Those setbacks left Moreno, a two-time UFC flyweight champion, in limbo, and he had to deliver against Albazi or potentially lose his spot in the contenders’ line forever. Once the bell rang, Moreno left no doubt that he’s still champion-caliber as he out-struck and outworked Albazi for 25 minutes.
At the conclusion of the bout, a bloodied Albazi could only embrace Moreno, knowing that he’d lost to the better fighter on this night. The judges scored the contest 49-46, 50-45, and 50-45 in Moreno’s favor.
See the highlights from the bout below.
Walkouts
Albazi walks out to something that sounds awesome. He’s draped in the Iraqi flag and grinning ear to ear. He’s rocking white shorts and looks ready.
Moreno hits the arena and he’s got his mean face on. He’s stalking his way to the cage. Honestly, looks fairly scary. And the crowd LOVES him. A beloved figure in this sport. He’s in his custom shorts (which are cool as hell) and it’s almost time.
Tale of the Tape and Announcements
Moreno is 1 year younger, 2 inches taller, and has a 2 inch reach advantage. He’s also a betting favorite at -180 with the comeback on Albazi at +150.
Bruce Buffer gets things going. The judges are Derek Cleary, Eric Colon, and Sal D’Amato. Marc Goddard is the referee.
The crowd is lively as Buffer does the intros. Albazi shadowboxes and receives loud boos. Moreno paces back and forth and the crowd cheers with enthusiasm.
The two men meet in the middle for final instructions and touch gloves. It’s go time!
Round 1
Both men out in orthodox and the meet in the center to start, probing with jabs right away. Moreno holding the center early as Albazi flits around the outside behind a high guard. Tentative first minute as both men feel things out.
Moreno playing around with different looks on his lead hand and with his feet. Moreno with a long jab into an entry and a collision but break immediately. Albazi lands an inside low kick. Moreno hits a fadeaway hook over a right hand that falls short from Albazi.
Morenogive him the movement, the shifts. Albazi not reacting and he now takes the center. Moreno draws hands low with a body kick then sneaks a good right hand over the top. Albazi presses him back and lands a front kick to the body. Still very tense early.
Good low kick from Albazi takes Moreno off balance and Albazi sticks a good jab. He’s starting to feint very slightly and open opportunities up. Moreno appears quicker but not by much as Albazi lands aright hand.
Leaping left hook from Moreno glances. Then a stepping left hook. He’s a little unorthodox and lands a good right hand! Albazi got off-balanced by that one but he appears to be OK and then lands a low kick. He’s gone to that well a few times with success.
Moreno loops wild punches in and then they trade uppercuts. Albazi with another front kick that falls short. Moreno with a nice punch-kick combo just before the horn.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Moreno.
Round 2
Albazi’s corner told him he’s waiting too much. Let’s see if that changes.
Albazi right to the center to start but Moreno backs him up with some jabs and an inside low kick.
OH! Moreno hit a switch head kick and Albazi is hurt! He’s got a good poker face but Albazi’s knees buckled! He’s circling out and shaking it off but Moreno charged in at him and Albazi had to get out of there.
Albazi grabs a clinch but Moreno breaks and Albazi seems to have his feet under him. Moreno lands a left hook. And another. He’s starting to consistently sneak that looping left around the guard. And this round Albazi is really defensive. May still be recovering.
Moreno rips the body as Albazi jabs at him. Nice work. Then Albazi changes levels and gets the takedown but Moreno immediately pops up to his feet. That is bad news for Albazi as we approach the halfway mark.
Albazi starting to put some offense out but still low volume overall and Moreno hits him with an uppercut. Then a cross counter. Moreno starting to get saucy in there but Albazi showing some really nice head movement to slip a lot of these funky combinations.
Moreno sticks a nice jab. And a left hook off-balances Albazi again. Albazi back to the well with kicks and those are his best offense right now. He’s losing the boxing exchanges as Moreno starts really loading up his combinations now, 5-6-7 punches at a time.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Moreno, 20-18 Moreno overall.
Round 3
Albazi’s corner was a bit stern with him, telling him to get more active. And he comes out with that in mind but Moreno meets him in the middle and gets the better of the initial exchange.
Moreno is now never throwing just one punch. Everything is in combination and at least some of those shots are getting home. Moreno rips the body and he’s starting to swing hard now too. Confidence out the wazoo for the former champion.
Albazi is cut under his right eye. Not sure what did it but he’s eaten a bunch. Then Albazi lands his best punch of the fight. A clean right hand that Moreno takes on the chin. But Moreno’s chin is exceptional. Albazi almost lands a huge knee as Moreno ducks but it just misses and instead Moreno tags him with a big left.
This fight is slipping away from Albazi as Moreno is just piling damage on him. And Albazi simply isn’t meeting the output. He lands a good hook but not enough. He needs more volume, or one BIG shot and neither have come yet as Moreno keeps walking him around the cage.
Albazi changes levels and Moreno dismisses it then whacks him again.
Oh! Moreno lands a punch to the eye and Albazi calls for a poke but Goddard sees it and tells him to keep fighting. Albazi clearly compromised right now and Moreno charges in on him so Albazi has to retreat and clear his eye as best he can. The crowd starts changing “Mo-Re-No” and Albazi dives on a single leg but Moreno punches himself out of it.
This was a better round from Albazi but he still lost it handily.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Moreno, 30-27 Moreno overall.
Round 4
Albazi’s corner told him the truth, he’s down three rounds. He comes out with fire and Moreno is happy to meet him in the middle and swing. And Albazi quits after a moment. He doesn’t want a brawl.
But at space he’s getting chewed up too. Moreno lands a great left hook up top, then one to the body. He’s simply steps ahead out there and has no fear of Albazi’s offense at this point.
Moreno putting a lot of little volume out there now, just keeping his fists in Albazi’s face. Albazi is having moments of success but he’s a kite dancing in a hurricane right now — getting buffeted around every which way.
Good front kick from Albazi and a jab. Like I said, he’s having moments. But then he eats a series of jabs and a hook and it’s all for naught.
Moreno slowing down a bit now though. Not nearly the same high-energy output he was throwing out there. Albazi can’t really respond appropriately though and Moreno can still turn on spurts of offense whenever Albazi gets frisky. Just a master class in managing this fight from Moreno who isn’t getting hit too much, is landing a lot, and controlling the action in all phases.
Albazi appears out of answers. He’s doing the same stuff and not even more now. Just running the same old things out there and he needs a miracle.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Moreno, 40-36 Moreno overall.
Round 5
Credit to Albazi’s corner, they shoot him straight and tell him he needs a finish. And he does. Unfortunately, Moreno has never been finished to that’s a tall task. Especially as Moreno’s corner tells him to be disciplined this round.
Jabs from both sides early and Albazi doesn’t have the urgency you would like to see. Actually, Moreno seems to have more. He’s trying to put a statement out there and swings at Albazi. They brawl and then a takedown gets stuffed by Moreno. And oh no, there’s a bad eye poke from Albazi.
Break in the action and replay is clear. Not intentional, just a wild brawl and fingers found the eye. Moreno shakes it off and we restart for the final 4 minutes.
Moreno is the one pushing the action despite clearly being ahead. Albazi doens’t look lost, but he’s not doing much.
Moreno goes for a takedown, Albazi stuffs it and Moreno cracks him!!! Albazi is on shakey legs! A left hook on the break clipped him and Moreno chasing him down! Albazi is damn tough though and he moves off and gets his feet back.
Moreno with another left hook and he wants a finish here but Albazi seems to be recovered and ducks for a clinch. Albazi is busted up now though. Blood all over his face and he eats another left hook. Moreno is hunting now and that left hook is catching fire.
Now Moreno backs off. Maybe catching his breath, he’s inviting Albazi forward and credit to Albazi, he’s still in this fight. But now Moreno is back on the gas. Albazi still hanging tough.
Ooooo. Nasty standing elbow from Moreno gets Albazi moving back and then a big right hand clubs him as well. Moreno really going for a finish with one minute left. And wit 30 seconds left, Albazi points to the center for the Max holloway!
Moreno meets him and exchanges and Albazi backs up after a brawl. More exchanging! Moreno throws a rolling thunder before the bell and that was a terrific performance from the former champion.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Moreno, 50-45 overall.
Post Fight
Moreno is all smiles in his post-fight interview with Daniel Cormier. The man has an infectious personality.
“I feel amazing. I feel fantastic. I feel like a new guy, a new person.”
Clearly that break was good for Moreno. Then he shouts out his team and Canada.
Then Moreno says he thinks his in better shape for moving forward as he continues to represent Mexico. Then he says he wants to take some time, enjoy Canada, but he wants to get that title back.
What a gem.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login