MEXICO CITY – Brandon Moreno is grateful for a 3rd probability to realize a win in his residence nation Saturday at UFC Battle Evening 237.
Moreno (21-7-2 MMA, 9-3-2 UFC) meets Brandon Royval (15-7 MMA, 5-3 UFC) within the flyweight headliner at Mexico Metropolis Enviornment (ESPN+) in what will probably be his third UFC bout within the nation. He fought to a draw and suffered a loss in his earlier two fights in Mexico, and the very fact he hasn’t been capable of win there eats him up inside.
Though he’s not obsessing in regards to the state of affairs, Moreno, 30, has each intention of creating the third time the appeal.
“I really feel somewhat bit annoyed, as a result of clearly I wish to put that on my legacy,” Moreno advised MMA Junkie and different reporters at Wednesday’s UFC Battle Evening 237 media day. “Increase my hand in entrance of my individuals, in entrance of my Mexican flag. That’s it. It’s one thing that occurred previously, and I simply attempt to flip the web page. It’s irritating, however I’ve been residing with a variety of stress since 2020, combating for championships and rematches and the trilogies.
“I’m simply attempting to have enjoyable on this one. On the identical time, I perceive the significance this battle has to my report proper now. I’m specializing in Brandon Royval. I’m specializing in the problem in entrance, and I’m prepared.”
The percentages this time round are in Moreno’s favor to perform his purpose. Not solely is he the betting favourite, however he already has a win over Royval on his resume.
Moreno defeated Royval by first-round TKO at UFC 255 in November, however the stoppage got here after Royval sustained a shoulder harm that compromised his efficiency and prevented him from correctly defending whereas he absorbed ground-and-pound en path to the stoppage.
Royval argued throughout his media day look that the primary encounter was meaningless and he doesn’t take a look at it as an actual loss. Moreno wouldn’t go so far as to totally agree, however he understands Royval’s mentality.
“It was a extremely fast battle – only one spherical,” Moreno mentioned. “The one ideas I’ve is that I used to be successful. He was throwing loads. He was making a variety of distance. I wished to take him down, and I used to be controlling him. That’s the one factor, however I perceive his frustration. He actually believes he can beat me. However I don’t care. I’m simply able to battle.”
UFC Battle Evening 237 will symbolize Moreno’s first non-title bout because the first encounter with Royval greater than three years in the past. A win may doubtlessly set him up for a title shot, as reigning champ Alexandre Pantoja is in search of an opponent for UFC 301 on Might 4 in Rio de Janeiro.
Moreno mentioned he’s not serious about whether or not a win this weekend places him in that spot and mentioned it will be an enormous mistake to miss Royval.
“Perhaps (I’ll get a title shot),” Moreno mentioned. “I don’t even know. I simply wish to be targeted on Royval. Lots of people proper now are asking me about Pantoja. I do know it’s (media’s) job to ask about that and the long run. However proper now I’m very targeted on Brandon Royval.”
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