Mixed Martial Arts Weekend Watch & Bet

Match information

The UFC returns to Mexico City on Saturday for Fight Night 237. It’s a highly anticipated main event as former flyweight champion and current No. 1 challenger Brandon Moreno tries to get back to title contention against No. 3 Brandon Royval. The 30-year-old Moreno from Tijuana will be one of five Mexican fighters featured on Saturday’s main card. Moreno is 27-7-2 in a professional MMA career that dates to 2011 and he is a two-time UFC flyweight champion, although he has never successfully defended the belt. After fighting to a majority draw, Moreno first won the UFC flyweight championship in a rematch against Deiveson Figueiredo in June 2021. Moreno lost the belt in the trilogy fight before retaking it in his fourth championship fight against Figueiredo in January 2023. He gave up the belt a second time with a split decision loss against current champion Alexandre Pantoja last July. There’s already history between “The Assassin Baby” and Royval as the two fighters met in November 2020, with Moreno winning by first-round stoppage. It’s credited as a TKO by strikes, but Royval actually dislocated his shoulder during a scramble, which led to the finishing opportunity. Moreno has continued to improve and sharpen his tools since facing Royval the first time around, but his aggression can lead him into dangerous situations. His last four wins have come by finishes, but he’s also lost two of his last four fights overall. A strong grappler, Moreno’s best bet on Saturday is to get Royval to the ground where he had the advantage four years ago.