Moreno ends two-fight skid with split decision over Morales at Noche UFC

Brandon Moreno stopped a two-fight losing streak at Noche UFC on Saturday, defeating Joseph Morales by split decision in the co-main event to reassert himself as a serious force in the UFC flyweight division.

Two judges scored the bout 30-27 for Moreno, while a third went 29-28 for Morales — a scorecard that left the former champion bemused but unbothered. “That’s kind of weird but at the end, I won,” Moreno said after the fight. “I’m going to celebrate with my people. Viva Mexico! I’m super happy.”

Moreno came out sharp from the opening bell, showcasing the blistering hand speed and combination punching that made him a champion at 125 pounds. A crisp left hook clipped Morales early, but Morales refused to wilt, resetting calmly and landing a slick combination of his own in response.

The middle rounds turned into a genuine firefight. Both flyweights threw with conviction, Morales connecting on several stiff left hands that snapped Moreno’s head back at one point and sent him stumbling across the octagon. Moreno, far from discouraged, welcomed the exchange and kept pressing forward.

The decisive moment came in the third round. Morales opened with a takedown attempt, but Moreno was ready — he engineered a clean reversal, reset in the centre of the octagon, and then landed a sharp shot against the cage before securing a well-timed takedown of his own. He held that control through to the final horn, giving the judges a clear picture of who finished stronger.

The win ends a difficult stretch for Moreno, who had dropped back-to-back bouts heading into Saturday’s fight. With the victory, he will look to re-enter the top ten of the flyweight rankings and work his way back toward title contention.