5 potential opponents for Brandon Moreno after his latest setback

Brandon Moreno lost his flyweight championship to Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 270 on Saturday. The exciting fight left many wanting another rematch between the pair but given they've fought three times consecutively, Moreno could be forced to face a new opponent next time out.

The rest of the division has had to patiently wait while the top two have fought repeatedly for flyweight gold. Given the UFC looked into other options before booking the trilogy fight, they may well consider a different matchup even more seriously this time around.

With that being said, there is still no clear-cut number one contender besides 'The Assassin Baby'. A fourth fight between him and the champion would excite the fans and could draw big numbers, as both fighters' popularity continues to rise.

These two differing lines of thought make it difficult to predict who will be the former champion's opponent next. In any case, here are five potential fights that could be next for Brandon Moreno:

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#5. Brandon Moreno vs. Askar Askarov II

Askarov is ranked No.2 with a record of 14-0-1

Presuming the UFC does choose to elevate a new face into the title picture, the winner of Askar Askarov vs. Kai Kara-France will determine the number one contender. The loser of that bout would therefore provide a perfect opponent for the former champion's next fight.

While the undefeated Askarov will be the favorite heading into his bout on March 26, should he lose a rematch with the Mexican would be a fun matchup. 'The Assassin Baby' caused the only blot on the Russian's otherwise perfect record. The pair fought to a split decision draw in 2019 in Mexico City.

However, Askarov's stock would likely drop considerably should he suffer his first defeat at the hands of Kara-France. The UFC must also realize they have a star on their hands in Moreno and so matching him up with such a tough grappler may not be the direction they choose to go in.

#4. Brandon Moreno vs. Kai Kara-France II

Kara-France is ranked No 6 with a record of 23-9 (1 NC)

Brandon Moreno versus Kai Kara-France could be the fight we end up getting if we follow the logic over the previous entry. Kara-France will be the underdog in his upcoming bout with Askar Askarov and should he lose, a rematch with the former champion could be next.

Moreno defeated Kara-France via unanimous decision back in 2019 but both men appear to have improved significantly since then. These fighters are now two of the most popular flyweights in the division so pitting them against each other would create a huge bout.

However, there are obviously no guarantees as to the result of Kara-France's next fight and when he would be able to compete again in the event of a loss. On top of that, matching up these two popular fighters ensures one of them will suffer a loss and that may not be the route the UFC chooses to go.

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#3. Brandon Moreno vs. Alex Perez

Perez is ranked No.4 with a record of 24-6

Alex Perez is scheduled to face Matt Schnell on February 12 at UFC 271. Should he win that fight, he will be deserving of a big-time opponent but probably not a title shot. Moreno would therefore make all the sense in the world as a potential opponent.

While Perez had to earn his spot in the UFC via Dana White's Contender Series, he has made himself at home on the main roster. The American even competed for the flyweight title at UFC 255 in a losing effort against Deiveson Figueiredo.

This fight would provide 'The Assassin Baby' with the opportunity to bounce back from his loss against one of the top flyweights in the division. For Perez, it would give him a shot at the biggest win of his career and could put the memory of his defeat to the current champion far behind him.

#2. Brandon Moreno vs. Alexandre Pantoja II

Pantoja is ranked No.3 with a record of 24-5

After Saturday, many people feel Brandon Moreno vs. Alexandre Pantoja is the fight to make. Pantoja is ranked No.3 and is riding a two-fight win streak. While calls for the Brazillian to get a title shot have cooled, a rematch with the man he has beaten twice in the past makes a ton of sense.

Pantoja defeated Moreno back in 2018 which led to the latter being released from his UFC contract. They also fought on The Ultimate Fighter with Pantoja coming out on top again. While 'The Assassin Baby' has more than recovered from those losses, it would still be intriguing to see if he could avenge his defeats.

The Brazillian is currently not booked to face anyone so these two could be matched up as soon as Moreno is ready. The fight would provide a great way of either setting up a fourth title fight for the Mexican or creating a new title challenger in Pantoja.

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#1. Brandon Moreno vs. Deiveson Figueiredo IV

The champion Figueiredo has a record of 21-2-1

Yes, we've seen these two fight three times in a row but everyone wants to see the fourth fight, so why wait? The series is currently tied at 1-1-1 and the Mexican's loss was much less one-sided than Deiveson Figueiredo's, so it makes sense to pair them up.

While some may feel that booking this fight is unfair to the rest of the division, the next title contender will not be determined until Askarov and Kara-France fight on March 26. The winner of that bout may not be ready for some time, so why not try and sneak a fourth fight between these two former champions in first.

At the end of the day, this is by far and away the biggest fight the UFC could put on in the flyweight division. While it may not be the fairest decision, that has traditionally not mattered to the matchmakers. Fans love watching these two fight, so here's hoping the fourth bout in the series is next up.