One of the best matchups to make at flyweight is the next main event for UFC’s return to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Former champ Brandon Moreno is expected to face rising Swedish challenger Amir Albazi in the main event of UFC’s November 2nd card at Rogers Place, as announced by the promotion this week.
The matchup pits two of the top 125-pound contenders up against each other, possibly narrowing down who could get a chance against incumbent champ Alexandre Pantoja.
Albazi, the third-place talent on UFC’s official flyweight rankings, is the highest-ranked fighter who has never challenged for a title. He has put together five wins since entering the UFC roster in 2020, including a 2023 split decision win over Kai Kara-France.
Albazi and Moreno were expected to face off in February, meeting in a five-round clash at UFC’s Mexico City, Mexico card. However, after Albazi withdrew from the fight due to a neck injury, Moreno took on Brandon Royval instead.
The main event booking earlier this year was Moreno’s first appearance since dropping the flyweight title to Pantoja in 2023. In an upset result, Royval walked away with a split decision victory and secured a first-place ranking at flyweight in the process. He will now try to earn his first victory in more than a year and a half when taking on a tough contender later this year.
UFC originally intended to have a flyweight bout between Rose Namajunas and Erin Blanchfield headline their first trip to Edmonton since 2019. While the fight won’t serve as the card’s main event anymore, it will remain five rounds and take place in the co-main event spot instead.
Here’s an updated look the promotion’s latest trip up north:
Bout 12: Brandon Moreno (21-8-2) vs. Amir Albazi (17-1) (Flyweight)
Bout 11: Rose Namajunas (13-6) vs. Erin Blanchfield (12-2) (Flyweight)
Bout 10: Ariane Lipski (17-9) vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius (11-3) (Flyweight)
Bout 9: Marc-Andre Barriault (16-8) vs. Dustin Stoltzfus (15-6) (Middleweight)
Bout 8: Derrick Lewis (28-12) vs. Jhonata Diniz (8-0) (Heavyweight)
Bout 7: Alexandr Romanov (17-3) vs. Rodrigo Nascimento (11-2) (Heavyweight)
Bout 6: Mike Malott (10-2-1) vs. Trevin Giles (16-6) (Welterweight)
Bout 5: Aiemann Zahabi (11-2) vs. Pedro Munhoz (20-9) (Bantamweight)
Bout 4: Jamey Lyn-Horth (6-1) vs. Ivana Petrovic (7-1) (Flyweight)
Bout 3: Chad Anheliger (13-7) vs. Cody Gibson (20-10) (Bantamweight)
Bout 2: Caio Machado (8-3-1) vs. Brendson Ribeiro (15-7) (Light Heavyweight)
Bout 1: Serhiy Sidey (10-2) vs. Garrett Armfield (10-4) (Bantamweight)
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