Pantoja's Dominant Grappling and Unorthodox Striking Pose Threat to Moreno at UFC 290
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As the anticipation builds for UFC 290, much of the focus has been on the featherweight title unification bout between Alexander Volkanovski and Yair Rodriguez. However, the co-main event featuring Brandon Moreno and Alexandre Pantoja promises to be an exhilarating matchup, drawing the attention of fans worldwide.
One intriguing aspect of this fight is Pantoja’s previous success against Moreno during their time on The Ultimate Fighter and early in their UFC careers. Michael Bisping, while analyzing the matchup on his YouTube channel, highlighted Pantoja’s past victories and their potential influence on the outcome.
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Bisping remarked, “Some people just tend to have the number on certain guys. Are we seeing that with Pantoja? I don’t know. I don’t think it’s that basic, I don’t think it’s that simple. I think Moreno has improved, but I do think that the way that Pantoja fights, the angles that he creates – and of course if it hits the ground, my word he just takes submissions. Kinda like Charles Oliveira. Quick as that, he just grabs him, he takes him, he locks onto an arm, a neck, whatever it is.”
Pantoja’s grappling skills have been on full display in his recent submission victories, showcasing his ability to dominate on the ground. Bisping also emphasized Pantoja’s unorthodox and aggressive style on the feet, which could prove crucial in upsetting Moreno at UFC 290.
“On the feet, he’s unorthodox. That’s why he’s effective, and he’s aggressive and he believes in himself… He’s gonna go forward towards Brandon Moreno, having beaten him twice, and I don’t think he’s gonna give him any respect. And that will be key. Now granted, that could mean he’s gonna walk onto a big shot, he’s gonna walk onto something that’s gonna put him down, potentially cause the end of the fight. But generally, I think Pantoja wins this fight… Pantoja’s done it twice before, I think he can do it again.”
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As Pantoja enters UFC 290 with the momentum of his previous victories over Moreno and a three-fight win streak, it is essential to acknowledge that Moreno has evolved as a fighter since their last encounter in 2018. Moreno’s most recent fight was against Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 283, where he closed out their rivalry. Figueiredo remains the only fighter to defeat Moreno since his last bout with Pantoja.
While the two title fights at the top of the card are undoubtedly captivating, UFC 290 also features a potential middleweight title eliminator between Robert Whittaker and Dricus Du Plessis, along with several other exciting matchups. Fans can look forward to an action-packed event that is sure to deliver thrilling moments inside the Octagon.
For more UFC news and updates
Read: UFC 290 Yair Rodriguez vs Alexander Volkanovski
Read: UFC on ESPN 47 results: Sean Strickland TKO’s Abus Magomedov in an epic main event fight
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Stephen Thompson declines the quick turnaround fight and wants Usman next.
