Relive the highlights from the UFC Mexico main event where Brandon Moreno faced off against Steve Erceg on Saturday night. Catch the video highlights from various sources.
The Moreno vs. Erceg fight took place on March 29th at Arena CDMX in Mexico City. Brandon Moreno, with a record of 23-8-2, and Steve Erceg, with a record of 12-4, battled in the main event. The fight was broadcast live on ESPN2 and ESPN+.
Official Result: Brandon Moreno defeated Steve Erceg by unanimous decision, with all judges scoring the fight 49-46.
See all the exciting video highlights below.
For a detailed play-by-play of the Moreno vs. Erceg fight, continue reading.
Round 1
Both fighters started in an orthodox stance, with Erceg immediately using his jab, a key weapon for him. Moreno, in his peekaboo style, threw a wide left that missed but followed with a successful jab. Moreno displayed good head movement and used feints early on. Erceg continued to jab and attempted a few calf kicks.
Moreno responded with jabs, and Erceg landed a strong left hook to the body, followed by a body kick that landed under Moreno`s elbow. Erceg kept his lead hand forward and found an opening for a quick right hand. Moreno landed a good jab and moved away, showing superior speed and pocket movement.
An uppercut into a looping right hand from Moreno staggered Erceg across the cage. Erceg recovered, but both punches connected and disrupted his balance. Moreno`s head movement effectively neutralized Erceg`s jab, and Moreno landed a sharp right hand.
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With 90 seconds left in the round, both fighters were still actively engaged. Erceg threw calf kicks and jabs, then landed a good right hand. Moreno responded with a body kick and a well-timed overhand right counter. Another leaping right hand from Moreno connected. Erceg absorbed the shots, but Moreno was landing frequently.
Round score: 10-9 for Moreno.
Round 2
Both fighters met in the center, circling each other. Erceg attempted a switch head kick, which Moreno blocked. Moreno then landed a solid right hand. Erceg stuck to his jab and landed a strong right hand, followed by a knee as Moreno moved in.
Erceg fought more defensively as Moreno landed body kicks. Moreno threw a wild right hand that Erceg evaded, leading to a clinch. Erceg threw a knee, and they separated.
Moreno landed a right hand, and Erceg countered with a significant right, his cleanest punch of the fight so far. Moreno absorbed it and targeted Erceg`s body in return, effectively attacking that area.
Moreno jabbed back, matching Erceg`s jab. Both maintained high guards. Moreno briefly grabbed Erceg`s ankle, threatening a takedown but didn`t commit. Moreno landed a nice combination, drawing out a poor right hand from Erceg and countering with two punches and a low kick as Erceg retreated.
Moreno landed a good jab, maintaining a slight advantage. He followed with a right hand over the top. Moreno landed more powerful shots, while Erceg continued with jabs and calf kicks, but also landed a good right hand.
Erceg landed a nice combination as Moreno was momentarily defensive. The fight was high-level and engaging.
Round score: 10-9 for Moreno, making it 20-18 for Moreno overall.
Round 3
Moreno`s corner advised him to conserve energy and consider wrestling in this round, suggesting he might be tiring.
Moreno pressed forward, and Erceg continued to jab. Erceg was more successful at avoiding Moreno`s offense but struggled to land significant counters. Moreno jabbed to the body.
Erceg landed a calf kick. Moreno used feints to create openings. Erceg seemed to find his range, staying just outside Moreno`s reach but also reducing his own offensive output.
Moreno landed a strong low kick. Erceg, despite improved defense, still hadn`t landed anything significant. Erceg landed a decent jab. The crowd became restless due to the slower pace. Erceg landed a good counter and moved away. Moreno struggled to consistently connect.
Erceg jabbed and then landed a stepping knee to the body as Moreno covered up. Erceg gained momentum in this round, increasing his offense and winning the footwork battle. Moreno pushed Erceg to the fence but couldn`t land and received a knee in return. The crowd started to boo, wanting more action as the round`s pace decreased.
Round score: 10-9 for Erceg, making it 29-28 for Moreno overall.
Round 4
Moreno started with a good body jab. Erceg jabbed and landed a right hand as they moved inside. Moreno landed a leaping left hook around Erceg`s guard.
Moreno landed a decent body shot and attempted to follow up, but Erceg evaded the subsequent strikes. Erceg still wasn`t effectively countering Moreno`s attacks, which could be detrimental. However, he landed a strong low kick, catching Moreno off balance.
Moreno threw aggressive, powerful punches, increasing the pace. Erceg blocked, but Moreno`s aggression appeared more impactful. Erceg landed a body kick. Moreno landed a right hand and pushed Erceg back with a front kick. The crowd showed their displeasure with the pace.
Erceg retreated significantly. It was unclear if he was hurt. Moreno landed a right and narrowly missed a powerful left. Erceg`s corner urged him to increase his volume. Erceg had a cut on his right side as Moreno continued to advance and landed body shots.
Moreno seemed determined to win the round through sheer effort. Erceg fought technically, but in a points-based fight, he wasn`t making a strong impression. Moreno initiated a single-leg takedown attempt just before the round ended, taking Erceg down against the fence as the horn sounded.
Round score: 10-9 for Moreno, making it 39-37 for Moreno overall.
Round 5
Erceg`s corner gave him unusual advice, suggesting he do the opposite of what Moreno`s corner was saying, implying Moreno was listening to their instructions.
Erceg`s corner also motivated him, but he still struggled to generate significant offense. Both fighters missed most of their strikes in the initial minute of the round.
Moreno landed a few low kicks at the end of combinations. Erceg landed a front kick and checked a low kick. Erceg then landed a good right hand, forcing Moreno to cover up, and followed with a high kick to the arms.
Moreno charged forward with a combination. Erceg blocked some shots but absorbed others. Moreno jabbed effectively. The crowd started singing, possibly “Ole?”.
Erceg jabbed and landed a right hand. Moreno countered with a good overhand right as Erceg became momentarily complacent. Another overhand right from Moreno was slightly short. Erceg attempted a counter left hook that missed. With 60 seconds remaining, the round was close.
Erceg threw a head kick, and Moreno caught his leg, taking him down. Moreno gained top position and attempted to move to side control, which he achieved. With little time left, Moreno landed an elbow and short strikes as the round concluded.
Round score: 10-9 for Moreno, resulting in a final score of 49-46 for Moreno overall.
