UFC 290: Brandon Moreno vs. Alexandre Pantoja Preview, Odds, Predictions, Picks

Brandon Moreno faces one of the toughest challenges of his career as he meets Alexandre Pantoja in the co-main event at the UFC 290. This is his first UFC flyweight title defense following a rivalry against Deiveson Figueiredo, and it is against the guy who already defeated him in the past. Pantoja believes his name should be next to the letter C in the flyweight rankings. Upon beating Moreno a few years ago, the Brazilian was in the title mix but lost two big fights, falling out of combinations to take the belt. He now has a chance to make that up. 

Preview

Brandon Moreno (21-6-2, -210) has endured four tough battles against Deiveson Figueiredo to win the flyweight belt and become the champion. The result in the series that kept the division alive was 2-1-1, but the Mexican had the last laugh. In between, he had to face Kai Kara-France, whom he beat via TKO in the third round. 

The Baby Assasin would lose two battles in 2017 and 2018, to Sergio Pettis and Alexandre Pantoja, and after that, had a tie against Askar Askarov before beating Kara-France, Jussier Formiga Brandon Rovyal, and starting his vicious and tough rivalry with Figueiredo. 

Even though he has only five victories via KO, we have to say that he is one very strong puncher whose hits are devastating for the rivals. Once he cracks the defense with brutal blasts, Moreno immediately jumps on the opponent and drags him to the ground, where the majority of his adversaries don’t stand a chance. That’s why he has 11 submission wins so far. 

Alexandre Pantoja (25-5, +170) was one of the best flyweights some four years ago when he got the opportunity to fight with Figueiredo and earn a shot at the title. He would lose that bout and waste one more chance against Askar Askarov after that. Both were decision losses. 

Over the past three and a half years, the Brazilian appeared inside the ring only on three occasions, posting triumphs in all of those events. The first was against Manel Kape, then Brandon Rovyal, and at last vs. Alex Perez. The latter two were submission stoppages. 

Pantoja is a very strong fighter for his size and possesses a KO power in his punches. His kickboxing is improved compared to before, but overall, it is beneath Moreno’s. Conversely, the Brazilian’s power is undoubtedly an ace in the sleeve when things get down to the mat. 

Predictions 

Moreno seems to have better cardio. He built it against Figueiredo, and we’ve seen that against Kara-France, once he just accelerated to crush the New Zealand fighter. We believe he won’t have any problems in beating Pantoja, whose chances of winning are much higher in the opening rounds than in the championship ones. This isn’t Moreno from five years ago, the Baby Assasin is an entirely different animal now, and he will get even for the 2017 defeat. 

Pick: Moreno wins -210

Here are more previews for UFC 290 fights

• Robert Whittaker vs. Dricus du Plessis
• Alexander Volkanovski vs. Yair Rodriguez