{{short description|Mixed martial arts event in 2024}} {{Infobox MMA event |name= UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Albazi |image= UFC_Fight_Night_246_poster.jpg |promotion= Ultimate Fighting Championship |date= {{start date|2024|11|2}} |venue= Rogers Place |city= Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |attendance= 16,439<ref name="attn&gate">{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/ufc-fight-night-246-post-event-facts-edmonton-return-produces-third-longest-card-history|title=UFC Fight Night 246 post-event facts: Edmonton return produces third-longest card in UFC history|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Mike Bohn|date=2024-11-03|access-date=2024-11-04}}</ref> |gate=$2,600,463<ref name="attn&gate"/> |previousevent= UFC 308: Topuria vs. Holloway |followingevent= UFC Fight Night: Magny vs. Prates }}

'''''UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Albazi''''' (also known as '''''UFC Fight Night 246''''' and '''''UFC on ESPN+ 104''''') was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on November 2, 2024, at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.<ref name="Edmonton">{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2024/08/ufc-edmonton-dana-white-rose-namajunas-vs-erin-blanchfield-fight-card|title=Dana White announces UFC Edmonton with Erin Blanchfield vs. Rose Namajunas main event, more|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Nolan King|date=2024-08-15|access-date=2024-08-15}}</ref>

==Background== The event marked the promotion's third visit to Edmonton and first since UFC 240 in July 2019.<ref name="Edmonton" />

This event was the first to implement changes to the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts approved by the Association of Boxing Commissions in July which removed the ban of 12–6 elbow strikes and deemed a fighter shall be considered grounded and may not be legally kneed or kicked to the head when any part of their body other than their hands or feet is in contact with the ground (canvas).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2024/10/ufc-news-mma-unified-rule-changes-edmonton-espn-elbows-grounded-fighter|title=New unified rules to make UFC debut in Edmonton with now-legal 12-6 elbows, grounded opponent changes l|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Nolan King|date=2024-10-29|access-date=2024-10-29}}</ref>

A flyweight bout between former two-time UFC Flyweight Champion Brandon Moreno and Amir Albazi headlined the event.<ref name="newmain">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/9/3/24235265/brandon-moreno-vs-amir-albazi-set-as-new-main-event-for-ufc-edmonton|title=Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi set as new main event for UFC Edmonton|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Damon Martin|date=2024-09-03|access-date=2024-09-03}}</ref> The bout was initially scheduled for UFC Fight Night: Magny vs. Prates, but was moved to this event shortly after.<ref name="Main">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bjpenn.com/mma-news/brandon-moreno/brandon-moreno-ends-brief-time-away-from-mma-set-to-return-at-ufc-vegas-100/|title=Brandon Moreno ends brief time away from MMA, set to return at UFC Vegas 100|publisher=bjpenn.com|author=Cole Shelton|date=2024-09-02|access-date=2024-09-02}}</ref> They were previously expected to meet at UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Royval 2 earlier in the year but Albazi withdrew due to a neck injury.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/platform/amp/2024/1/11/24035284/ufc-mexico-city-gets-new-headliner-after-amir-albazi-forced-off-card|title=UFC Mexico City gets new headliner after Amir Albazi forced off card|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Steve Marrocco|date=2024-01-11|access-date=2024-09-02}}</ref>

A women's flyweight bout between Erin Blanchfield and former two-time UFC Women's Strawweight Champion Rose Namajunas was originally scheduled to headline the event.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/8/15/24220856/rose-namajunas-vs-erin-blanchfield-headlines-ufcs-return-to-edmonton|title=Rose Namajunas vs. Erin Blanchfield headlines UFC's return to Edmonton|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Damon Martin|date=2024-08-15|access-date=2024-08-15}}</ref> However, in September, it was announced that the bout was shifted to the co-main event but remained five rounds.<ref name="newmain"/>

A heavyweight bout between former UFC Heavyweight Championship challenger Derrick Lewis and Alexander Romanov was expected to serve as the co-main event.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2024-08-15|title=Derrick Lewis added to UFC Edmonton vs. Alexandr Romanov|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2024/08/ufc-edmonton-news-derrick-lewis-vs-alexandr-romanov-fight-card|access-date=2024-08-20|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Nolan King}}</ref> However, the promotion opted to split the pairing, with Lewis facing Jhonata Diniz and Romanov facing Rodrigo Nascimento instead.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Jed Meshew|date=2024-08-20|title=Derrick Lewis now fighting Jhonata Diniz at UFC Edmonton, Alexander Romanov faces Rodrigo Nascimento|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/8/20/24224829/derrick-lewis-now-fighting-jhonata-diniz-at-ufc-edmonton-alexander-romanov-faces-rodrigo-nascimento|access-date=2024-08-20|publisher=mmafighting.com}}</ref> After the weigh-ins, Lewis was forced to withdraw from the fight due to non-weight cut related medical issues, so his bout against Diniz was scrapped.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Damon Martin|date=2024-11-02|title=Derrick Lewis out of UFC Edmonton, fight against Jhonata Diniz scrapped from card|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/11/2/24285974/derrick-lewis-out-of-ufc-edmonton-fight-against-jhonata-diniz-scrapped-from-card|access-date=2024-11-02|publisher=mmafighting.com}}</ref>

==Results== {{MMAevent}} {{MMAevent card|Main card (ESPN+)}} {{MMAevent bout |Flyweight |Brandon Moreno |def. |Amir Albazi |Decision (unanimous) (49–46, 50–45, 50–45) |5 |5:00 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Women's Flyweight |Erin Blanchfield |def. |Rose Namajunas |Decision (unanimous) (48–47, 48–47, 48–47) |5 |5:00 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Light Heavyweight |Brendson Ribeiro |def. |Caio Machado |Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 29–28) |3 |5:00 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Women's Flyweight |Jasmine Jasudavicius |def. |Ariane da Silva |Submission (brabo choke) |3 |2:28 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Middleweight |Dustin Stoltzfus |def. |Marc-André Barriault |KO (punches) |1 |4:28 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Welterweight |Mike Malott |def. |Trevin Giles |Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28) |3 |5:00 | }} {{MMAevent card|Preliminary card (ESPN+)|header=no}} {{MMAevent bout |Bantamweight |Aiemann Zahabi |def. |Pedro Munhoz |Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28) |3 |5:00 }} {{MMAevent bout |Bantamweight |Charles Jourdain |def. |Victor Henry |Submission (guillotine choke) |2 |3:43 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Featherweight |Youssef Zalal |def. |Jack Shore |Submission (arm-triangle choke) |2 |0:59 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Heavyweight |Alexander Romanov |def. |Rodrigo Nascimento |Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) |3 |5:00 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Bantamweight |Serhiy Sidey |def. |Garrett Armfield |Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 29–28) |3 |5:00 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Bantamweight |Cody Gibson |def. |Chad Anheliger |Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–26) |3 |5:00 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Women's Flyweight |Jamey-Lyn Horth |def. |Ivana Petrović |Decision (split) (30–27, 28–29, 29–28) |3 |5:00 | }} {{MMAevent end|notes=yes}} <ref>{{Cite web |title=UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Albazi|url=https://www.ufc.com/event/ufc-fight-night-november-02-2024|access-date=2024-09-03|publisher=Ultimate Fighting Championship}}</ref>

== Bonus awards == The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bjpenn.com/mma-news/ufc-edmonton/ufc-edmonton-bonus-report-dustin-stoltzfus-one-of-four-fighters-to-take-home-an-extra-50k/|title=UFC Edmonton Bonus Report: Dustin Stoltzfus one of four fighters to take home an extra $50k|publisher=bjpenn.com|author=Chris Taylor|date=2024-11-02|access-date=2024-11-02}}</ref> *'''Fight of the Night:''' No bonus awarded. *'''Performance of the Night: Jasmine Jasudavicius, Dustin Stoltzfus, Charles Jourdain''', and '''Youssef Zalal'''

== See also == {{Portal|Martial Arts}} *2024 in UFC *List of current UFC fighters *List of UFC events

== References == {{reflist}}

{{UFC Events}} {{2024 in mixed martial arts}}

Category:UFC Fight Night Category:2024 in UFC Category:2020s in Edmonton Category:November 2024 sports events in Canada Category:Mixed martial arts events in Edmonton Category:2024 in sports in Alberta