Brandon Moreno‘s profession might be summed up in 5 phrases: “It all happened very fast.” Despite being an instance of perseverance, he is gotten used to abrupt adjustments. Saturday, he’ll combat on the Arena Ciudad de Mexico for the fifth time, fourth as a headliner, and at 32 years outdated, he is approaching the completion of his first decade within the UFC. It glided by shortly for him. The Tijuana-born flyweight is a memorable determine for Mexican MMA followers. In June 2021, he became the first Mexican-born UFC champion when he submitted Deiveson Figueiredo with a shocking rear-naked choke within the third spherical at UFC 263. That was the second in a streak of six consecutive championship bouts over the course of three years for Moreno — 4 towards Figueiredo — a stretch of time that handed within the blink of a watch.
Since that six-title-fight run ended with a break up determination loss to Alexandre Pantoja in July 2023, Moreno has gone 2-2, together with a choice over Steve Erceg final March that gave Moreno his first win in Mexico City. On Saturday, ESPN’s No. 7-ranked flyweight, faces Lone’er Kavanagh in a five-round combat with a possibility to defeat an thrilling prospect and return to the flyweight contenders record. But a loss might ship him into limbo, the place he’ll be a gorgeous title for occasions centered on Latin crowds however removed from championship consideration.
Moreno wants a convincing win so as to add to his 10-year UFC legacy. He modified Mexican MMA historical past, however as he mirrored on his journey, he was nonetheless feeling younger sufficient to maintain combating.
The ‘TUF’ entry and thrilling debut
Moreno joined the UFC amid TV drama. After he spent months as Henry Cejudo‘s coaching accomplice, the previous two-division champion helped Moreno get onto the roster for “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 24 in 2016, the place Cejudo was set to teach towards Joseph Benavidez. The contestants have been seeded 1-16 for a bracket-style event, and Moreno was No. 16. Cejudo then picked No. 1-seeded Pantoja for his workforce, sending Moreno to Team Benavidez. Moreno was bounced from the present after shedding to Pantoja, and his friendship with Cejudo ended.
But all wasn’t misplaced. While the fact present aired, a possibility arose to interchange Sergio Pettis towards the UFC’s then-No. 9-ranked flyweight, Louis Smolka. Not solely did Moreno submit Smolka within the first spherical for the win on quick discover, he additionally earned his first $50,000 efficiency bonus.
“It was me living in the moment,” Moreno advised ESPN this week. “Everything was so fast, I didn’t have time to think. When they called me to fight Louis Smolka, I didn’t hesitate; it was what I wanted. I was just happy they gave me my uniform, did photos and a few interviews. I wasn’t focused on anything else. It was enjoyable hearing [announcer] Bruce Buffer say my name — it helped me enjoy the moment.”
Moreno mentioned the bonus modified his life instantly.
“I was at a bar after the fights,” Moreno recalled. “[UFC matchmaker] Sean Shelby came and told me I got the first bonus. With that, I bought my first house and gave my family a better life.”
He picked up one other win on “The Ultimate Fighter” finale card two months later towards Ryan Benoit. He completed a ranked Dustin Ortiz the next April, and the door opened for Moreno to combat in his first UFC essential occasion in Mexico City towards Pettis.
The finish of the primary stint
Moreno was the primary in his “TUF” class to essential occasion a UFC card, nevertheless it ended as quick because it began. “It was similar to the debut; everything happened fast,” Moreno mentioned of his first UFC loss. “In a year, I had three fights, and by August 2017, I was fighting Sergio Pettis. I was young, I wanted to conquer the world. I now recognize Sergio had more experience. I was sure I could win, but [his eight previous UFC fights] weighed a lot.”
Though he appeared safe within the promotion with a 3-1 report, executives have been contemplating chopping the division on the time, placing all flyweights in danger. After a combat towards Ray Borg in Brooklyn was canceled due to injuries Borg sustained when Conor McGregor attacked a fighter bus previous to UFC 223, Moreno signed on for a rematch with Pantoja in Santiago, Chile, in May 2018.
“I lose in Chile in May, two losses, and was one of the easiest cuts when they wanted to get rid of the division,” Moreno mentioned. Around the time he was launched, one in every of Moreno’s daughters started experiencing well being challenges, and the mounting medical bills got here with out the safety of a gradual revenue.
“There were many obstacles I had to overcome at the same time,” he defined.
The return
Though his relationship with Cejudo was damaged, the Olympic champion unknowingly helped Moreno once more. In August 2018, Cejudo took the belt from Demetrious Johnson, ending Johnson’s 11-fight flyweight title reign and a tense relationship with the UFC. Johnson’s departure opened new potentialities for a weight class that had grow to be impenetrable.
After a 12 months with out combating, “The Assassin Baby” obtained a suggestion to combat for the flyweight title towards Cuban Maikel Perez — a high-risk rival — in LFA, a promotion that had grow to be a stepping stone to the UFC.
“I knew Maikel, had trained with him, wrestled with him and he had destroyed me,” Moreno mentioned. “I was nervous but took the risk. I won, signed with my current management agency that has good company relations, and returned to UFC.”
Though he knew it was a harmful combat, he had a strong purpose to win: “It was relief and internal fire. I couldn’t make my family go through those problems again because of me; it was a great motivation.”
The rise
Moreno re-signed with the UFC a month after his LFA title win, and as soon as once more, he was in a rush. He drew with Askar Askarov in September 2019 in Mexico City in his comeback combat, beat Kai Kara-France three months later at UFC 245 and beat Jussier Formiga in March 2020.
In November that 12 months, he confronted Brandon Royval at UFC 255, profitable by TKO attributable to harm. The identical night time, Figueiredo submitted Alex Perez within the first spherical. Amid one of many promotion’s most intricate years, UFC CEO Dana White determined to match Moreno and Figueiredo three weeks later in the primary occasion of UFC 256.
The combat was some of the spectacular bouts within the division’s historical past however led to a draw, beginning a rivalry that’d take 4 fights to outline. Moreno received the second assembly, turning into 125-pound champion in June 2021. Figueiredo regained the title at UFC 270 in January 2022, and a 12 months later, Moreno closed the story with a TKO victory in Rio de Janeiro at UFC 283. Along the best way, Moreno additionally beat Kara-France a second time for an interim title at UFC 277, then misplaced the belt at UFC 290 to Pantoja, one other profession rematch.
“They were very productive years; I can’t complain,” Moreno mentioned. “I laid a path for my family’s future. I traveled a lot, worked a lot trying to build that future for my daughters and wife. I burned out a bit, but I won’t deny those years helped me a lot. Championship fights came, interim, main events, five-round camps, travels, and all that helped shape my career and legacy today.”
After shedding the belt, he has confronted the division’s finest, however a painful loss to Tatsuro Taira at UFC 323 in December pushed him to return again as quickly as attainable.
The crownless champion
The flyweight division has a promising future, with a 24-year-old champion in Joshua Van and plenty of high quality contenders, reminiscent of Taira, Manel Kape, Kioji Horiguchi and former champion Pantoja. But Moreno’s reference to followers retains him some of the well-liked fighters within the division.
“I like to think I’m in the division’s top 5 [all-time],” Moreno mentioned. “No one will move Demetrious Johnson [off the greatest flyweight ever spot], at least in the near future. Current champ Joshua Van has all the time to make history, but I think I’m in the top 5.”
Despite that, he is not glad. He mentioned he nonetheless feels very younger however has to grasp he began this journey at a younger age.
“I think my path is full of experience,” he mentioned. “I know I’m the experienced fighter in the division but still very hungry. At the end of the day, I want to be champion. But I think the essence of combat is what keeps me motivated — competition, waking up early, discipline, sweat and that primitive feeling of getting into a fight with another guy.” Being UFC champion is a feat. Losing and regaining it’s a good larger feat. But doing it a 3rd time could be the spotlight of his profession. Moreno envisions a state of affairs during which a victory positions him to face one other top-five contender — and places him one step nearer to a brand new title alternative.
“That would put my name very high in this sport’s history,” Moreno mentioned. “I’m doing everything in my control — keep working, waking up early, disciplined with training. I’m an example that if I want to achieve my goals, I can, and my goal is to be champion again.”
