UFC Mexico City has concluded, and Brandon Moreno remains a key figure in the flyweight title scene.
Last Saturday marked Moreno`s first victory in Mexico City as he defeated Steve Erceg by unanimous decision, keeping him in contention for the 125-pound title. What path lies ahead for Moreno? And what about Erceg and the rest of the fighters from the event? Let`s address your questions this week.
“Brandon Moreno, at 31 years old, is clearly still among the top three flyweights globally, and arguably won against the champion in their last fight… what will the UFC do with him?”
To be honest, it`s uncertain.
Moreno performed well on Saturday, handing Erceg his third consecutive defeat and extending his own winning streak to two. However, the implications are unclear. Moreno has called for another shot at Pantoja, but it seems unlikely at this moment. While not entirely impossible – especially with UFC 320 being Noche UFC in Mexico – it would be surprising.
There are two significant obstacles to a Moreno title opportunity. Firstly, he has a 0-3 record against Pantoja. Although some of those fights happened long ago, the record remains. Moreno needs to demonstrate undeniable dominance to secure another title fight right now, which he hasn`t quite achieved. Despite differing opinions, Brandon Royval recently defeated Moreno, placing Royval ahead in the queue. More importantly, Manel Kape appears to be the next challenger for Pantoja later this year.
But what if that doesn`t happen? What if there`s an unexpected third option? What if Pantoja decides to move up a weight class?
Currently, Pantoja has essentially cleared out the 125-pound division. He holds multiple victories over the top contenders, and wins against other highly ranked fighters who could be considered title challengers. What else is left for him to accomplish in this division? Especially with his friend and training partner Kyoji Horiguchi returning to the UFC. There`s talk of them potentially fighting, or perhaps Pantoja will pursue bigger challenges.
It`s predicted that Pantoja will face Manel Kape in the coming months and then potentially move up to 135 pounds to challenge Merab Dvalishvili, who also lacks fresh title contenders. This scenario could create an opportunity for the UFC to have Moreno and Royval compete for an interim title at UFC 320 in September.
“Is it time we acknowledge that Steve Erceg is a good fighter, but not elite? Can he be matched up in more balanced fights, perhaps against opponents ranked 10-30? He`s been facing top-tier competition and losing only to the elite. Why not give him 4 or 5 fights against more winnable opponents?”
No, not at all. Erceg is a victim of his own success, and he shouldn`t be penalized for it.
Yes, Steve Erceg is currently on a three-fight losing streak. However, these losses were against three of the top five fighters in the weight class, occurring in his 4th, 5th, and 6th UFC fights. This isn`t indicative of Erceg being mediocre; it suggests he`s very skilled.
Erceg is 29 years old and has been a professional fighter for nine years. When he joined the UFC, rapid ascent wasn`t anticipated. Instead, he quickly climbed the ranks due to an opportunity, which he rightly seized. And while he lost to Pantoja, he put up a strong fight. “Good but not great” fighters don`t push one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world to their limits for 25 minutes.
Criticizing Erceg for these losses is like criticizing LeBron James for losing in the NBA Finals. James reached the Finals for eight consecutive seasons – an incredible feat! Erceg`s achievement isn`t on the same scale, but it`s still impressive and deserves recognition.
That being said, a slight step back in competition might be beneficial.
“What`s next for Steve Erceg in the UFC? He`s lost three straight, but against arguably the three best flyweights on the roster.”
As mentioned earlier, a step back seems appropriate at this stage. Erceg could find considerable success against other top 10 fighters. It`s also important for top 15 fighters to defend their positions against rising talent to provide opportunities for breakthrough. The flyweight division has many young, promising fighters, and Erceg should be challenged by one of them to defend his spot.
Personally, Joshua Van or Ramazan Temirov would be interesting choices to challenge Erceg for his ranking.
“Is Manuel Torres a future champion?”
Perhaps in our hearts, but not likely in the UFC.
If you missed it, Torres nearly finished Drew Dober on Saturday (with some help from referee Mike Beltran). This win improved Torres`s UFC record to 4-1 and generated excitement, but expectations should be tempered.
Torres is undeniably entertaining (earning a Performance bonus in each of his wins, and Ignacio Bahamondes received one in Torres`s only loss). However, he isn`t defeating top-tier opponents. Drew Dober is an exciting fighter, but he`s past his prime. Furthermore, Torres is 30, and the lightweight division is incredibly competitive. His age makes it unlikely he`ll reach championship level, even if he had the potential.
However, “El Loco” is still a fighter to appreciate. Fighters like Torres guarantee excitement every time they compete. With a group of similar talents like Bahamondes, Benoit Saint-Denis, Joel Alvarez, and Mauricio Ruffy, we can anticipate some excellent matchups at 155 pounds in the coming years.
“Do you think Kleydson Rodrigues was exposed as overrated?”
No, primarily because he wasn`t highly regarded to begin with.
Kleydson Rodrigues wasn`t a fighter who generated significant excitement upon signing with the UFC, and Saturday`s event highlighted why. He lacks strong fight IQ, and while talented, his abilities aren`t extraordinary. Combined with missing weight, UFC Mexico City was a setback for Rodrigues.
However, Rodrigues is only 25 and quite popular, which is beneficial for his long-term prospects. If he can refocus and improve, “Lazy Boy” could still develop in the 125-pound division. But he needs to progress quickly.
The flyweight division is constantly improving, with a large group of very young and talented 125-pound fighters already emerging and ahead of Rodrigues in development.
“Who do you believe are on the verge of becoming all-time greats? Would another strong UFC run elevate Kyoji Horiguchi into the top 40 fighters ever? Would three title defenses place Merab Dvalishvili in the top 25? Is Islam Makhachev two wins away from being considered the GOAT?”
Viewing fighters as all-time greats is a more productive approach than debating GOAT status, so this is a good question.
Firstly, let`s clarify: Islam Makhachev is already part of the GOAT conversation. He`s arguably the greatest lightweight ever, and lightweight is the most competitive division, placing him firmly in the discussion. Two more title defenses would solidify him as the GOAT lightweight and strengthen his overall GOAT claim.
Regarding all-time greats, if we were to list them, the All-Time Great Club would likely have between 25 and 50 members. Currently, there are approximately 11 active fighters who qualify (12 if Jon Jones is included): Makhachev, Alexandre Pantoja, Jose Aldo, Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway, Charles Oliveira, Kamaru Usman, Israel Adesanya, Alex Pereira, Zhang Weili, Valentina Shevchenko, and Jones. Arguments could be made for others (Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje, and Rose Namajunas are reasonable considerations), but these are undeniable at this point. More fighters may join them soon.
Betting on future all-time greats, Merab Dvalishvili, Ilia Topuria, Dricus du Plessis, and Tom Aspinall are likely to join the ATG club before their careers end. Many other fighters could also reach this status, but it`s too early to predict definitively.
