“First of all, I want to fight in the flyweight division. Why? Because there’s a champion, (Alexandre) Pantoja, but almost all the ranked fighters have been defeated…it’s not fun anymore,” said former Rizin 135lbs champion and now UFC flyweight contender Kai Asakura last year. His statement reflected a growing concern about the “logjam” in the division—a problem that has made it difficult to establish fresh challengers for the title. Despite Dana White’s continuous efforts to breathe new life into the 125lbs division, his attempts to overcome its stagnation have often fallen short.

Moreover, this isn’t the first time the flyweight division has faced issues, with the underlying cause frequently traced back to White and the promotion, primarily driven by financial concerns. A prime example is the flyweight GOAT, Demetrious Johnson, who built an iconic legacy with 11 successful title defenses and is widely considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in MMA history. However, despite his incredible achievements, the promotion struggled with pay-per-view sales, with two of Mighty Mouse’s events barely surpassing 100,000 buys. Ultimately, Johnson was traded to ONE Championship in exchange for Ben Askren.

But now, the landscape is shifting, with emerging threats to Alexandre Pantoja’s flyweight reign. Former Rizin bantamweight champion Manel Kape, Kai Kara-France, and, most recently, two-time flyweight champion Brandon Moreno are all making significant waves in the division. At UFC’s 16th outing in Mexico City, held at Arena CDMX, local hero ‘The Assassin Baby’ showcased a dominant performance against Australian contender Steve Erceg, securing a unanimous decision victory and strengthening his case for another title shot against ‘The Cannibal’.

After his victory, Moreno discussed the flyweight division’s title picture in a conversation with ESPN’s Dan Hellie, Alan Jouban, and Anthony Smith. When asked about the “logjam,” in the division and given the chance to pick his ideal opponent for a main event, the Mexican wasted no time staking his claim:

“I want to fight for the title, you know?…with this victory, I think I can raise my hand a little and say. Hey, man, I think I deserve the opportunity as well so ?’ So, I don’t know. I have to use this card. I don’t know how much I move the needle, but I really believe I move the needle more than other guys. So, I’m going to push with that.”

However, the ESPN broadcasting team continued to press for further clarity, asking Brandon Moreno to choose between Manel Kape and Brandon Royval if given the option. Without hesitation, ‘The Assassin Baby’ selected Kape, explaining, “I never fought him.” At the heart of all his comments, however, was one clear goal: To become the first three-time flyweight champion, a feat yet to be achieved in the division.

For the unversed, the Mexican first captured the flyweight title at UFC 263 in 2021 by defeating Deiveson Figueiredo. However, in their rematch just six months later, Figueiredo reclaimed the belt. Over a year later, after Figueiredo was sidelined due to injury, Moreno faced Kai Kara-France for the interim title at UFC 277 and emerged victorious. A few months after that, at UFC 283, Moreno defeated Figueiredo in a title unification bout to become the undisputed flyweight champion. He held the title until his second pro clash with Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 290, which marked the end of Moreno’s second reign.

Since that loss, Moreno has been determined to secure a rematch with ‘The Cannibal’. Now, the ball is in Dana White and his team’s court. Will they fulfill the two-time former champion’s request? Only time will tell. But regaining the title is far from the only goal still fueling the former champion.

What is Brandon Moreno’s wish from Dana White and the UFC?

After delivering a standout performance on his home turf, Brandon Moreno called for the UFC to feature him on the upcoming UFC 320 Noche event, which is set to take place in Guadalajara, Mexico on September 13 later this year. Last year, UFC 306 Noche was hosted inside the groundbreaking ‘The Sphere’ in Las Vegas. Now, Brandon Moreno is advocating to once again perform in front of his home crowd. And why not? It would be a perfect opportunity to celebrate Mexican Independence Day.

During his post-fight press conference, he shared his heartfelt message: “I’ve gone through so much to be here. I know how hard it is for so many of you to get a ticket to be here. This is all for you,” he shouted to the audience. “Hunter [Campbell], who really knows what I deserve? I don’t know what I deserve. But I really believe I can move the needle, and let’s go for the pay-per-view in Guadalajara. Let’s fcking go. Let’s f—–g do it!”

What’s your take on Brandon Moreno’s future? Does he deserve the next title shot against Alexandre Pantoja, or should ‘The Cannibal’ first face Manel Kape or Brandon Royval? Share your opinion below.