Brandon Moreno is back in the flyweight title mix after outclassing Amir Albazi at UFC Edmonton. (Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Brandon Moreno is back and he's as dangerous as ever.
The former two-time UFC flyweight champion thoroughly outstruck and outclassed Amir Albazi to win a lopsided unanimous decision and thrust himself back into the title mix in UFC Edmonton's main event, which went down Saturday at Edmonton's Rogers Place. Moreno (22-8-2) battered and befuddled Albazi (17-2) across all five rounds, landing in volume with long jabs, thudding hooks, and an array of kicks. Even Albazi's vaunted wrestling arsenal did little to impact the Mexican standout — Moreno defended all but one takedown attempt and gave away just nine seconds of control time in that lone instance.
In the end, all three judges saw it for Moreno (49-46, 50-45, 50-45), snapping the former champ's two-fight losing streak and giving him the type of bounce-back performance he needed following his brief hiatus from the sport.
The win also moved Moreno into a tie for fourth all-time in wins in the UFC flyweight division.
“I just want to be up on the top again. I want my title back," an exuberant Moreno said post-fight. "This is just a reminder for the rest of the division. I never say nothing, I’m always very respectful with everybody. But man, put me in here and I’ll be baddest person on the planet.”
In the night’s co-main event, Erin Blanchfield (13-2) ground out a hard-fought decision win over Rose Namajunas (13-7), digging herself out from an early hole to win the final three rounds with smothering pressure both on the feet and on the mat.
After falling victim to Namajunas’ rangy striking and savvy distance management in the opening 10 minutes, Blanchfield scored takedowns in rounds three and five and generally overwhelmed the two-time former UFC strawweight champion with a suffocating offensive output to eke out a unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47) and propel herself back into title contention.
With the loss, Namajunas drops to 2-2 over her four contests since moving up to 125 pounds.
Following her victory, Blanchfield called out former UFC flyweight champion Alexa Grasso, who recently lost the title in her trilogy match against Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 306.
Full UFC Edmonton results and highlights can be seen below on Uncrowned.
Main Card
Brandon Moreno def. Amir Albazi via unanimous decision (49-46, 50-45, 50-45)
Erin Blanchfield def. Rose Namajunas via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47)
Brandon Moreno def. Amir Albazi via unanimous decision (49-46, 50-45, 50-45).
Shaheen Al-Shatti
Moreno vs. Albazi, Round 5
Albazi needs to come out desperate. His corner lefts him know exactly that — there's no mincing words over there. Moreno shucks off an immediate takedown attempt and delivers back a flurry. Oh, looks like Albazi caught Moreno with a nasty eye-poke during that exchange. Moreno is good to go — and we're back. Moreno stays long with his strikes. Albazi just can't close the distance in a way that is meaningful. Moreno shucks off another takedown attempt then wobbles Albazi with a hard left hand! Oh, he's hurt bad! Moreno stalks forward and takes his time. Another left hook from Moreno. Albazi ties up and drives the ex-champ to the fence. He's bleeding everywhere now. Moreno is covered in Albazi's blood. Moreno continues to fire punches in bunches. Albazi dodges a high kick. Moreno mixes things up to the body. Moreno sprints forward and CRACKS Albazi with a standing elbow. Jeez. Moreno is landing at will now. Albazi's face is a bloody mess, full-blown crimson mask. Thirty seconds left and we might get a point-down here. Moreno just misses the rolling thunder. This one is over. Hell of a return for Moreno. He looked sharp.
Moreno 10-9. (Moreno 50-45.)
Shaheen Al-Shatti
Moreno vs. Albazi, Round 4
To call Albazi's corner frustrated would be an understatement. They're imploring him to just go for it. Some hard truths coming here as we enter the final 10-minute sprint. Moreno comes back out mixing things up and throwing punches in bunches. Albazi eats a left hook. Albazi just looks stuck in the mud right now. Moreno catches him a long left hand. Albazi continues to just circle and not commit to any significant offense. Moreno double jabs into a heavy looping hook that misses. Albazi doubles up his own jab. Again, the crowd rallies behind Moreno. They trade jabs and Albazi may have gotten the better of that one. Moreno just marches forward. Moreno counters over the top after blocking a step-in knee. Moreno's head movement is on-point tonight — he's making Albazi miss over and over again. Another right hand smacks Albazi. This is easy money for the former champ.
Moreno 10-9. (Moreno 40-36.)
Shaheen Al-Shatti
Moreno vs. Albazi, Round 3
Albazi's corner is begging their fighter to stop waiting and start firing. Albazi listens and smacks Moreno with a hard left in the early seconds of the round. Moreno keeps on coming though. Some swelling starting to form under Albazi's right eye. Head kick just misses for Moreno, who then digs to the body. Moreno dips down low then slams a straight punch to the body. Albazi answers with a hard counter of his own. Nice step-in knee from Albazi. Oh, Moreno connects with a right hand! Albazi may be hurt right now. Moreno again declines to jump on him. Albazi circles and paws out his jab. Albazi continues to circle and tosses out a few low kicks. Moreno just does not respect what's coming back at him right now. They trade low kicks. Moreno connects and swarms! His corner is begging him to keep pouring it on, but Moreno stays patient. The crowd swells behind the former champ. Hard left hand lands for Moreno as he defends a half-hearted takedown attempt.
Moreno 10-9. (Moreno 30-27.)
Shaheen Al-Shatti
Moreno vs. Albazi, Round 2
Two big leg kicks to Albazi's lead leg right off the bat from Moreno. Moreno buckles Albazi with a high kick! Moreno doesn't jump on him though. Not sure if he saw Albazi hurt. Albazi appears to have recovered now. He fires a jab through Moreno's guard. Nice right hand finds its mark for Moreno. Moreno digs into a flurry of body shots. Albazi changes levels and drags Moreno to the floor ... but Moreno instantly pops back up! That was slick by the former champ. Moreno well ahead on the strike count through the first eight minutes. Albazi eats a long right hand. Moreno throwing punches in bunches! Nothing really landed clean there but Moreno is keeping this man on the back foot. Hard shot lands for Moreno. Albazi fires back with a couple kicks. Slick combination from Moreno. He's looking confident now.
Moreno 10-9. (Moreno 20-18.)
Shaheen Al-Shatti
Moreno vs. Albazi, Round 1
They charge to the center of the cage. Albazi paws out a jab. Moreno feints a combination. Very slow feeling out process for this first minute. Albazi connects with a leg kick. Right hand finds a home for Albazi. Three-punch combination just misses for Albazi. Moreno tosses out a long jab followed by a body kick. Good right hand by Moreno. Albazi nearly trips up Moreno with a stiff low kick. Left hand by Moreno. Moreno storms forward with a left hook. Right hand lands for Moreno and Albazi briefly slips. Big swings and misses from Moreno. Dueling uppercuts from the two flyweights. Moreno wraps up the round by going high-low with a combination.
Moreno 10-9.
Shaheen Al-Shatti
We're ready
Veteran referee Marc Goddard is our third man in the cage. They touch 'em up and we're off.
Shaheen Al-Shatti
Here comes Moreno!
The former champ is clearly the crowd favorite here. No surprise. It's very difficult to dislike this man. Moreno has done virtually everything and fought virtually everyone in this flyweight division, so his path to title may be murky if Alexandre Pantoja wins at UFC 310 considering the one-sided trilogy they already share. Anything is possible though. Let's see what Moreno can pull off.
Shaheen Al-Shatti
Amir Albazi makes that walk first
Big opportunity here for Albazi. Considering the state of the flyweight contender ranks, he's a shoo-in for a title shot in 2025 if he gets past Moreno tonight. Easier said than done though.
Shaheen Al-Shatti
Main event time!
Here we go, folks. Main event time has arrived! Former two-time UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno returns from a brief hiatus to take on Amir Albazi, who's also been out of action since June 2023.
Dueling long layoffs here, but the winner could instantly put themselves into the title mix. Should be a good one.
Uncrowned Staff
Erin Blanchfield does it!
Erin Blanchfield def. Rose Namajunas via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47).
She scores takedowns in rounds three and five, and just generally overwhelms Namajunas with her offensive pressure to gut out a come-from-behind win and launch herself back into title contention.
Rose Namajunas thoroughly controlled the first two rounds with her rangy striking and distance management, but the momentum may sit now with Blanchfield, who just spent the majority of Round 3 working from top position after finally getting Namajunas to the floor.
Likely 29-28 Namajunas heading into the final two rounds.
Uncrowned Staff
Co-main event up next!
Big one for the women's flyweight division up now, Erin Blanchfield vs. Rose Namajunas.
Ariane da Silva (+185) def. Jasmine Jasudavicius (-225)
Victor Henry (+115) def. Charles Jourdain (-140)
Jack Shore (+260) def. Youssef Zalal (-350)
Alexander Romanov (-110) def. Rodrigo Nascimento (-110)
Garrett Armfield (+110) def. Serhiy Sidey (-135)
Chad Anheliger (+175) def. Cody Gibson (-210)
Ivana Petrović (+185) def. Jamey-Lyn Horth (-225)
Uncrowned Staff
UFC Edmonton kicks off at the top of the hour! Sneaky underrated fight card tonight, and those top two bouts are as good as you could reasonably expect from a UFC Fight Night in 2024.
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