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- What: UFC Fight Night 237 / UFC Mexico City
- Who: Brandon Moreno vs. Brandon Royval 2
- Date: Saturday, February 24, 2024
- Location: Arena CDMX in Mexico City, Mexico
- Time: Prelims (7:00 p.m. ET) Main Card (10:00 p.m. ET)
- How to Watch: ESPN+
The UFC returns to Mexico for the first time in nearly four years for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Royval 2 fight card. In the main event of the Mexico City card, former UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno meets recent UFC 125-pound title challenger Brandon Royval in a rematch. The two men first scrapped in November 2020 at UFC 255. Moreno won that contest by TKO with one second left in the first round. Moreno went on to challenge Deiveson Figueiredo for the UFC flyweight belt in his next outing. Here is some information on Whittaker vs. Costa before we discuss the betting breakdown for the UFC 298 PPV card. Here is some information on Moreno vs. Royval 2 before we discuss the betting breakdown for the UFC Fight Night 237 card.
Brandon Moreno (21-7-2) is a two-time UFC flyweight champion. The 30-year-old is coming off a July 2023 split-decision setback to Alexandre Pantoja, where he lost his belt. Moreno is currently the No. 1 fighter in the official UFC flyweight rankings. He was initially booked to face No. 2 Amir Albazi on this card.
Brandon Royval (15-7) is coming off a December 2023 unanimous decision loss to Pantoja in a title fight. The 31-year-old is ranked at No. 3 in the UFC flyweight division.
Before we look at the best bets for the Moreno vs. Royval 2 matchup on the UFC Fight Night 237 card, check out the best UFC betting sites and where you can find the best odds on all the UFC fights.
UFC Fight Night 237: Brandon Moreno vs. Brandon Royval 2 betting picks
| Fighters |  |  |  |  |
| Brandon Moreno | -250 | -250 | -250 | -250 |
| Brandon Royval | +210 | +200 | +200 | +200 |
Brandon Moreno betting breakdown
Brandon Moreno was disappointed when he learned that Brandon Royval was stepping into this main event fight because it meant another opponent he had faced before. “If you watch my record in the last years since 2020, I’m always fighting with the same guys,” Moreno told MMA Junkie. “I’m just kind of tired – it’s kind of boring, but it is what it is. I was excited for this fight against Amir Albazi because new body, new game plan, new everything.”
While that’s understandable, one thing Moreno cannot do is take this fight lightly because doing so could make his road back to a UFC flyweight title more difficult.
Moreno is among the best fighters to ever step into the Octagon at 125 pounds. He’s also one of the most well-rounded. Moreno sets a fast pace; he mixes his techniques well, has a solid chin, can hit hard, and does well on the mat. He’s a man whose only losses in the past five years have come in title fights. If he has any flaws, they are that he headhunts when he’s striking, and he can sometimes forget just how good his takedowns are.
Brandon Royval 2 betting breakdown
This is a massive opportunity for Brandon Royval since he is coming off a loss to the champion in which he only won one round on one judge’s scorecard. Royval has nothing to lose in this matchup. If he beats Moreno, Royval gets an upset win and puts himself back in the mix for a title eliminator. If he loses, he accepted a short-notice fight against a man who knocked him out, who is also, at the very least, the second-best competitor in the division.
Like Moreno, Royval is a fighter with excellent cardio, enabling him to set a fast pace that some fighters struggle with. He has high-level striking, great grappling, and scrambles, and he puts a lot of pressure on his opponents in the hopes of finding openings for a finish. He is good everywhere, but his takedown defense is somewhat suspect. At a base level, Royval is a less-skilled and polished version of Moreno.
Royval’s only UFC losses have been to Pantoja (twice) and Royval.
Best Bets – UFC Mexico City: Brandon Moreno vs. Brandon Royval 2
Brandon Royval’s best chance to win this fight is to catch Brandon Moreno slipping and finish him via knockout or submission. The problem with that is that no one has ever stopped Moreno. All seven of his losses have been via decision. I only see that happening if Moreno takes this matchup lightly or has problems getting his head in the fight.
Expect a fast-paced fight between these two, but Moreno will likely control most aspects of this contest. I suspect that Moreno will use Royval’s aggression against him and pick up the victory. The best bet is to pick Moreno to win and to do so by knockout.
See below a list of reliable sportsbooks and choose the best one for you.
