Brandon Moreno is favored against Brandon Royval at UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Royval 2 on Saturday, February 24 in Mexico City, Mexico. This event is one of 13 fights on ESPN+. Moreno is 21-7-2 in his career, including 9-4-2, while Royval is 15-7 in his career, including 5-3 in the UFC. There are a total of 13 fights, all on ESPN+ at UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Royval 2. Let’s look at the bout between Moreno and Royval and UFC predictions.
UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Royval 2 takes place at the Arena CDMX in Mexico City, Mexico on Saturday, February 24 with 13 fights, all on ESPN+.
UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Royval II Betting
Brandon Moreno (21-7-2, 9-4-2 UFC)
Moreno came into the UFC with a record of 11-3 and he has nine wins, four losses, and two draws in the UFC. In his last six fights, he has three wins, two losses, and one draw. He defeated Deiveson Figueiredo by rear-naked choke submission, Kai Kara-France by TKO, and Deiveson Figueiredo by TKO; while losing to Deiveson Figueiredo by unanimous decision and Alexandre Pantoja by split decision, and fighting to a draw against Deiveson Figueiredo. Moreno has been a pro since 2011 and he has five wins by TKO/KO and 11 by submission. He has eight first round finishes.
Moreno said this to mmajunkieusatoday.com about his upcoming fight against Royval, “I know Brandon Royval is going to come very motivated. He has nothing to lose and everything to win. … For me, it’s just to make a statement and keep my name there for the flyweight championship in the future. If you watch my record in the last years since 2020, I’m always fighting with the same guys. I’m just kind of tired – it’s kind of boring, but it is what it is. I was excited for this fight against Amir Albazi because new body, new game plan, new everything. So I was excited for that, but then he had to pull out for an injury. This is how this sport works and I understand. Brandon Royval jumped for the opportunity. It’s tiring, it’s boring, but a fight is a fight, a win is a win, and I need this win to keep my name there.”
Brandon Royval (15-7, 5-3 UFC)
Royval came into the UFC with a record of 10-4 and he has five wins and three losses in the UFC. He defeated Tim Elliott by arm-triangle choke submission, Kai Kara-France by guillotine choke submission, Rogério Bontorin by split decision, Matt Schnell by guillotine chokes submission, and Matheus Nicolau by KO; while losing to Brandon Moreno by TKO and Alexandre Pantoja twice with once by rear-naked choke submission and once by unanimous decision. Royval has been a pro since 2012 and he has five wins by TKO/KO and eight by submission. He has 10 first round finishes.
Striking Stats
Strikes landed per minute: Moreno 3.80 /Royval 3.80
Striking Accuracy: Moreno 43% /Royval 43%
Strikes absorbed per minute: Moreno 3.40/Royval 3.05
Defense: Moreno 56% /Royval 45%
Grappling Stats
Takedown average: Moreno 1.73/Royval 0.43
Takedown Accuracy: Moreno 45%/Royval 66%
Takedowns defended: Moreno 64%/Royval 40%
Submission average: Moreno 0.5/Royval 1.5
UFC Picks
Moreno has not fought since losing to Alexandre Pantoja last summer. It was a split decision defeat and many people thought Moreno should have gotten the win. It will be interesting to see how Moreno does after that tough loss. Royval is replacing Albazi in this fight and he is also looking to bounce back, as he was beaten by Pantoja in December. Moreno and Royval faced each other in November of 2020 and it was Moreno winning by first round stoppage. It should be noted, however, that Royval dislocated his shoulder in a scramble and that injury basically ended the fight.
Moreno is listed as more than a 2-1 favorite in UFC odds to win this fight. I am definitely not laying money on Moreno in this fight. I have no idea where his head is at after last year’s tough loss to Pantoja. I am tempted to take a shot with Royval at plus money but I don’t like it that Moreno will have a big edge in crowd support with the fight taking place in Mexico.
The rounds are listed at 3.5 and I think there is a decent chance we get a finish in this fight. We get +115 on the fight going under the rounds total and that is the option I will take in this fight.
| DATE | FIGHTERS | MONEY LINE |
| 02/24 | Brandon Royval | +228 |
| Brandon Moreno | -300 |
| 02/24 | Yair Rodriguez | -155 |
| Brian Ortega | +124 |
| 02/24 | Francisco Prado | +214 |
| Daniel Zellhuber | -280 |
| 02/24 | Ricky Turcios | +186 |
| Raul Rosas Jr. | -240 |
| 02/24 | Sam Hughes | +379 |
| Yazmin Jauregui | -550 |
| 02/24 | Chris Duncan | +135 |
| Manuel Torres | -170 |
| 02/24 | Mateus Mendonca | -165 |
| Jesus Aguilar | +131 |
| 02/24 | Christian Quinonez | +158 |
| Raoni Barcelos | -200 |
| 02/24 | Daniel da Silva | +283 |
| Edgar Chairez | -385 |
| 02/24 | Claudio Puelles | +176 |
| Fares Ziam | -225 |
| 02/24 | Luis Rodriguez | -133 |
| Denys Bondar | +103 |
| 02/24 | Victor Altamirano | +228 |
| Felipe dos Santos | -300 |
| 02/24 | Erik Silva | +301 |
| Muhammad Naimov | -415 |
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