The former two-time UFC Flyweight Champion, Brandon Moreno, is back to take on rising star Tatsuro Taira on the third fight of the UFC 323 Main Card. Moreno has won two consecutive fights and is attempting to increase his winning streak to three for the first time since 2020. Taira got back on track in August with a second-round submission against HyunSung Park and is 17-1 in his MMA career.
Here is my best bet for Brandon Moreno vs. Tatsuro Taira at UFC 323.
Brandon Moreno Moneyline (+105)
Even though Brandon Moreno last held gold in 2023, he is still only 31. But after he lost his title at UFC 290 to Alexandre Pantoja in July 2023, Moreno has competed on two straight UFC Fight Night events. “The Assassin Baby” is one of the promotion’s most popular fighters and has been involved in some of the Flyweight division’s best fights.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, Moreno is a +105 underdog with Taira being a -125 favorite. This fight has an over/under of 2.5 rounds, with the over being -345. This fight is also -295 to go the distance.
On the feet, it is where Moreno does his best work as he averages 1.09 more significant strikes per minute than Taira does. Moreno has a 60 percent defensive rate on the feet, which is impressive. Taira has the advantage on the ground, landing 1.30 more takedowns per 15 minutes, but Moreno has an elite 64 percent takedown defense.
In this contest, both fighters are 5’7″ with the same standing reach of 70″. If Moreno can defend Taira’s first few takedown attempts, he will have a much better chance of finding success in this contest. Moreno is at his best when he displays his fast-paced style while using all areas of his arsenal.
