Moreno goes 2-0 in the UFC with split decision win over Benoit
"The Assassin Baby" is on a roll.
Fighting for the second time in 64 days, Brandon Moreno made the most of the opportunity by taking a split decision win over Ryan Benoit in the main-card opener of The Ultimate Fighter 24 Finale in Las Vegas on Saturday.
Decisión dividida para @theassassinbaby pic.twitter.com/STAQHKb8Ax
— UFC (@UFCEspanol) December 4, 2016
Facing one of the hardest punchers at 125 pounds, Moreno used his wrestling early and often to stay out of trouble. He scored two takedowns in Round 1 and then a pair of slams in Round 2 to recover after a left hand from Benoit momentarily wobbled him.
Moreno may have known he was up on the scorecards after two rounds, because he eased up on the gas in the final frame. While Benoit searched for one punch that could steal the fight, Moreno continued to pick him apart from distance until the final bell.
It was another big win for the 22-year-old Moreno who flamed out in the first round of TUF 24. Not counting that exhibition bout, Moreno has won his past 10 professional contests including an upset of Louis Smolka that vaulted him to the No. 12 spot in the UFC's official rankings.
Post-fight, Moreno demanded a top-10 opponent for his next fight and he delivered a passionate shout out to his home country.
"People say Mexicans are lazy and delinquents, but we're humble, honest, hardworking people," Moreno said, according to a translation from Spanish by MMA Fighting's Danny Segura. "Mexico is a beautiful country."
Benoit continues a trend of alternating wins and losses in his past seven fights. His overall record falls to 9-5.