UFC mailbag: Is there any interest in Brandon Moreno vs. Alexandre Pantoja 4?

UFC Mexico is within the books and Brandon Moreno remains to be within the thick of the flyweight title image.

This previous Saturday, Moreno lastly obtained his first win in Mexico Metropolis, dispatching Steve Erceg by way of unanimous choice to remain within the title hunt at 125 kilos. The place does Moreno go from right here? And what about Erceg and the remainder of the cardboard? Let’s dive into your questions this week.

Brandon Moreno

“Brandon Moreno, 31 years younger, fairly clearly nonetheless one of many three greatest flyweights on the planet, arguably beat the champ final time… what does the UFC do with this man???”

Truthfully, no concept.

Moreno seemed good on Saturday, handing Erceg his third loss in a row and shifting his personal win streak to 2, however what precisely does that imply? I do know Moreno referred to as for one more crack at Pantoja however, frankly, I don’t assume that’s occurring. I received’t say it’s a particular no—UFC 320 being Noche UFC and in Mexico means something is feasible—however at this level I’d be fairly shocked.

There are two main issues with a Moreno title shot. First, he’s 0-3 towards Pantoja. I do know two of these fights had been a lifetime in the past, however 0-3 remains to be 0-3. Moreno goes to must be plain to get one other run on the champion proper now, and admittedly, he’s not that. Some individuals might not like the choice, however Brandon Royval beat Moreno not that way back, so he must be forward in line. Extra importantly, Manel Kape seems to be to be the subsequent man up for Pantoja someday later this 12 months.

However what if he isn’t? What if there’s a 3rd choice no one is considering? What if Pantoja strikes up?

In the meanwhile, Pantoja has primarily cleaned out 125. He’s obtained a number of wins over the No. 1 and No. 2 man, and wins over the No. 4 and No. 6 guys who’re in all probability the obvious title challengers. What else is there to do? Particularly now that his buddy and coaching companion Kyoji Horiguchi is returning to the UFC. Persons are speaking about them combating, and possibly they’d do this, or possibly Pantoja shoots for one thing larger.

I feel we’re going to see Pantoja tackle Manel Kape within the subsequent couple of months after which he strikes as much as 135 to problem Merab Dvalishvili, who additionally has a dearth of latest title challengers accessible. That opens the door for the UFC to have Moreno and Royval struggle for an interim title at UFC 320 in September.

Steve Erceg AKA “Vinnie Cigs”

“Is it time that all of us acknowledge that Vinnie Ciggs is an efficient fighter, however not an ideal one? Can we return to giving him enjoyable matches within the 10-30 vary? He has been thrown within the deep finish and misplaced towards solely the elite, why not give him 4/5 fights again down in winnable vary.”

No. In no way. Erceg is a sufferer of his personal success and we shouldn’t dock him for that.

Sure, Steve Erceg is now on a three-fight shedding streak. However these losses have come towards three of the 5 greatest fighters within the weight class, and got here in his 4th, fifth, and sixth UFC fights respectively. That’s not an indication that Erceg is mid, it’s an indication that he’s rattling good.

Erceg is 29 years outdated and has been knowledgeable fighter for 9 years. When he signed with the UFC he was by no means purported to get this far this quick. As a substitute, he obtained shot up the ranks as a result of there was a gap and also you don’t flip down these alternatives. And whereas he misplaced to Pantoja, he made a very good present of it. “Good however not nice” fighters don’t give among the finest pound-for-pound fighters on this planet all they will deal with for 25 minutes.

Knocking Erceg for these losses is like knocking LeBron James for shedding within the finals. The person made the finals for eight consecutive seasons. That’s bananas! What Erceg achieved isn’t almost as cool but it surely’s nonetheless spectacular and must be lauded.

That being stated, a step again down can be welcome.

Steve Erceg continued

“What does the UFC do with Vinnie Cigs subsequent? He’s misplaced three straight, but it surely’s towards arguably the three greatest flyweights on the roster.”

As talked about above, a step again does really feel applicable at this level. I feel Erceg may have loads of success towards different guys within the high 10, however I’ve additionally lengthy been of the opinion that individuals within the high 15 have to defend their place towards rising expertise to present everybody a good shake at breaking by. Flyweight has a ton of younger, up-and-coming expertise and Erceg is ought to have to carry the road towards one in every of them.

Personally, I’d prefer to see both Joshua Van or Ramazan Temirov get the chance to take Erceg’s spot from him.

Manuel Torres

“Is Manuel Torres a future champion?”

Of my coronary heart, possibly. However no, not of the UFC.

When you didn’t see it, Torres almost killed Drew Dober on Saturday (with an help from referee Mike Beltran). The win moved Torres to 4-1 within the promotion and obtained individuals actually excited, however they need to pump the breaks.

Torres is undeniably enjoyable (he earned a Efficiency bonus in every of his wins and Ignacio Bahamondes obtained one in Torres’s lone loss) however he’s not precisely beating world-beaters. Drew Dober is a superb motion fighter however he’s on the grayer facet of cooked at this level. Furthermore, Torres is 30 and light-weight is an unattainable division to climb the ranks in. He’s just too outdated to ever make it to the belt, if he may within the first place.

However that doesn’t imply we will’t love “El Loco” and we must always. Guys like Torres are a assured good time each time they struggle and with a crop of comparable skills round him — Bahamondes, Benoit Saint-Denis, Joel Alvarez, Mauricio Ruffy — we must be taking a look at some rattling superb matchups at 155 over the subsequent few years.

Ronaldo Rodriguez

“Do you assume Lazy Boy obtained fraud checked?”

No, however that’s primarily as a result of I by no means was very excessive on Rodriguez within the first place.

“Lazy Boy” was not a fighter I used to be massively excessive on when the promotion signed him for causes that confirmed themselves on Saturday. He doesn’t have the best struggle I.Q. and whereas he clearly has some expertise, it’s not otherworldly. Add within the weight miss and UFC Mexico was a catastrophe for Rodriguez.

Now, Rodriguez is simply 25 years outdated and he’s massively common, in order that helps his longterm outlook. If he can refocus and drill down, possibly “Lazy Boy” turns into one thing at 125 kilos. However he’d higher hurry.

Flyweight is getting higher daily and there’s an enormous crop of tremendous younger and gifted 125’ers which might be already on the rise and forward of the place Rodriguez is.

All-Time Greats

“Who do you assume are on the verge of being all-time greats? Does one other good UFC run make Kyoji a high 40 fighter ever? Does getting to 3 Title Defenses make Merab high 25? Is Islam Makhachev two wins away from being within the goat convo?”

I feel viewing fighters as all time greats is a significantly better method to have a look at issues than debating GOAT standing, so I actually like this query.

First off, let’s clear this up: Islam Makhachev is already within the GOAT dialog. He’s arguably the best light-weight ever and light-weight is the most effective division, so he’s within the dialogue. Two extra title defenses makes him undeniably the GOAT light-weight and actually within the convo.

Now, to the opposite matter: if I had been to sit down down and listing it out, the All Time Nice Membership in all probability has someplace between 25 and 50 members. And by my estimation, there are 11 presently energetic fighters who qualify (12 should you depend Jon Jones) — Makhachev, Alexandre Pantoja, Jose Aldo, Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway, Charles Oliveira, Kamaru Usman, Israel Adesanya, Alex Pereira, Zhang Weili, Valentina Shevchenko and Jones. You possibly can make a case for a number of others (Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje, and Rose Namajunas are affordable issues) however these are those who can’t be denied at this level. However they might have a number of extra be a part of them quickly.

If I used to be betting cash, I’d wager that earlier than their careers are completed, Merab Dvalishvili, Ilia Topuria, Dricus du Plessis, and Tom Aspinall all discover their method into the ATG membership. And naturally there are many different fighters who may get there but it surely’s just too quickly to inform.

Thanks for studying and because of everybody who despatched in tweets (Xs?)! Do you could have any burning questions on issues at the least considerably associated to fight sports activities? Then you definately’re in luck as a result of you may ship your tweets to me, @JedKMeshew, and I’ll reply all the nice ones! It doesn’t matter in the event that they’re topical or insane, simply as long as they’re good. Thanks once more, and see y’all subsequent week.