Moreno-Albazi to headline UFC Fight Night in Edmonton
A match between two of the top flyweight contenders finally has a date.
Former champion Brandon Moreno will fight Amir Albazi in a five-round main-event bout on UFC Fight Night on Nov. 2 in Edmonton, CEO Dana White announced Tuesday.
Moreno and Albazi were initially scheduled to fight in Mexico City in February, but Albazi withdrew due to injury. Brandon Royval replaced Albazi in the fight and scored a win via split decision over Moreno. It marked Moreno's second consecutive defeat after he dropped the flyweight title following his split-decision loss to Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 290 in July 2023.
Moreno (21-8-2) remains one of the promotion's more popular fighters despite his recent losing skid. The Tijuana native became the first Mexican-born champion in UFC history after he defeated Deiveson Figueiredo in 2021.
Albazi (17-1) will step into the Octagon sporting a six-fight win streak. The bout will be the Iraqi fighter's first match since he walked away with a split-decision win over Kai Kara-France in June 2023. Albazi has been training at Fight Ready MMA since that fight, per MMA Junkie's Nolan King.
Moreno and Albazi are the No. 2- and No. 3-ranked fighters in the UFC's 125-pound division, respectively.
Rose Namajunas' fight against Erin Blanchfield will now serve as the co-main event on the Nov. 2 card. The women's flyweight battle is expected to remain a five-round match.
A heavyweight showdown between knockout artist Derrick Lewis and Jhonata Diniz will also be featured on the main card.