Brandon Moreno-Johnson Bout Eyes UFC 335

Brandon Moreno is expected to make a quick return before the end of 2026, with a flyweight fight against Charles Johnson in the works for UFC 335. The event is scheduled for Dec. 12 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, according to a report from MMA Fighting. The matchup has not been formally announced by the UFC, so the key point remains that Moreno’s next appearance is reported rather than official. For Moreno, the proposed December date would answer the request he made after returning to the win column at Noche UFC 3 in September. He defeated Joseph Morales after two straight losses, then said he wanted one more fight before the calendar closed. A bout with Johnson would give Moreno that late-year opportunity while keeping his focus on activity rather than an extended wait after his rebound win.

The timing is the most defined part of this reported booking. Moreno’s win over Morales halted a difficult two-fight stretch, and a Dec. 12 contest would place another meaningful assignment less than a full season later. The source does not establish a bout order, title implication or official UFC confirmation, but it does establish why this pairing fits Moreno’s stated preference: he sought another fight in 2026 and is now expected to receive one. Moreno remains the central figure in the matchup because the fight would test whether his September result can become the beginning of renewed momentum. Rather than treating one victory as a final answer, the proposed Johnson fight presents a second chance for Moreno to build on it before the year ends. That is the practical significance supported by the reported schedule, even as the promotion has yet to make the contest official.

Moreno’s December plan follows September reset

Moreno entered Noche UFC 3 coming off consecutive losses and left with a win over Joseph Morales. That result gave him a clear reset point in September, but Moreno did not indicate that he planned to sit out the remainder of the year. He expressed interest in one more appearance before 2026 was over, and the Johnson pairing is reported to be the fight that could fulfill that aim. A quick turnaround matters here because it gives Moreno an immediate opportunity to add context to the Morales win. The available material supports no prediction about the result and no specific ranking consequence. It does, however, show a simple competitive path: Moreno can move from breaking a losing streak to pursuing consecutive wins if the UFC 335 fight is finalized and takes place as reported. The Las Vegas date also places Moreno on the final major UFC card of 2026, according to the report. That description adds scale to the scheduling without changing the present status of the fight. Until the UFC issues its own announcement, Moreno’s proposed return should be viewed as a well-sourced plan in progress, not a finalized promotional confirmation.

Johnson supplies a credible flyweight challenge, but the reported booking remains principally about Moreno’s effort to carry his September recovery into December. Johnson has alternated wins and losses over his past six fights. MMA Fighting listed victories over Lone’er Kavanagh, Bruno Silva and Eduardo Chapolin during that stretch, giving the proposed opponent identifiable recent success without suggesting a run that the source does not describe. The matchup also links two different short-term objectives. Moreno is seeking the additional 2026 appearance he requested after beating Morales. Johnson is attempting to defeat a former champion, an assignment that would be a notable opportunity for him. Those aims make the pairing more substantial than a routine late-card addition, while still leaving the larger divisional stakes unconfirmed. No official bout order, title connection or future booking is established in the supplied reporting.

What the report establishes about UFC 335

The reported details are specific: Moreno and Johnson are expected to meet in a flyweight bout at UFC 335, scheduled for Dec. 12 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Multiple people with knowledge of the promotion’s plans confirmed the news to MMA Fighting’s Guilherme Cruz and Mike Heck. The UFC itself had not formally announced the matchup at the time of the report. That distinction is important for readers following Moreno’s next move. The date, city, venue and opponent provide a concrete outline, but the status remains “in the works.” It is accurate to say Moreno is expected to fight Johnson; it is not accurate to treat the contest as officially announced by the promotion. If finalized, the bout would give Moreno the year-end fight he sought after Noche UFC 3 and place him opposite an opponent whose recent record has moved back and forth between wins and losses. Moreno’s immediate storyline is therefore straightforward: he has a reported path to return in December after a September victory. The next development to watch is an official UFC announcement, which would turn the reported plan into a confirmed fixture on the UFC 335 card.

• Moreno defeated Joseph Morales at Noche UFC 3 in September after two straight losses, then expressed interest in fighting once more before the end of 2026.
• Moreno is expected to face Charles Johnson on Dec. 12 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, but the UFC had not formally announced the bout in the reported material.

Brandon Moreno’s reported UFC 335 matchup offers a defined next step after his win over Joseph Morales: a December flyweight fight with Charles Johnson in Las Vegas. The booking would let Moreno act on his desire for one more appearance before 2026 ends and attempt to turn a September reset into consecutive victories. For now, the essential caveat remains unchanged: the fight is expected, but it awaits formal UFC confirmation.