On Monday, March twenty fifth, former UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno confirmed that he’s taking a step back from MMA with an announcement to press and fans.
Brandon Moreno‘s UFC journey hasn’t been smooth sailing, and there aren’t many other fighters which have been on an analogous journey.
In his statement, Moreno explained how he needs time for his body and, ‘more importantly’, his mind to get well from years of stress that he has been through. The 30-year-old added that his ‘mind is stressed’ but suggested to UFC fans that he’ll return in the long run.
Here’s a look back on the five best moments from Brandon Morenos’ undeniably amazing profession.
Moreno suffers a loss to Pantoja and is cut from the UFC
Although this isn’t a ‘best moment’ in his profession for obvious reasons, it’s a serious a part of his UFC journey.
In a rematch of their Ultimate Fighter scrap back in 2016, Moreno and Alexandre Pantoja were matched up on the prelims of a Fight Night event in 2018. After suffering one other loss to the Brazilian, ‘The Assassin Baby’ was faraway from the promotion because the UFC began making 125lb cuts, considering removing the flyweight division entirely.
After the loss, Moreno got on the mic and promised the UFC fans that someday, he’d change into a UFC champion. At that time, it gave the look of a pipeline dream.
Over a 12 months later, he took a fight on LFA 69, where he beat Maikel Perez winning the vacant flyweight title.
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The UFC gave him a second likelihood just three months later.
Beating Kai Kara-France at UFC 245
His return to the UFC didn’t go as he would’ve wanted as he drew in his comeback fight to Askar Askarov. He fought again just three months later against Recent Zealander prospect, Kai Kara-France.
This fight marked a turning point within the profession of Brandon Moreno as he showed the UFC his championship potential and exciting fight style, picking up the primary win of his second UFC tenure.
The Mexican then went on to win two more fights extremely impressively, scoring a choice win over Jussier Formiga, and a first-round finish over Brandon Royval.
His win against Brandon Royval got here on the prelims of UFC 255, which was headlined by then-flyweight champion, Deiveson Figueiredo. This put him firmly on the Brazilian’s radar.
From prelim fights to difficult for a title in a predominant event
While Moreno was grinding his way through the UFC prelims, Deiveson Figueiredo was accumulating title defenses and separating himself from the remainder of the pack.
Unfortunately for Moreno, his title fight against Figueiredo got here throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, which was typical of his journey to that time.
Going into his first UFC predominant event as an enormous underdog, Moreno showed his Mexican heart and infectious style, taking ‘Deus Da Guerra’ to the scorecards, where the judges were completely split with their scoring, leading to the fight being a majority draw.
Despite the story once more going against him, this arrange the beginning of an incredible rivalry that will go on to profit Moreno massively.
Pipeline dream becomes reality and Figueiredo rivalry begins
The promotion afforded Moreno an instantaneous rematch six months later due to his impressive display in his first title challenge outing.
As silly because it sounds, the attract his prior fight with Figueiredo actually benefitted Moreno.
The fans that will not have already been exposed to his infectious personality definitely were in his UFC 256 fight, with the UFC being one in all the one promotions still running events during COVID. This resulted in Moreno gaining more fans than he could have ever imagined he’d have.
He put a stamp on the rematch with the Brazilian, submitting him in round three, finally getting his hands on the UFC flyweight title, three years after getting cut from the promotion. Although people could have scoffed at his guarantees following his 2018 loss to Pantoja, the Mexican stuck to his word.
The rivalry with Figueiredo was sparked they usually went on to fight a complete of 4 times, making for the most effective and deepest rivalries in the game. Moreno won the quadrilogy, ending the three-year battle at UFC 283, with Moreno winning two of the 4 fights, with one being a draw.
Moreno declares UFC hiatus following string of losses
The 30-year-old taking a step back from competing in MMA is a choice we as MMA fans must respect and take inspiration from.
There have been many instances inside even just the past few months that UFC fighters have spoken about how their mental health has taken a success following losses. Dustin Poirier and Robert Whittaker have each recently opened up about their struggles.
Moreno following suit can only be seen as a positive thing in the game/community where we take a look at fighters as superheroes who are only born to fight. The very fact of the matter is, Moreno together with many others, are putting their bodies on the road for our entertainment, but that isn’t what’s vital.
At the tip of his announcement, Moreno implored the UFC fans ‘to not forget’ him and that he knows he can come back and once more change into a UFC champion. After the journey ‘The Assassin Baby’ has been on, he has picked up the largest and most significant quality of all, the guts of a champion.
“It’s not a goodbye or anything like that, it’s just wait for me, be patient with me. The last time that happened, I got here back and I became a world champion. Once I return, I’m happening a tear. I still think I’m an incredible fighter and I even have all of the qualities to be a champion again.” Moreno said.
