Brandon Moreno vs. Alexandre Pantoja flyweight title fight set for UFC 290 on July 8

A new flyweight title fight has been added to UFC’s July 8 International Fight Week event.

As speculated, Brandon Moreno will clash with No.2 ranked contender Alexandre Pantoja for the first time as a two-time flyweight champion. Pantoja was originally expected to face Moreno at the end of 2021, but an injury forced the Brazilian out, allowing his native counterpart, Deiveson Figueiredo, to continue the rivalry with Moreno.

It seemed inevitable that Pantoja would be the next challenger, given his recent streak. After Moreno’s successful attempt to recapture flyweight gold in Rio De Janerio in January, a backstage altercation with Pantoja would almost confirm both men would face one another.

On Wednesday, ESPN MMA confirmed the official booking after the initial report from an Instagram account, @freak.mma, which disclosed the fight would occur at UFC 290 in Las Vegas for International Fight Week on July 8.

Brandon Moreno vs. Alexandre Pantoja set for July 8 showdown at UFC 290

A flyweight title fight between Brandon Moreno and Alexandre Pantoja is set for UFC 290 on July 8 in Las Vegas, UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell confirmed to @marcraimondimma.

The instagram account https://t.co/W1OeW6VVTO first reported the news. pic.twitter.com/Gp5bB2bPIe

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) April 12, 2023

The clash in the summer won’t be the first meeting between the pair. In 2016, during a stint on The Ultimate Fighter: Tournament of Champions, Pantoja submitted the Mexican in the second round by a rear-naked choke, which was recorded as an exhibition contest. Two years later, Moreno suffered a second defeat to Pantoja at UFC Fight Night 129, which went to the judge’s scorecards.

Since then, Moreno’s career has undergone a roller-coaster of emotions. The 29-year-old has been released from the UFC and has also enjoyed two stints as the UFC flyweight champion of the world. A testament to the development and evolution of Moreno as a complete mixed martial artist.

The fight booking marks the second title fight set to go down on July 8. UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski will also take on interim featherweight titleholder Yair Rodriguez at the event.

The current confirmed fight bookings are as follows:

• Alexander Volkanovski (C) vs. Yair Rodríguez (featherweight championship)
• Brandon Moreno (C) vs. Alexandre Pantoja (flyweight championship)
• Bo Nickal vs. Tresean Gore (middleweight)

Which other fights would you like to see made for UFC 290? Let us know in the comments!