In return, Moreno dominates; Blanchfield collects at UFC Edmonton

Two-time flyweight world champion Brandon Moreno handed Amir Albazi his first loss with a high-profile strikeout to secure a unanimous decision in the main event of UFC Fight Night at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta.

Moreno (22-8-2) returned from a self-imposed hiatus following a split decision loss to Brandon Royval in February and sent a message to the division that “The Assassin Baby” is waiting for gold.

The judges scored 50-45, 50-45 and 49-46 for Moreno, who outscored Albazi 124-56 in significant strokes.

“I want to be at the top again,” Moreno said. “I want my title back. This (performance) is a reminder for the rest of the division.”

The 30-year-old Moreno showed a clear striking advantage and relied on his reach and combinations to stop Albazi from using his grappling skills. In the second round, Moreno injured Albazi's knee with a head kick and stung his opponent with a long jab. Albazi (17-1) tried to take the fight to the canvas, but Moreno got back to his feet and gained a mental edge for the rest of the fight.

Albazi's face began to fall apart in round 3 as Moreno continued to shower him with combinations. Unable to locate the former champion, Albazi followed Moreno around the octagon, striking whenever he tried to close the distance.

With the fight well in hand, Moreno looked to put his stamp on his performance, hitting Albazi with a hard left hand in the final round. Moreno was not satisfied with the victory and continued to aim for a goal until the final bell.

Moreno ended a two-fight losing streak, while Albazi's first defeat puts his pursuit of a championship fight on hold.

There is a traffic jam at the top of the flyweight class. In December, Alexandre Pantoja will defend the 125-pound championship against former RIZIN champion Kai Asakura at UFC 310. Kai Kara-France and Royval are waiting for a title shot after picking up big wins in their last few games, while Moreno is back in the conversation and aiming to become the division's first three-time champion.

In the women's flyweight co-main event, Erin Blanchfield fought back from an early deficit and used her youth and aggressiveness to win a unanimous decision over former strawweight champion Rose Namajunas.

Namajunas (13-7) was in control in the first two rounds with a sharp jab, excellent footwork and robust takedown defense. Realizing she couldn't surpass Namajunas in striking, Blanchfield (13-2) aggressively closed the distance and worked on takedowns.

The strategy worked as Blanchfield neutralized Namajunas' boxing by crowding her space. All three judges even fought until the final round, but Blanchfield applied the pressure, securing a takedown and controlling Namajunas from top position for the round.

Blanchfield, 25, returned to the winning list after a decision loss to Manon Fiorot in March. With the win, the UFC's No. 3 ranked flyweight is just inches closer to a title shot. Namajunas, 32, is 2-2 at flyweight since moving up a weight class in 2023.