Tag: Brandon Moreno

Brandon Moreno reveals plan to take extended break away from UFC: ‘I’m just tired, I’m tired of the media’

Brandon Moreno betting favorite over Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 290Former UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno has announced he’s stepping away from MMA for the foreseeable future. Moreno is…

Brandon Moreno betting favorite over Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 290

Former UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno has announced he’s stepping away from MMA for the foreseeable future.

Moreno is coming off a split decision loss to Brandon Royval in the main event of UFC Mexico City which was his second straight defeat. The Mexican lost his title to Alexandre Pantoja back in July and now following his second straight defeat, Moreno says he will be taking time off from the sport.

Brandon Moreno set to fight Amir Albazi at UFC Mexico City five rounds February 24
Mandatory Credit: Chris Unger – Zuffa LLC

“I feel like I’m at a point in my life where I’m putting in the work, I’m dedicated, but the results just aren’t there, and it’s very frustrating,” Brandon Moreno said in Spanish (translation by MMAJunkie). “This is something that makes me very sad, but something that makes me who I am is that I always find a way to come back. I think with all the technical aspect things aside, I think I’m just tired. I’m tired of the media, the same questions, the vibe, the constant pressure.”

“I don’t even think it’s a single moment anymore. I think it’s everything I’ve piled on my shoulders in the last few years. I’ve reached a point where my mind is stressed, and I just want to rest a bit. “

“I’m not saying I’m 100 percent stepping away from MMA, but I do want to take a break to rest, be with my family and just be a normal person, be with my daughters, and just do new things,” Brandon Moreno continued. “There are many things I haven’t done because I’m 100 percent focused on my training. I just want to rest a bit. This is by no means a goodbye. Just wait for me, have patience, let my body and my mind recover, and we’ll come back to do things well.”

Brandon Moreno

Although Brandon Moreno is taking time off, he says it isn’t a retirement. Instead, he needs to refresh his mind and body as he knows he will fight again.

Brandon Moreno vows to be UFC champion again

Despite losing back-to-back fights, Brandon Moreno has full confidence in himself that he has all the tools to become UFC champion again.

Moreno says the last time he took a break from MMA was after he was cut from the UFC. He ended up turning his career around and became the UFC champion.

“The last time that happened, I came back, and I became a world champion,” Moreno said. “I’d like to think I can do the same and when I return, I’m going to go on a tear. I still think I’m an incredible fighter, and I have all the qualities and abilities to be a champion again… At this point, all I promise is that I’ll continue fighting, moving forward, and I will find the right path to move forward. I’m going to do everything to pick myself up again. I want to do it, I know I can do it, and I’m going to do it. I’m going to be champion. I just need to rest my body and mind.”

Alexandre Pantoja set to fight Steve Erceg in title clash at UFC 301 in Brazil on May 4
Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie – USA TODAY Sports

Moreno is currently 21-8-2 as a pro and on a two-fight losing skid. He’s 9-5-2 in the UFC and before the back-to-back losses, he TKO’d Deiveson Figueiredo to reclaim the flyweight title for the second time.

Henry Cejudo calls for grudge fight with Brandon Moreno at UFC 306 in stunning Las Vegas Sphere clash

Henry Cejudo calls for Brandon Moreno fight at UFC 306 in Las Vegas Sphere showdownFormer two-division champion, Henry Cejudo has urged recent UFC Mexico City headliner and former two-time flyweight titleholder, Brandon Moreno…

Henry Cejudo calls for Brandon Moreno fight at UFC 306 in Las Vegas Sphere showdown

Former two-division champion, Henry Cejudo has urged recent UFC Mexico City headliner and former two-time flyweight titleholder, Brandon Moreno to finally meet him inside the Octagon later this year – in the form of a Las Vegas Sphere showdown at UFC 306 in September.

Cejudo, a former undisputed bantamweight and flyweight champion, returned to the Octagon at UFC 298 earlier this month, suffering a second defeat straight for the first time in his professional career, in the form of a unanimous decision shutout loss to Merab Dvalishvili in the pair’s title-eliminator bout. 

As for Moreno, the Tijuana native headlined UFC Fight Night Mexico City over the course of the weekend, fighting to a close, split decision loss to two-time foe and former title chaser, Brandon Royval in the pair’s main event rematch.

Henry Cejudo calls for Brandon Moreno fight at UFC 306 

Staking his claim for another turn at bantamweight spoils in the future, Olympic gold medalist, Cejudo shut down plans for a second retirement from mixed martial arts – calling for a grudge fight with Moreno at the Las Vegas Sphere on Mexican Independence Day in September, with UFC 306 set to land at the venue.

“What fight would be better than Triple C vs. Brandon Moreno, the Mexican-American vs. the true Mexican, and they come together, and they do a five round showdown,” Henry Cejudo said on his YouTube channel. “At the [Las Vegas] Sphere, in Las Vegas, for Mexican Independence Day. …Let’s do it, Mexican Independence Day. What you got? You gonna sign the contract? Are you a Mexican, or a Mexican’t?”

Returning from a 2020 retirement last year, Cejudo unsuccessfully challenged for the undisputed bantamweight title in a title charge against record-setting gold holder, Aljamain Sterling, dropping a split decision loss to the Uniondale native.

Would you like to see Henry Cejudo fight Brandon Moreno at UFC 306?

Brandon Royval calls out flyweight champ Alexandre Pantoja in fiery post-fight interview at UFC Mexico City

Brandon RoyvalBrandon Royval wants another crack at flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja. Stepping up on short notice after Brandon Moreno’s originally…

Brandon Royval

Brandon Royval wants another crack at flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja.

Stepping up on short notice after Brandon Moreno’s originally scheduled opponent — Amir Albazi — bowed out due to a neck injury, Royval delivered a solid performance throughout their five-round headliner, earning a split-decision victory over ‘The Assassin Baby’ inside Mexico City’s Arena CDMX.

Following the contest, a fired-up Royval called out Pantoja, who was sitting cageside for the festivities.

“I’m a f*cking gangster. I’m the realest one in this flyweight division,” Royval said while speaking with Paul Felder. Everybody wants to grapple me all day. Speaking of grappling, I hear Pantoja’s in the building. Let’s run that sh*t back motherf*cker. Ain’t no motherf*cker holding me down ever again. I’m going to people’s house and I’m taking their f*cking sh*t. All day, every day. Brandon ‘Raw Dog’ motherf*ckin’ Royval in the building. Westside!”

Is anyone interested in Brandon Royval vs. Alexandre Pantoja 3?

Brandon Royval has stepped inside the Octagon with Pantoja on two separate occasions, the first coming at a Fight Night event in August 2021. Pantoja earned a submission via RNC in the second round. Two years later, they would run it back in a flyweight title tilt at UFC 296 in December. ‘The Cannibal’ once again came out on top, this time by unanimous decision.

With Royval already coming up short against Pantoja twice, a third fight between the two would be a hard sell for fight fans. But with the UFC in desperate need of a flyweight title contender not named Brandon Moreno, ‘Raw Dog’ may be the best option at hand.

Brandon Royval defies the odds, scores split decision over Brandon Moreno – UFC Mexico City Highlights

Brandon RoyvalBrandon Royval stepped into the UFC Mexico main event as a +220 underdog, but that didn’t stop him from…

Brandon Royval

Brandon Royval stepped into the UFC Mexico main event as a +220 underdog, but that didn’t stop him from delivering a show-stealing performance against former flyweight world champion Brandon Moreno.

More than three years removed from their first meeting when ‘The Assassin Baby’ scored a last-second TKO, Royval earned some redemption, outlasting Moreno in a five-round back-and-forth war inside Arena CDMX in Mexico City. ‘Raw Dog’ threw an incredible 370 significant strikes during the 25-minute affair, though he only landed a lowly 28%. Still, that was enough to outstrike Moreno in the third, fourth, and fifth rounds which ultimately sealed the victory on two of the three scorecards.

Official Result: Brandon Royval def. Brandon Moreno via split decision (48-47, 46-49, 48-47)

Following the bout, Royval called for a rematch with reigning flyweight titleholder Alexandre Pantoja, who was sitting cageside for the festivities. Royval came up short against Pantoja at UFC 296 in December, but his impressive short-notice showing against Moreno may put him right back in line for another shot at gold.

Check Out Highlights From Brandon Royval vs. Brandon Moreno at UFC Mexico:

After canceling second retirement, Henry Cejudo eyeing fights with Sean O’Malley and Brandon Moreno

Henry CejudoHe’s not f*ckin’ leaving! Despite dubbing his UFC 298 meeting with Merab Dvalishvili as an “all or nothing” situation,…

Henry Cejudo

He’s not f*ckin’ leaving!

Despite dubbing his UFC 298 meeting with Merab Dvalishvili as an “all or nothing” situation, Henry Cejudo has reversed his decision to retire for a second time. Instead, the former two-division titleholder will look to bounce back inside the Octagon and he already has a couple of big names in mind.

“There’s still that (Sean) O’Malley fight,” Cejudo said in a video on his YouTube channel. “I still don’t think O’Malley’s going to get past ‘Chito.’ We could potentially headline something like that in Phoenix.”

O’Malley is currently scheduled to defend his bantamweight title against Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera in the UFC 299 headliner on March 9. Should ‘Sugar’ retain his title against the only make to have beaten him inside the Octagon, ‘Triple C’ already has a contingency plan in place.

“There’s that fight with Brandon Moreno,” Cejudo said. “There’s that bad blood that, you know, former training partners that were somewhat best friends leading up to the breakup, to having a good, nice little Mexican showdown for all you fans” (h/t MMA Junkie).

Will Cejudo Drop Down to Flyweight for Grudge Match with Moreno?

Cejudo has called for a clash with Moreno on more than one occasion after going their separate ways, though it’s unclear if he would be willing to drop down to flyweight to meet ‘The Assassin Baby’ for a potential grudge match. The last time Cejudo competed at 125, it was for a title defense against T.J. Dillashaw in 2019.

Moreno is scheduled to headline UFC’s return to Mexico on Saturday, February 24 against familiar foe Brandon Royval in the evening’s main event while Cejudo is fresh off a unanimous decision loss to the No. 1 ranked bantamweight contender in the world.

Cejudo has now lost back-to-back bouts since returning from a three-year-long layoff. ‘Triple C’ previously stated that a loss against ‘The Machine’ would send him back into retirement, but he has since rescinded the claim.