excellent takedown defense, often working out of challenging positions and returning to his feet. He has fantastic cardio and can easily push a consistent pace across 25 minutes. Moreno has earned seven performance bonuses in his promotional tenure and is never in a boring fight.
Steve Erceg flattens Matt Schnell with a powerful left hook. Credit: MMA Fighting.
Erceg has won three of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Matt Schnell (16-9-0), David Dvorak (20-6-0), and Alessandro Costa (14-4-0). He’s extremely well-rounded, possessing technical striking and a dangerous submission game. He’s constantly pressuring forward, keeping his head off the centerline, and always remaining technical, never telegraphing his shots. Erceg has excellent counterstriking and hides his kicks well, regularly landing brutal leg kicks. Training at Wilkes Martial Arts, he’s averaging over one takedown landed per fifteen minutes and can find submissions with incredible speed. With all six submission wins coming via choke, he’ll constantly search for his opponent’s neck on the ground. Erceg has solid cardio and pushes a consistent pace throughout, never getting sloppy or putting himself in bad spots.
Best Bets
Ronaldo Rodríguez Moneyline: An outstanding matchup to kick off the main card, I’m looking forward to this one. Both fighters push a heavy pace and are constantly pursuing a finish, and I expect plenty of fireworks inside the cage on Saturday. While Borjas is more of a true striker, Rodríguez is comfortable anywhere and willing to engage the fight wherever it ends up. This spells out an obvious path to victory via grappling, although I believe Rodríguez can compete with Borjas on the feet. I expect plenty of entertaining exchanges to start the fight, but as it continues, I expect Rodríguez to wear Borjas down with multiple takedowns and top control. Ultimately, I believe Rodríguez will be able to outpace Borjas, match him on the feet, and control him with his grappling en route to an impressive victory.
Torres vs. Dober Over 1.5 Rounds: This is an extremely exciting matchup of two talented strikers I can’t wait to see. Both have similar styles, using lethal power and combination striking to put their opponents away. Although both have plenty of first-round finishes to their names, I expect this fight to run longer than that. Torres is coming off a brutal knockout loss to Ignacio Bahamondes, his first defeat in his last seven fights. While I don’t expect him to be gunshy, I expect him to fight more cautiously and technically, not constantly throwing caution to the wind in pursuit of a finish. Dober is always in wild fights but tends more towards wild, back-and-forth brawls that extend beyond the first round. Dober is also exceptionally tough, and will often be able to withstand a beating, even in a loss. Although Torres isn’t quite as durable as Dober, I expect Dober to also fight a bit more cautiously out of respect for Torres’s knockout power. Ultimately, I expect this fight to be a wild brawl, but I also anticipate it lasting longer than seven and a half minutes.
Brandon Moreno Moneyline: This is an outstanding fight between two top-tier Flyweights and the perfect way to end the card. Per usual, I will admit my bias as a massive fan of Moreno. Regardless of my bias, though, this fight is sure to be a banger. In his relatively short UFC tenure, Erceg has proven to be consistently entertaining, win or lose, and always goes toe-to-toe with his opponents. Like Erceg, Moreno will never shy away from a scrap and has been in some of the greatest fights in the history of the UFC Flyweight division. Both fighters are well-rounded and capable anywhere the fight could go, with neither fighter having any apparent advantage. While their skill sets may be similar, their UFC experience could not be more different. Although Erceg has faced very high-level talent since entering the UFC, Moreno has been fighting the best of the best for nearly a decade at this point. Moreno has also not only fought five rounds numerous times in the promotion but has been in six title fights in the last five years, all against the best the division has to offer. I expect Moreno to take it to Erceg early on, engaging in striking exchanges on the feet, before mixing in his grappling as the fight continues. As the fight continues, I expect Moreno to control Erceg, the pace, and the center of the Octagon, eliminating Erceg’s ability to work his offensive grappling. While I expect plenty of competitive moments, I believe Moreno will walk away with the victory.
