​Brandon Moreno is aiming to snap a losing streak at Noche UFC 4 as he faces a recent The Ultimate Fighter winner. MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck confirmed with sources familiar with the matchup that Moreno (23-10-2) will square off against Joseph Morales (14-2) at the upcoming Sept. 12 event, which is expected to take place at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. The bout was first reported by HEAVY.
Moreno, a two-time UFC flyweight champion, arrives on the card after back-to-back losses to Lone’er Kavanagh and Tatsuro Taira. Known as “The Assassin Baby,” he had a potential opportunity to fight in his home country of Mexico earlier this year in February, but that dream was derailed as he was outworked by Kavanagh over five rounds. The veteran contender has won just two of his last six fights, making this matchup a critical opportunity to regain momentum and reassert himself in the ever-competitive flyweight division.
Meanwhile, Joseph Morales emerged as the flyweight winner of TUF 33 and is currently enjoying a strong second stint in the UFC, where he has gone 2-0 with submission victories over Matt Schnell and Alibi Idris. Morales has rattled off five consecutive wins since his first UFC run that concluded in 2018, signaling that he is riding an upward trajectory as he steps onto the Noche UFC stage to take on Moreno.
While the headlining bout for Noche UFC 4 has not yet been announced, the card is already shaping up with notable names and high-stakes matchups. In addition to Moreno vs. Morales, Alexa Grasso is slated to compete against Manon Fiorot, adding another layer of intrigue and star power to the event. Grasso, the former flyweight champion herself, has been a focal point of discussions surrounding the night’s lineup, and her clash with Fiorot is expected to draw significant attention from fans and bettors alike.
This matchup between Moreno and Morales brings together two veteran flyweights with contrasting paths. Moreno, a seasoned title challenger with a storied UFC career, will be looking to halt a skid and remind the division why he has been one of the most talked-about fighters in the division for years. Morales, on the other hand, is riding a wave of momentum, looking to demonstrate that his TUF-era success was not a one-off and that he can translate his skills into continued success inside the Octagon.
For fans, the anticipation is building as Noche UFC 4 approaches. With the Moreno-Morales pairing on the card and high-profile additions like Grasso vs. Fiorot, the event promises competitive action and potential title implications in the flyweight division. As more details emerge, including the complete lineup and bout order, the MMA community will be watching closely to see if Moreno can stop his slide and if Morales can continue his impressive UFC resurgence.