Brandon Moreno is gearing up for his upcoming title fight against Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 290. While facing Pantoja for the third time, Moreno is confident that his opponent has yet to witness his full potential in their previous encounters.
Scheduled to take place on July 8 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, this bout marks a significant moment for both fighters. Their initial clash occurred during season 24 of The Ultimate Fighter in 2016, where Pantoja secured a victory via submission. Over two years later, they faced off again at UFC Fight Night 129, with Pantoja winning by unanimous decision. However, Moreno intends to unveil a new side of his skills this time around.
Expressing his thoughts on The MMA Hour, Moreno emphasized, “He never fought against the best Brandon Moreno when we fought each other. But right now, I’m solely focused on him. I’m diligently preparing and strategizing for him, and I’m fully prepared.”
After Moreno’s triumphant unification win over Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 283 in January, Pantoja congratulated him backstage and promptly issued a challenge for their next meeting. However, Moreno felt that Pantoja should have given him space to relish his victory and brushed off the challenge.
Now, Pantoja, who has secured three consecutive wins, aims to back up his words in the highly anticipated event that concludes the promotion’s International Fight Week. Although both fighters have evolved since their last encounter over five years ago, Moreno believes that his superior athleticism will be the defining factor in this fight.
“I mean, there are many aspects to consider—technical, mental, and more. However, the true distinction in this fight will be that I’m a better athlete. I will demonstrate this in July,” Moreno confidently stated during his appearance on The MMA Hour.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about UFC 290 title fight
Q: When is the UFC 290 title fight between Brandon Moreno and Alexandre Pantoja scheduled?
A: The UFC 290 title fight between Brandon Moreno and Alexandre Pantoja is scheduled to take place on July 8 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Q: How many times have Brandon Moreno and Alexandre Pantoja fought before?
A: Brandon Moreno and Alexandre Pantoja have faced each other twice before. Their first encounter was during season 24 of The Ultimate Fighter in 2016, where Pantoja won by submission. They had a rematch at UFC Fight Night 129 over two years later, with Pantoja winning by unanimous decision.
Q: What does Brandon Moreno believe about his previous fights against Alexandre Pantoja?
A: Brandon Moreno believes that Alexandre Pantoja has not seen the best of him in their previous bouts. He is confident that he will show something new and improved in their upcoming fight.
Q: Why did Brandon Moreno shrug off Alexandre Pantoja’s challenge after his win over Deiveson Figueiredo?
A: Brandon Moreno felt that Alexandre Pantoja should have given him space to celebrate his victory over Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 283. Therefore, he shrugged off Pantoja’s challenge, expecting some respect for his accomplishment.
Q: What does Brandon Moreno consider the key difference in the upcoming fight against Alexandre Pantoja?
A: Brandon Moreno believes that the main difference in the fight will be his superior athleticism. He asserts that he is a better athlete and plans to showcase this advantage in their upcoming bout.
More about UFC 290 title fight
- UFC 290 Official Website
- T-Mobile Arena Official Website
- Brandon Moreno UFC Profile
- Alexandre Pantoja UFC Profile
- UFC Fight Night 129 Fight Card
- The Ultimate Fighter Official Website
