Brandon Moreno solidified himself as the next challenger for the flyweight crown at UFC 255, picking up a finish win over fellow top flyweight Brandon Royval.
Top flyweights Brandon Royval and Brandon Moreno battled at UFC 255. After a 3-2 run in his first fight in the UFC, Moreno won the LFA title and returned to the promotion to establish himself a top contender. Moreno is 2-0-1 since his return and the one draw came against Askar Askarov.
Brandon Royval had an excellent run in LFA before joining the UFC, going 6-2 with five finishes and winning the promotion’s flyweight title. Since reaching the big stage, Royval has submitted top contender Tim Elliott and Kai Kara-France.
Royval opened up with pressure to start, and Moreno responded back with a quick two-punch combination of his own. Royval landed a stiff left hand that was clean and Moreno shot in on a takedown and landed on top in guard. Royval was able to get back to his feet, but was hit with a stiff shot from Moreno, and Royval responded with a leg kick of his own. Royval then landed a kick to the body, then another. Moreno then got Royval to the mat and was quickly able to get his back. Moreno tried to get his arm under the chin but couldn’t get it, he instead opted for a neck crank. Royval was able to scramble out, but Moreno jumped on a huge amount of ground and pound! Moreno gets the finish in the final seconds!
After the fight it appeared that Royval had dislocated his shoulder and that prevented him from stopping the strikes from Moreno, but regardless, Brandon Moreno absolutely deserves the title shot next. After being cut from the UFC in 2018, he has not lost in his last five fights, with wins over the likes of Jussier Formiga, Kai Kara-France, and now Brandon Royval.
Brandon Moreno def. Brandon Royval by TKO (Punches) in Round 1 (4:59)
