Former two-time UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno has his eyes on some prominent names following a return to winning ways this past weekend.
Moreno entered the Octagon at Saturday's UFC Fight Night in Edmonton, Canada facing the prospect of the first three-fight losing skid of his professional career if things didn't go his way. They did, however, go his way — and then some.
In Amir Albazi, the Mexican faced a surging contender who boasted a perfect 5-0 UFC record and had most recently climbed the ladder with a main event win over Kai Kara-France.
But "The Assassin Baby" wasn't about to be the star at the expense of whom the Iraqi secured a title shot, instead firmly beating "The Prince" up across five rounds to secure a lopsided unanimous decision victory.
Having put his name back in the title mix at 125 pounds, Moreno assessed what could lie in his immediate future during his post-fight press conference in Edmonton.
Moreno welcomed the chance to settle the score in a trilogy with Royval. But he doesn't share the same excitement when it comes to running it back with Kara-France, favoring first-time clashes with Tatsuro Taira or Kai Asakura should the latter fall short of the title at UFC 310 next month.
I can get (a rematch) with Royval," Moreno said. "I don’t want to fight with Kai again because I fought him twice and I beat him, but if I have to do that (I will). Tatsuro Taira is there. Kai Asakura, let’s see what happens there against Pantoja. If he loses, that can be the next one.
I don’t know, let’s see what happens," Moreno concluded.
While he expects to require another strong performance before earning a shot at regaining the flyweight crown yet again, he seemingly caught the eye of the division's champion with his display in the "Great White North."
Pantoja mixed praise with a small jibe toward the Mexican in a social media post, commending him for the victory but also referring to "The Assassin Baby" as his "son."