Brandon Moreno ‘matches up the very best’ with Alexandre Pantoja

Sayif Saud nonetheless thinks Brandon Moreno has the very best likelihood to dethrone UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja.

Moreno (22-8-2 MMA, 10-5-2 UFC) has misplaced to Pantoja thrice, most lately falling quick by cut up choice of their title battle at UFC 290 in July 2023. He went on to lose a unanimous choice to Brandon Royval this previous February, earlier than opting to take a while off.

Nonetheless, 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 Evening 246 most 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 instructed MMA Junkie. “Manel (Kape) seemed superb, Royval. However to me, Brandon (Moreno) remains to be essentially the most full one general, and I believe once you have a look at Brandon’s final battle with Pantoja, I really feel like if that was judged now with the judging now, we win that battle off of injury.

“That battle was so shut, and it’s sort 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 may’t say something is as a result of Pantoja goes on the market and dominating folks 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 battle 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 far-off from a possible fourth battle.

“We’ve simply bought to see what occurs with Brandon, and Brandon is one battle away I believe 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, although I believe it’s most likely the very best battle, personally. I believe Kai (Kara-France) is superb and goes to do nice on the toes (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 believe Brandon most likely matches up the very best with Pantoja, and I believe he might completely win that battle, however due to their previous and historical past, we’ve simply bought to sit down and wait and see what occurs, see if anyone drops from Manel and Royval, if one among them will get harm, step in and battle that man, (or) battle anyone else, and see what occurs.”