This past Saturday, the main event at UFC Mexico featured an exciting flyweight contest. Former champion Brandon Moreno (23-8-2) was looking to secure his second consecutive victory as he faced former title challenger Steve Erceg (12-4), who was aiming to avoid a third straight loss.

The one factor that concerned me about Erceg’s prospects going into this fight was his activity and volume. Brandon Moreno is constantly throwing and mixing up his attacks, whereas Erceg relies on his range and precise technique. I felt that this could be a disadvantage for Erceg in a fight likely to go to a decision.

In the end, that’s exactly what happened on Saturday night. Moreno started strongly in the first round, but Erceg made a solid comeback in the second, landing some powerful shots. However, from that point on, Moreno fought with greater urgency, which allowed him to claim the final three rounds. Ultimately, it was a one-sided decision victory for Moreno at UFC Mexico.

What’s Next After UFC Mexico?

Steve Erceg will undoubtedly review the fight with frustration. While he did land clean and significant shots on Moreno, he allowed Moreno to dictate the pace throughout the contest. After watching the fight, I still believe that Erceg could have won with a better game plan.

However, with three losses in a row, Erceg’s situation is now more complicated. Last May, he was mere moments away from becoming flyweight champion but made a costly mistake by attempting to grapple Alexandre Pantoja, which ultimately cost him the final round and the fight. He was then knocked out by Kai Kara-France and, now, he has suffered this decision loss to Brandon Moreno.

It’s been a sharp and rapid decline from title contention, but Erceg is still very much a top-ten flyweight. Now that he has lost three on the bounce, what should the UFC do with him next? Honestly, I believe the perfect fight for him is one he was already scheduled for. I think Erceg should face Asu Almabayev next.

Almabayev and Erceg were supposed to meet in March before Erceg was given the main event against Moreno. Almabayev still fought on the card, ultimately losing a decision to Manel Kape in the main event. The two are ranked closely in the flyweight rankings, making this match-up a sensible option for the UFC.