If you want five rounds of sensible decision-making, perhaps don't invite the current crop of top-tier flyweights. Captured here at UFC 290, Brandon Moreno is burning another heavy-hitting blow into an already bloodied Alexandre Pantoja during a fight so juicy it earned a Fight of the Year nomination at the 16th Fighters Only World MMA Awards. Pantoja eventually escaped with the belt via split decision, but the photograph captures why 125lb fights keep punching above their weight. Moreno landed 167 total strikes, Pantoja landed 161, and somewhere during all that unpleasant arithmetic they produced another flyweight classic. The funny part is how history has already repeated itself. Joshua Van and Brandon Royval have since taken Fight of the Year honors at the 17th Awards, proving that apparently the flyweight division considers bleeding on one another an annual obligation. Now Van and Pantoja are heading towards a rematch, but at 36, the statistics suggest the challenger might be at a disadvantage. In an analysis of over 2,229 pro MMA bouts, they found younger fighters consistently win in lighter divisions due to the demands of fast-twitch speed, whereas age has no statistically significant negative impact on winning in heavier divisions. You can bet his fists don’t care about those numbers because if the last two Fighters Only awards have taught us anything, this division might be preparing to steal the show again at UFC 331.

July 8, 2023

UFC 290

T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada