Saturday’s Noche UFC card in Glendale, Arizona is absolutely stacked — featuring a co-main event between former two-time flyweight champion Brandon Moreno and TUF 33 winner Joseph Morales.
Moreno (23–10–2, 11–7–2 UFC) has stumbled of late, dropping four of his last six bouts after a unanimous decision loss to Lone’er Kavanagh in February. Morales (15–2, 3–2 UFC) enters on a six-fight surge, punctuated by a first-round submission win over Matt Schnell last November.
Morales enters as a -122 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook. Moreno is a +102 underdog, with the fight total set at O/U 2.5 rounds.
Moreno vs. Morales Preview
Brandon Moreno (#8)
- 23–10–2 (11–7–2 UFC)
- 5–1 (T)KO
- 11–0 SUB
Noche UFC will finally feature an appearance from the first Mexico-born champion in the promotion’s history. And it’s going down in the city where he first captured the gold.
Brandon Moreno is hoping that a return to Glendale — the site of his epic title win over Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 263 in 2021 — can help him galvanize a career resurgence. “The Assassin Baby” has dropped four of his last six bouts, punctuated by consecutive defeats against recent title challenger Tatsuro Taira and rising prospect Lone’er Kavanagh. Now 32, the former two-time titleholder is looking to prove that he still has what it takes to compete with the division’s top contenders.
Moreno’s unmatched championship experience and five-round cardio should remain his greatest advantage on Saturday night. He also arrives with a black belt in jiu-jitsu — a potential kryptonite to Joseph Morales’ elite grappling.
Joseph Morales
- 15–2 (3–2 UFC)
- 2–1 (T)KO
- 8–0 SUB
One of the UFC’s most compelling storylines in recent memory belongs to Joseph Morales.
After getting cut from the promotion in 2018, “Bopo” made his triumphant return last year. In August 2025, he won the flyweight tournament for Season 33 of The Ultimate Fighter, handing surging prospect Imanol Rodriguez his lone pro loss along the way. Morales, 32, rides a six-fight winning streak into Glendale, looking to channel that momentum into the biggest win of his career.
Morales’s black-belt jiu-jitsu was on full display during his first-round submission win over Matt Schnell last November. Still, it’s worth noting that Schnell retired in June after dropping five of his last six bouts — all by stoppage. Morales may struggle to enforce the same game plan against Brandon Moreno, a dangerous grappler in his own right.
Moreno vs. Morales Pick, Best Bet
Joseph Morales certainly has the momentum on his side, though he has yet to be truly tested since returning to the UFC. He now faces the former two-time division champion in Brandon Moreno. Despite his recent form, “The Assassin Baby” could be primed for a rebound performance against an opponent of the same age and a similar toolkit. Given his unmatched experience, there’s solid value in backing the first Mexico-born champ to bounce back at Noche UFC in the city where he made history.
