Ex-UFC Champion Returns for Reported First Fight on Year-Ending UFC 335 Card

Who do you think will come out on top in this flyweight matchup?

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A massive flyweight bout featuring one of the division’s former champions is reportedly in the works for UFC 335.

Scheduled as the final event on the UFC’s 2026 calendar, UFC 335 will take place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV on December 12.

The UFC recently confirmed two huge title bouts for November’s UFC 334 card at Madison Square Garden, and as of yet the promotion hasn’t formerly announced any fights for what will presumably also be a stacked card in Las Vegas the following month.

Brandon Moreno to Face Charles Johnson at UFC 335

It may not be a title bout, but MMA Fighting did report this week that the UFC is putting together a huge flyweight fight between Brandon Moreno and Charles Johnson for UFC 335.

A two-time UFC flyweight champion, Moreno first won the promotion’s 125 lbs. belt in 2021 when he submitted Deiveson Figueiredo in the second of what eventually turned into a four-fight series between the two flyweight legends.

Deiveson Figueiredo (red gloves) fights Brandon Moreno (blue gloves) during UFC 283 at Jeunesse Arena. | USA TODAY Sports

“The Assassin Baby” ultimately came out on top in the rivalry when he defeated Figueiredo at UFC 283 and claimed flyweight gold for the second time, but unfortunately he relinquished the title to Alexandre Pantoja later that year at UFC 290.

Brandon Moreno (red gloves) fights Alexandre Pantoja (blue gloves) during UFC 290 at T-Mobile Arena. | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

A follow-up loss to Brandon Royval left Moreno on a two-fight skid before he rebounded with back-to-back wins over Amir Albazi and Steve Erceg, but the 32-year-old’s hopes of securing a chance to reclaim the flyweight belt were halted at UFC 323 when he was stopped by Tatsuro Taira.

Brandon Moreno and Joseph Morales fight during Noche UFC at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

The Mexican star also suffered an upset-loss to Lone’er Kavanagh to kick off 2026, but Moreno returned to the win column earlier this month when he took a split decision over Joseph Morales at this year’s edition of Noche UFC.

Charles Johnson Knocked Out UFC Champion Joshua Van in 2024

Another win over a top-ranked contender would move Moreno closer to a title shot after Joshua Van just defended the flyweight belt for a second time against Pantoja at UFC 331, and Johnson currently sits at #14 in the media rankings for the UFC flyweight division.

“InnerG” joined the UFC in 2022 following a successful flyweight title reign with the LFA, and after a lackluster 2-4 start to his UFC career the 35-year-old defeated Azat Maksum in 2024 to kick off what became a four-fight win streak.

Charles Johnson (blue gloves) knocks out Joshua Van (red gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Ball Arena. | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

That winning run included a third-round knockout over the aforementioned Van that stands as the flyweight champion's lone UFC loss, but since Ramazan Temirov ended that winning run Johnson has alternated wins and losses over his last six outings.

Charles Johnson (red gloves) fights against Eduardo Chapolin (blue gloves) in the catchweight bout during UFC 330 at Xfinity Mobile Arena. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The former LFA champion did secure a “Performance of the Night” bonus when he defeated Eduardo Chapolin with a Scottish Twister his last time out at UFC 330, and the matchup with Moreno is a strong start to what should be a huge UFC 335 card in December.