Reports: Former Flyweight Champion to Serve as Backup Fighter for 296 Title Bout

Brandon Moreno will be a backup fighter for UFC 296, serving as a stand-in for the flyweight title fight between Alexandre Pantoja and Brandon Royval. This marks the first title bout in the division without Moreno since 2020. It is reported that Moreno will only enter the octagon if either Pantoja or Royval is unable to fight or if Royval misses weight.

Moreno lost the title at UFC 290 against Pantoja, and it will be interesting to see how the upcoming title fight plays out for the division. While Moreno will not be competing in the flyweight title bout at UFC 296, he is expected to make his return at UFC Fight Night 237 in Mexico City in February 2024. He is set to fight Amir Albazi in a flyweight bout, which may potentially be a five-round co-main event.

If Moreno secures a victory at UFC Fight Night 237, he could potentially earn another shot at the flyweight title. The event is rumored to be headlined by a featherweight bout between Yair Rodriguez and Brian Ortega. All eyes will be on Moreno as he looks to make his mark and work his way back to title contention in the flyweight division.