Brandon Moreno ‘matches up the best’ with Alexandre Pantoja

Sayif Saud nonetheless thinks Brandon Moreno has one of the best probability to dethrone UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja.

Moreno (22-8-2 MMA, 10-5-2 UFC) has misplaced to Pantoja 3 times, most not too long ago falling brief by cut up resolution of their title struggle at UFC 290 in July 2023. He went on to lose a unanimous resolution to Brandon Royval this previous February, earlier than opting to take a while off.

Nevertheless, the previous two-time UFC flyweight champion returned with a bang when he snapped Amir Albazi’s six-fight successful streak with a dominant efficiency within the UFC Combat Night time 246 important occasion this previous November.

“You have a look at the expertise of the flyweights, I imply they’re so good, all of them,” Saud informed MMA Junkie. “Manel (Kape) regarded wonderful, Royval. However to me, Brandon (Moreno) continues to be essentially the most full one total, and I feel once you have a look at Brandon’s final struggle with Pantoja, I really feel like if that was judged now with the judging now, we win that struggle off of harm.

“That struggle was so shut, and it’s type of gotten misplaced within the playing cards as a result of Brandon has misplaced to him earlier than. However the factor is, I really feel like Brandon now’s even higher, however Pantoja is even higher. The rationale you’ll be able to’t say something is as a result of Pantoja goes on the market and dominating individuals and ending them. It’s such as you’ve bought to place a brand new title within the hat.”

Saud is aware of one other struggle with Pantoja is a tricky promote, however with the best way the champion has been tearing by competitors, he doesn’t see Moreno being too distant from a possible fourth struggle.

“We’ve simply bought to see what occurs with Brandon, and Brandon is one struggle away I feel on a regular basis,” Saud stated. “However, with who? And I perceive Mick Maynard and the UFC not giving us the title shot proper now. They’ve already fought so many instances, though I feel it’s most likely one of the best struggle, personally. I feel Kai (Kara-France) is wonderful and goes to do nice on the ft (vs. Pantoja), however I simply don’t know if he’s going to have the ability to deal with that floor sport. However, he’s not straightforward to take down both.

“You noticed Albazi take him down and take his again though Kai dealt with it, and also you noticed what Brandon did to Albazi. Albazi couldn’t even get near him. It wasn’t even shut. So I feel Brandon most likely matches up one of the best with Pantoja, and I feel he may completely win that struggle, however due to their previous and historical past, we’ve simply bought to take a seat and wait and see what occurs, see if someone drops from Manel and Royval, if one in all them will get damage, step in and struggle that man, (or) struggle someone else, and see what occurs.”