Deiveson Figueiredo’s team has an interest in a fourth fight against Brandon Moreno.
At UFC 270, Figueiredo regained the UFC flyweight championship with a decision victory over Moreno. That bout was their third time meeting in the cage since they first got paired up in late 2020.
After three meetings, a fourth one might be in the future. Figueiredo and his manager, Wallid Ismail, spoke about the possibility of a fourth fight recently. When weighing what would be next for his client, Ismail said whatever matchup makes the most money is their priority.
When putting those priorities first, Moreno remained as the optimal opponent for Figueiredo.
“This is what he said. He wants to sell a lot of pay-per-views. He wants to show the world to respect the flyweight division,” said Ismail on The MMA Hour. “He wants somebody who knows how to sell, knows how to talk. This is what he keeps saying all the time: who sells better [is] going to be my opponent … Personally, I think the [next] fight is Moreno because no fight is going to sell more [than] that.”
Figueiredo’s Manager: He Deserves ‘Historic’ Pay For Next Fight
Ismail believes that a potential fourth fight between Figueiredo and Moreno should give them bigger paydays.
“If UFC want to do something historic, let’s go pay historic money for [the] flyweight division,” said Ismail.
For reference, Figueiredo was paid a flat rate of $150,000 for his appearance at UFC 270. Moreno, the champion heading into the fight, was given $200,000. Their previous meeting, which took place at UFC 263, saw Figueiredo reportedly take home $210,000.
When asked on The MMA Hour how much he would want for his next fight, Figueiredo suggested $1 million.
Would you be interested in seeing Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno for the fourth time?
Brandon Moreno and Deiveson Figueiredo have had their fair share of tense moments, but that doesn’t mean they don’t respect each other.
Moreno looked to end his saga with Figueiredo victoriously inside the Octagon at UFC 270. However, it wasn’t meant to be, as Figueiredo earned a unanimous decision win and landed more damage throughout the fight.
Moreno and Figueiredo had their back-and-forths ahead of the event, mostly focused around Moreno’s past training with Henry Cejudo and Figueiredo’s move to train with him in Arizona.
“You know, I said this before, and I still think the same, I really think he’s (Figueiredo) a nice guy, he’s a good person, but with crazy and bad people around him who say like, ‘Hey, you need to sell the fight and you need to say this, you need to say that.’” Moreno said.
“Even like, in the press conference, he looks like, very fake, all the trash talk. That’s why I was like, ‘Man, why do you do it? Why are you trying so hard to impress the people here man?’ That’s what I said before, I don’t need that in my life, man. I prefer to be real with the people. This is who I am. Love me or hate me, but it’s this.”
While UFC President Dana White has yet to confirm whether a fourth fight between the two is next, it certainly makes sense. The first fight was a majority draw followed by wins by Moreno and Figueiredo, respectively.
The Moreno-Figueiredo rivalry has added new excitement to the flyweight division. Despite their mutual competitive respect for one another, it appears as if this story has yet to be fully written.
Do you think we’ll see Brandon Moreno vs. Deiveson Figueiredo 4 next?
After five rounds of back-and-forth action, the judges were needed to decide who left Anaheim with the flyweight gold. With 48-47 scores across the board, “Deus Da Guerra” etched his name into the history books as the promotion’s first-ever two-time 125-pound king.
While Moreno performed admirably, even doing enough to win in the eyes of some, and kept the fight extremely close with his volume and speed, it was Figueiredo’s power that proved to be the difference, with knockdowns in the third and fifth frames seemingly edging him the co-main event contest.
But having gone the distance with the Brazilian, “The Assassin Baby” believes Figueiredo’s game plan actually involved doing the opposite to his pre-fight trash talk.
“I was saying in interviews, ‘Man, I’m expecting a better Figueiredo, like, more motivated, hungry for success, trying to cut my head off.’ Everything was true, except he never wanted to (finish) me,” Moreno told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. “His game plan was to go the decision and (he) won like that. He never tried to really finish the fight. He connected with me and got some knockdowns, but I feel like that wasn’t the real game plan.”
While the trilogy contest brought a lot to the cage, one thing it didn’t do was provide closure for the rivalry. With the score now at 1-1-1 and with Moreno calling for a fourth clash later this year, it appears the pair could make history with a tetralogy.
But with contenders like Askar Askarov, Alexandre Pantoja, and Kai Kara-France waiting in the wings, it remains to be seen whether the UFC will favor an immediate fourth fight or if it’ll choose to venture to new matchups first instead.
Would you like to see Brandon Moreno vs. Deiveson Figueiredo 4?
UFC Flyweight Champion Deiveson Figueiredo believes he’d have only needed another 30 seconds to have finished arch-rival Brandon Moreno in round three at UFC 270.
At the opening pay-per-view of 2022, Moreno and Figueiredo met for the third time. While the Mexican was aiming to cement his status as reigning 125-pound king and turn the page on the Figueiredo chapter of his career, the Brazilian was hoping to become the first two-time flyweight titleholder in UFC history and regain his place on the throne.
One of the pivotal rounds in the co-main event was the third. In a close frame, Figueiredo gained the momentum and almost finished the fight in the closing seconds after dropping Moreno with a flush right hand. Despite locking in what appeared to be a tight guillotine choke, “The Assassin Baby” survived thanks to the round-ending horn.
During his appearance at the post-fight press conference, Figueiredo was asked what he felt at that moment and whether he thought he was close to the finish. The newly-crowned champ suggested if there were another 30 seconds in the round, the fight wouldn’t have gone beyond the third stanza.
“You know, if it was 30 seconds more, I feel that I would have gotten him,” said Figueiredo. “I think that he lost his senses a little bit. He looked like he was not feeling too well there. He was kind of saved by the buzzer, and I do feel like his soul left his body. I do feel that with 30 seconds, I would’ve just killed that guy.”
While we certainly had another intriguing clash added to the history books for Figueiredo and Moreno’s rivalry, one thing we didn’t get was closure to it. With the score now at 1-1-1, it stands to reason the pair will meet for a historical fourth contest down the line, maybe even immediately.
However, with top contenders like Askar Askarov, Alexandre Pantoja, and Kai Kara-France all hoping to stake their claim for a title shot, perhaps the UFC will choose to divert from Figueiredo vs. Moreno 4 for the time being.
Would you like to see Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno 4?
Chael Sonnen isn’t a fan of Brandon Moreno’s fighting style.
At UC 270, Moreno suffered a decision loss to Deiveson Figueiredo in their trilogy match to lose his flyweight title. For Sonnen, he wasn’t surprised Moreno lost, as he says his style is completely wrong.
“He’s been a complete dud. There is nothing even good about his fighting style except for his offense. Oh boy, is his offense on point,” Sonnen said on his YouTube channel (via PunditArena). “His stance is wrong, his motion is wrong. Do not be an aspiring fighter and go watch Moreno and then go do it.”
Sonnen believes the way Moreno holds his hands was the reason he lost the fight as it allowed Figueiredo to connect on shots that dropped him. Had the Mexican not been dropped, says Sonnen, he would’ve won the fight.
The former UFC title challenger questions Brandon Moreno’s defense and says it is a big issue the Mexican needs to change.
Brandon Moreno
“The son (of a) b***h fights with his hands right here [below his face]. It’s like he’s peaking out from under a blanket just making sure you have all the good stuff to hit. Why not just put your hands down,” Sonnen said of Moreno. “If your hands are not in front of your face, why not just put them down? It’s infuriating to watch but his offense is good, I got to give him that. He’s quick, he’s tough as an old leather boot. There’s a lot of compliments I could give him. But world champion? Come on, man. No.”
With the loss, Moreno drops to 19-6-2 as a pro and never successfully defended his flyweight title. It’s uncertain if he will get an immediate rematch, which would be the fourth fight between him and Figueiredo. If that fight is made once again, Sonnen hopes the Mexican makes a serious change to his style to keep his hands up to avoid Figueiredo’s power shots.
What do you make of Chael Sonnen’s criticism of Brandon Moreno?
Deiveson Figueiredo has dismissed Brandon Moreno’s post-fight comments following UFC 270.
The co-main event of UFC 270 was supposed to put an end to the ongoing trilogy between Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno; however, it might have done the opposite. In the third meeting between these two men, it was Figueiredo who walked away with the victory. Now, they are both 1-1-1 in the trilogy.
Moreno believed that he won the last bout, but Figueiredo thinks he is just being dramatic, despite this fact he would entertain another matchup down the road.
“It was 4-1, I mean, there were five knockdowns, it was 4-1,” Figueiredo said following UFC 270 (via MMAFighting.com). “They could have just gotten me every round… Okay cry baby, let’s take it up at the next one man, let’s take it up at the next one.”
Figueiredo regained his lost flyweight title with this UFC 270 win over Moreno. Not only did he regain the belt, but he might have gained some confidence as well. The first time he faced Moreno, the result was a majority draw, the second was a loss. Now he is holding the belt and ready to defend and move forward.
This three-fight set between Figueiredo and Moreno locked up the flyweight division for over a year. In that time, contenders such as Askar Askarov, Alexandre Pantoja, and Kai Kara France were making names for themselves. Figueiredo seems open to running it back a fourth time with Moreno, and Moreno is willing, but the UFC may decide to move on with the decision.
Figueiredo became champion when he defeated Joseph Benavidez at UFC Fight Night 172. He could have been champ even before that had he not missed weight at UFC Fight Night 169. He defended his title once before the draw with Moreno. Now will be his chance to show he is a true champion at 125 pounds, which may include fighting some different contenders before a fourth Moreno fight.
Do you think the UFC should book the fourth fight between Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno right away?
Brandon Moreno admits he was surprised when Deiveson Figueiredo was declared the winner in their trilogy fight.
In the co-main event for UFC 270, Moreno fought a five-round war against Figueiredo. The fight, which was the third consecutive meeting between the fighters, was Moreno’s chance to defend his UFC Flyweight Championship for the first time.
After a battle that saw both fighters have strong moments, Moreno believed he was about to get his arm raised. When reflecting on the fight, Moreno felt that performance didn’t feel like previous losses he took in his career.
“It’s a weird feeling because it’s the first time in my life when I lost a decision but I felt like I won, you know?” said Moreno during the UFC 270 post-fight press conference. “I remember my last two losses, against Alexandre Pantoja or against Sergio Pettis, I mean, I knew in that moment I lost. I was like ‘Okay, this feels like sh*t,’ but I knew I lost. But this time I felt like I won.”
While Moreno thought he was the winner, he isn’t mad about the outcome of the fight. He knows the performance was a back-and-forth fight between him and Figueiredo, and that it was a close fight in the end.
“It is what it is because I was in a really hard fight. He had his own moments too and I have to recognize that,” Moreno said. “I don’t want to be that kind of guy who starts to put excuses. Because I felt like Deiveson did an amazing job, put a better game plan. I just want to go to the gym, spend time with my family, and watch the fight again and be back stronger.”
Were you surprised when Deiveson Figueiredo was announced as the winner?
UFC 270 was the first pay-per-view event of the new year and came in with two title fights for UFC fans. A fight for the undisputed UFC heavyweight title and a third flyweight title fight to settle who the “King of the flies” is once and for all.
There was a lot to take away from UFC 270, here are some things that stood out.
COVID Protocols
The UFC has new protocols in place for 2022. MMA Junkie obtained a copy of the memo sent to fighters on the UFC roster to let them know how they have to roll if they want to rock on fight week. In short, fighters and their corners have to take three pre-fight tests for the fight week of their scheduled events. One at-home test before showing up, one upon arrival, and one after weighing in. That’s three chances to lose fights for future events so, fans should keep their fingers crossed for fighters on cards being announced this year.
Lost Some
Speaking of losing fights, the UFC had to scratch quite a few bouts from UFC 270. Whittled down to 11 bouts the first pay per view of the year, as well as the previous weekend’s event lost fights for various reasons, including the above protocols. When thinking about that, the pay-per-view price increase for this year is really hard to swallow.
Night of Something Strange
UFC press conferences in the past have usually been about the fighters, their antics, and trash talk to get fans riled up for a fight. Lately, not just this last one for UFC 270 it seems to be becoming a platform for members of the media to try and get their 15 minutes of fame. Questions obviously aimed at antagonizing fighters seem to keep happening more and more, but it seems any attention is good attention for the UFC— but is it good for MMA?
Victor Henry
What are the ingredients to make a “fight of the night” candidate? An underdog and a favorite, a high pace, and the fight going the distance. This fight featured all three and with Henry a +375 underdog, him winning and pushing the pace made this fight one that put Victor Henry’s name on the radar for UFC fans. Raoni Barcelos fought well and was a -510 favorite, but after watching this fight, you’d wonder who’s making odds over at Draftkings?
Usually, a trilogy settles a rivalry in combat sports. However, when one is a draw, Brandon Moreno wins the second match, and Deiveson Figueiredo wins the third. These great flyweights are 1-1 against each other. Another one has to happen to truly close the book on who the true flyweight king is. For now, it is Figueiredo but you’d be hard-pressed to find someone against seeing them fight for the title again. This was the official “Fight of the Night.”
Francis Ngannou cemented his position as the most dangerous man in MMA by defeating the Interim Champion Cyril Gane. So, where does he go from here? He is still the champion but when asked in his post-fight interview by Joe Rogan, he clearly seems to want to try boxing. However, he also said he hurt his ACL and MCL in training which is likely why he wrapped both knees for this match with compression wraps.
You Put it On Him
Photo via MMAJunkie
For winners of title fights, it is usually Dana White that wraps the belt around the champion when the announcement is made in the cage. However, when Ngannou won the decision in the main event, it was UFC Matchmaker Mick Maynard who put the belt on him.
There’s obviously more to take away from this event than what is listed here. Especially when it comes to the heavyweight division. Ngannou’s injuries obviously need time and the business between him and the UFC needs to be discussed. Dana White did not attend the post-fight press conference, which is usually something he does come to. Could be telling of the future.
The trilogy fight for the flyweight title between Brandon Moreno and Deiveson Figueiredo was just as good as their past two fights.
The two fighters met in a bout on Saturday night (January 22, 2022) at the UFC 270 pay-per-view event from Anaheim, California at the Honda Center. The first round saw Moreno catch him a few times, but was taken down only to roll through to his feet while Figueiredo had his back.
The second round saw Moreno stuff two takedown attempts and cracked him a few times with shots. The third round was wild as both were hurting each other in it. Figueiredo dropped him with a massive right hand then went for a guillotine choke, but the bell sounded. The fourth round was a close striking match.
The fifth round was crazy as they both caught each other at the end of the round and had a wild exchange with 30 seconds left. Figueiredo got the decision to win the flyweight title.
Peep the highlights of the fight courtesy of the UFC’s official Twitter account:
Their first fight took place at UFC 256 in December 2020 where they went to a majority draw. Their second fight was the UFC 263 co-main event in June 2021 where Moreno locked in a rear-naked choke for the win to become the new champion.
Before the first fight, Figueiredo was on a four-fight win streak. He got a first-round submission win over Alex Perez at UFC 255, a KO win over Joseph Benavidez at the UFC on ESPN+ 30 event from Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island aka Fight Island, another TKO win over Benavidez in February 2020, a decision win over Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 240 and then a submission victory over Tim Elliott in October 2019.
On the flip side heading into their first fight, Moreno had three straight wins including two back-to-back decision wins over Kai Kara-France at UFC 245 and Jussier Formiga in March 2020 before knocking out Brandon Royval at UFC 255.
Let’s see how the fighters reacted to the outcome of this fight:
Low leg kicks of Figueirdo landing….let see how Moreno ressponds. #ufc270
Tonight at UFC 270, Brandon Moreno will look to retain the UFC flyweight championship against Deiveson Figueiredo to bring a close to their trilogy in his favor. As you’ll find in the following article from last year, there hasn’t been much love lost between these two competitors in quite some time.
The following article is brought to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.
[ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MAY 31, 2021, 8:13 PM]
Headline: Brandon Moreno Declares Figueiredo To Be Ugly, Dumb, & An A**hole
Author: Doug Murray
There is no love lost between flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo and Mexican challenger Brandon Moreno ahead of their UFC 263 showdown.
Last time, Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno met at UFC 256 last December where the fight became an instant candidate for “fight of the year” honors. Despite the fight between Figueiredo and Moreno not having a clear winner, there is an unsatiable appetite to see these two flyweights run it back. After all, since their last bout ended in a majority draw, it’s only right that these two fighters square up again to determine who is the rightful undisputed champion.
Going toe-to-toe for twenty-five hard minutes, each fighter had big moments in the first fight. However, it was the champion’s right-hand piston that continued to stagger Moreno throughout the night. As the rematch approaches, Moreno had no kind words for the champion leading up to their rematch on June 13 in Phoenix Arizona in front of a sold-out crowd.
“Man, I told you, the guy’s not really smart. He’s an asshole and it’s fine, I don’t care. He’s ugly. Man, the guy’s so ugly. My goodness. I can’t believe it,” Moreno said to TMZ Sports.
It seems Brandon Moreno didn’t have anything nice to say when asked about fighting the champion in June. In fact, it seems some animosity is building between the two flyweights as we lead into their last few weeks of fight camp.
Overall, the initial fight was closely contested and for the first time in many ways, fans got to see Figueiredo fight out of some bad positions. In particular, Moreno was able to time and score some effective takedowns. For the most part, “Deus Da Guerra” managed to get back to his feet pretty quickly, but the takedown pressure certainly wore on the Brazilian champion as the rounds progressed. Undoubtedly, it will be interesting to see how each fighter approaches the rematch since the first fight was razor close.
Who is your pick in the flyweight title fight between Brandon Moreno and Deiveson Figueiredo?
UFC Flyweight Champion Brandon Moreno is expecting a completely different version of his rival Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 270.
Moreno earned the title over Figueiredo at UFC 263 last year in a dominant performance that led to a submission victory. He and Figueiredo fought to a majority draw in their first matchup, with Figueiredo retaining the belt.
Now that Moreno is the flyweight champion, he appears extra focused ahead of his massive trilogy with Figueiredo. It’s arguably one of the biggest trilogies in UFC history and the first of its kind in the flyweight division.
But Moreno’s game plan might change a bit entering UFC 270. During his UFC 270 pre-fight press conference, he alluded to expecting a different Figueiredo this time around.
“I’m expecting, maybe a combination of both. You know, with Figueiredo trying to be a little bit more smart,” Moreno said. “But at the same time, trying to get that skill… I feel like the biggest ability of Figueiredo is he’s big, he punch hard, and he’s very intimidating, you know, he tried to intimidate all of his opponents in the Octagon. So I’m expecting the same wild fighter, but a little bit more smart, at the same time.”
Brandon Moreno Had A Long Road To The Title
After falling short of a championship on The Ultimate Fighter, Moreno had to take the long journey to the title shot in the UFC. He went on to win his first few UFC bouts, before back-to-back losses to Alexandre Pantoja and Sergio Pettis.
This would prove to be a turning point in Moreno’s career. He would go on to earn dominant wins over the likes of former LFA champion Brandon Royval, Kai Kara-France, and Jussier Formiga in the Octagon.
Moreno also used to train with former flyweight champion Henry Cejudo, before their alleged falling out. Figueiredo now trains with Cejudo and has called for revenge on behalf of the former flyweight king.
Moreno’s journey to champion status has been unique, but arguably the toughest part of his quest looms ahead of his trilogy with Figueiredo. With another win over the former champion, he can cement himself as an all-time great flyweight.
What is your prediction for Brandon Moreno vs. Deiveson Figueiredo 3?
The first time these two fought each other the bout ended in a majority draw in which Figueiredo kept the title. The second time Moreno won decisively with a third-round submission. The UFC surprisingly decided to run this back for a third time immediately.
The fight could have never been made at all because there were rumblings of Figueiredo moving to bantamweight after the loss and brutal weight cut prior to UFC 263. Moreno was surprised to learn this but remains willing to help Figueiredo with the move this Saturday.
“Yes, at first I was a little bit surprised, but at the end of the day, the first fight was incredible, second fight was total domination, but maybe the trilogy can be nice to finish the job in the third fight and put Deiveson in the 135-pound division,” Moreno told MMA Fighting.
Figueiredo has been teasing a move to bantamweight. He has historically had a difficult time making the 125-pound limit in his time at flyweight. For his first title fight against Joeseph Benavidez, Figueiredo missed weight and although he was victorious, he was unable to win the belt due to missing weight.
If he loses to Moreno once again, he might have an easier time gaining another title shot if he does make the jump up ten pounds, at least as long as Moreno is on top.
Do you think Deiveson Figueiredo will leave the flyweight division with a loss at UFC 270?
While he’s got the challenge of long-time rival Deiveson Figueiredo in front of him this weekend, UFC Flyweight Champion Brandon Moreno is also aware of the other threats to his reign the 125-pound division boasts.
Making the most of his opportunity, and riding the confidence he gained in his five-round FOTY contender with the Brazilian, Moreno delivered one of the best performances of 2021 inside Arizona’s Gila River Arena.
After taking control of the contest in the opening two rounds, the 28-year-old made history in the third frame by becoming the first Mexican-born UFC champion. To achieve the feat, he forced Figueiredo to tap out to a tight rear-naked choke.
After his performance last time out, the champion will head into the PPV clash as the favorite. Nevertheless, Figueiredo’s form before meeting the Mexican in 2020 was remarkable, and he appears to be in the best shape of his career and without the weight-cutting issues that have previously hampered his camp.
While “The Assassin Baby” is certainly not taking “Deus Da Guerra” lightly and acknowledges the challenge he has in front of him, as an analyst as well as a fighter, he’s not afraid to take a quick look towards the future.
During his appearance at UFC 270 media day on Wednesday, Moreno assessed the landscape of the flyweight division and named four possible next contenders for the title should he get past his Brazilian foe on January 22.
“I mean, Askar Askarov has an important fight against Kara-France. So, the winner of that fight can be the next one,” said Moreno. “Pantoja is definitely a possibility; he beat me twice in the past. Alex Perez is there too. Kara-France needs to beat Askar Askarov, but his last performance against Cody Garbrandt looked impressive. So, man, right now I’m very focused on Figueiredo, but I’m a Spanish analyst too, so I love to watch the other contenders in my division, and I can see these names (challenging for the title) in the future.”
Out of the top flyweights he named, Moreno has fought all but one, with the only omission on his record being Alex Perez.
The Mexican fought Askarov and Kara-France in his first two appearances back in the UFC after being re-signed in 2019. After a split draw against the Russian, Moreno took a big step towards title contention by recording a unanimous decision victory over the New Zealander less than three months later.
Prior to those triumphs and before his surge to the top, Moreno was released from the UFC following a loss on the scorecards to Pantoja. The setback represented his second defeat to the Brazilian, having been submitted by him on The Ultimate Fighter: Tournament of Champions in 2016.
Discussing the idea that the victor of Askarov vs. Kara-France, set to go down on March 26, could be next, Moreno broke down which rematch would be best. For the fans, the champ believes another clash with Kara-France would be more appealing. But for himself and his legacy, Moreno believes a victory over “Bullet” would do more.
“So, the thing between (Askarov and Kara-France), I fought against Kai Kara-France before and I beat him, like, very clearly. But for the fans, I think the style of Kai Kara-France is better (than Askarov),” added Moreno. “Askarov’s, kind of, these kind of fighters who don’t like, too much, to impress the fans [LAUGHS]. But, I mean, he is winning. So if you talk about which fight is better for the fans, I think (Kara-)France, but I think Askarov is better for my legacy.”
One thing for certain is that whoever emerges victorious will have a plethora of worthy contenders ready to try and unseat them from the flyweight throne later this year.
Who do you think Brandon Moreno should defend the title against next if he can defeat Deiveson Figueiredo again this weekend?
UFC 270 takes place this Saturday, January 22, from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. In the main event, Francis Ngannou will face Ciryl Gane in a heavyweight title unification showdown. The co-main event will see the trilogy bout between flyweight champion Brandon Moreno and his opponent, Deiveson “Deus Da Guerra” Figueiredo.
Each of the above fighters was present during Thursday’s pre-fight press conference. Here were some of the most memorable moments and exchanges from the event.
The Arrivals
Morale is high on the way to the #UFC270 Press Conference 🎙️
UFC Flyweight Champion Brandon Moreno believes the hype surrounding Cody Garbrandt’s move to 125 pounds may have been too much for him.
Moreno is set to face former champion Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 270 in their trilogy. He earned the belt over Figueiredo in their last matchup at UFC 263 via submission.
Moreno understands the ups and downs of the fight game better than most. He went from falling short of The Ultimate Fighter title to winning a championship belt on MMA’s biggest platform.
One of the biggest storylines in his division as of late was the addition of Garbrandt, a former bantamweight champion who entered the flyweight division with expectations. His flyweight debut didn’t go according to plan as he lost via first-round TKO to Kai Kara-France at UFC 269.
Garbrandt’s loss to Kara-France was his fifth over his last six bouts. During a recent interview with MMA Junkie’s Danny Segura, Moreno gave his thoughts on Garbrandt’s troubles in the Octagon.
“It was sad,” Moreno said. “You get carried away by the hype because they start doing all the promos, and they start promoting Cody Garbrandt, and you kind of start believing like, ‘Hey, he could be something interesting in the division.’
“But then what happened happened, and you start reflecting on a sober mind. It was a tough scene for Cody. He was knocked out at 135 pounds. His chin was touched. He cuts the weight – who knows how the brain was? Then you give him a Kai Kara-France, who hits very hard, and I know it because I already fought him. It wasn’t a good situation for him, and it’s sad.” (h/t Bloody Elbow)
Moreno isn’t the only big-name fighter to express sympathy for Garbrandt. Rising bantamweight contender Sean O’Malley went from talking trash to saying he felt badfor Garbrandt in weeks.
Despite his losing skid, Garbrandt has remained optimistic regarding his future at 125 pounds and beyond. A matchup between Moreno and Garbrandt is still possible down the line, depending on how their next Octagon appearances play out.
The mental warfare is in full effect ahead of the trilogy between Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno at UFC 270.
Figueiredo and Moreno will settle the final chapter of their electrifying trilogy to begin 2022. Figueiredo retained the belt via a controversial majority draw at UFC 256, and Moreno submitted him in the rematch at UFC 263.
Tensions have escalated since Moreno earned the belt, and Figueiredo has gotten ready for their trilogy alongside former flyweight champion Henry Cejudo. Moreno and Cejudo used to train together and Figueiredo has alluded to feeling better and healthier with his new team at Fight Ready in Arizona.
“Brandon Moreno is dirty—that’s all I have to say about him,” Figueiredo said. “He’s dirty. He’s a traitor. When I came to Scottsdale, [Ariz. at the Fight Ready gym,] Henry Cejudo told me about his betrayal. He lived with Henry Cejudo here and then became [Joseph] Benavidez’s sparring partner to fight Cejudo, so that was his biggest betrayal.”
Cejudo retired from the UFC following his bantamweight title defense against Dominick Cruz at UFC 249. He has hinted at a possible comeback to challenge for the featherweight title against Alexander Volkanovski.
After Moreno and Cejudo were once teammates, Moreno has recently hinted at a possible showdown with Cejudo shortly. It’s unclear if Cejudo would ever consider returning at 125 pounds or a higher weight class.
Figueiredo and Cejudo have had their fair share of differences in the past, but it appears that the two have become close since training together. The buildup to the trilogy with Moreno could include more intensity than their previous two bouts.
What is your prediction for Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno 3?
Dana White believes UFC Flyweight Champion Brandon Moreno has already established himself as a “huge star” on the global MMA stage.
In 2018, Moreno was cut from the UFC following back-to-back losses to Sergio Pettis and Alexandre Pantoja. Fast forward three-and-a-half years and “The Assassin Baby” sits atop the flyweight mountain having etched his name in history as the promotion’s first Mexican-born titleholder.
Moreno achieved that status at UFC 263 last June. After taking the seemingly-unstoppable Deiveson Figueiredo to a majority draw at UFC 256 six months prior, the Tijuana native earned an immediate rematch.
With his coveted status as Mexico’s first champ, his unique and likeable personality, and his immense ability in the Octagon, Moreno is quickly becoming one of the UFC’s top names and most popular champions.
During a recent interview with Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin Iole, UFC President Dana White was asked if he believes Moreno is on his way to becoming a star. He responded by suggesting “The Assassin Baby” already is one.
“He already is (a star), he already is. I’ve been saying this to everybody,” White said. “Watch Saturday night when that kid comes into the arena. You don’t realize it until you do. We do some of these signings, and things like that with him, this kid’s a huge star and you’re really gonna see it and feel it on Saturday.”
Moreno Is Gearing Up For A 3rd Consecutive Title Fight Against Figueiredo
Having secured his spot on the 125-pound throne in 2021, Moreno’s attention will now turn towards defending the title and further cementing his place at the top of the division.
While Moreno is being seen as the favorite by many, including oddsmakers like Draft Kings, the Brazilian appears to be in fine shape heading into his chance at redemption.
If Figueiredo avoids the weight-cutting issues he claims hampered his UFC 263 outing, we may see “Deus Da Guerra” back to his best on Saturday. If that’s the case, he’ll be a tough man to beat.
Who do you think will emerge victorious in the UFC 270 co-main event, Brandon Moreno or Deiveson Figueiredo?
UFC flyweight Deiveson Figueiredo says he’s going to take 125-pound champion Brandon Moreno’s head off when they meet for the third time at UFC 270.
In 2020, Figueiredo ascended the flyweight mountaintop and looked set for a long reign on the throne. “Deus Da Guerra” brutally finished Joseph Benavidez twice to win gold. The second win was required after the Brazilian missed weight the first time, leaving the title vacant until the summer rematch.
Moreno was initially primed to defend his belt for the first time against former rival Alexandre Pantoja. However, when the #3-ranked contender wasn’t ready for December, the initial targeted date, Figueiredo secured his much-desired shot at redemption. The pair will meet again later this month in the UFC 270 co-main event.
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Figueiredo Promises The Return Of A “Killer” At UFC 270
Given the emphatic nature of his defeat to Moreno last year, Figueiredo should perhaps feel fortunate to find himself in a position to challenge for the belt immediately. Many, including the champ, believed he needed to register a victory over another top contender before jumping back to the front of the queue.
Nevertheless, with his chance for revenge secured, Figueiredo intends on taking full advantage. During an interview with The Schmo, the Brazilian claimed he’ll take Moreno’s head off when they meet on January 22.
“You know, my second fight (with Moreno) I was not good. I did not feel good. But now, with new training, I’m gonna be great,” Figueiredo said via translator Wallid Ismail. “I’m gonna take Brandon Moreno’s head off. This fight is going to be a wonderful fight. I’m very motivated… It’s gonna be the revenge, it’s gonna be big revenge… I’m gonna take his head off and I’m gonna make him pay.”
Discussing how the trilogy contest will differ from the 2021 rematch, Figueiredo suggested Moreno makes a lot of mistakes, something he believes he’s been able to identify during his time at Fight Ready with Henry Cejudo.
That, coupled with better preparation and his belief that the weight cut will go a lot smoother, makes “Deus Da Guerra” confident he’ll leave California’s Honda Center with gold around his waist again.
“Brandon Moreno does a lot of mistakes… this fight’s gonna be completely different. Because now (I have) more time to train, to lose the weight in the right way… This is going to be historic because this is going to be the revenge…
“I’m going to fight in California, It’s going to be a different place. I’m very confident the people of California are gonna like me because they like my style. I’m a killer. I go there to take Brandon Moreno’s head.”
While Moreno and Figueiredo will complete their trilogy in the UFC 270 co-main event, the headliner will see another blockbuster clash. In a heavyweight unification bout, champion Francis Ngannou will face interim titleholder and former teammate Ciryl Gane.
There aren’t many better matchups to set the stage for a main event like that than an animosity-filled trilogy bout…
Who do you think will have their hand raised at UFC 270, Deiveson Figueiredo or Brandon Moreno?
Cody Garbrandt is willing to serve as a backup once his UFC 269 fight is finished.
Cody Garbrandt knows what it is like to have that UFC belt wrapped around his waist. The former bantamweight champion is now looking to add another belt to his mantle. Garbrandt decided to make the drop-down to flyweight and will be making his divisional debut this Saturday at UFC 269. Even though this is s huge moment for him, he can’t help but be ready for another opportunity.
During UFC 269 fight week Garbrandt was asked if he would be willing to be on hand and serve as the backup fighter for the upcoming title bout between champion Brandon Moreno and Deiveson Figueiredo. This is what he told reporters during a media scrum.
“Oh, 100%. That’s what I told Dana, well not Dana, but I was speaking to some media prior to coming here and I said, ‘Hey, we might, on Monday morning, walk in the office and do some business.’ So if that’s what they want me to do,” Garbrandt explained. “Like I said, first and foremost I’m focused on Kai Kara-France and mauling him on Saturday night, and letting the rest fall into place.”
Garbrandt will be taking on #6-ranked Kai Kara-France at UFC 269. Kara-France has been making his way up the flyweight division since he joined the UFC back in 2018. If Garbrandt can pull out the win against the tough New Zealander, he could find himself in the top five and in a good position to fight for the title very soon. His resume as a former champ will help his case when asking for a title shot and being the backup is a good position to be in.
In the past, Figueiredo has seemed to have trouble making the 125-pound flyweight championship weight limit. If he were to miss weight and Garbrandt was on hand he could get the shot he is looking for. Either way, Garbrandt needs a win on Saturday and to come out to the bout without injury. Moreno and Figueiredo are set to clash for the third time at UFC 270.
Do you think Garbrandt has what it takes to win UFC gold in the flyweight division?
UFC Flyweight Champion Brandon Moreno has revealed the important advice his fellow Mexican titleholder Canelo Alvarez gave him.
In one of the most heart-warming title wins of 2021, Moreno reached the 125-pound mountaintop at UFC 263 in June. It came just two years and six fights after he was released by the promotion following back-to-back losses against Sergio Pettis and Alexandre Pantoja.
Having returned to MMA’s biggest stage and built a three-fight winning streak that included triumphs over Kai Kara-France and Brandon Royval, Moreno earned a shot at Deiveson Figueiredo’s gold. At UFC 256 last December, the pair went to war in a Fight of the Year contender, which ended in a majority draw.
After injuries to Askar Askarov and Alexandre Pantoja prevented them from challenging for the title, Moreno will defend his belt for the first time in a trilogy fight against Figueiredo at UFC 270 on January 22.
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Moreno Learned A Thing Or Two From Boxing’s P4P King
Moreno will certainly be looking to put in a similar display when he shares the Octagon with Figueiredo for the third time. And a meeting with fellow Mexican champion Canelo Alvarez would certainly have done no harm to that quest.
A month out from his championship victory, Moreno joined boxing’s pound-for-pound best in the gym. Not only was it an opportunity for the flyweight champ to mingle with his nation’s top sportsman, but it was also a chance for him to learn from one of the greatest pugilists of all time.
“Yes, (it) was my first time (meeting Canelo). I just wanna say, that guy is amazing. He’s a really good guy because, a lot of people thing he’s a little bit like, I don’t know how you say in English, but a bad guy, not a good people, but the guy is serious, definitely is a little bit serious, but he’s very honest and he has a really good vibe. With him, and around him, all the people around him, it’s like, very professional, with really good vibes.”
If Brandon Moreno wasn't dangerous enough already, now he's in the gym, learning from @Canelo 😬
Canelo boasts a remarkable 57-1 record inside the squared circle. His only blemish came at the hands of the consensus greatest of all time Floyd Mayweather. Thanks to wins over the likes of Billy Joe Saunders, Gennady Golovkin, Amir Khan, and Sergey Kovalev, the Mexican became the first boxer in history to become an undisputed champion at super middleweight.
Given Canelo’s incredible success and accomplishments in the ring, it stands to reason not many are more qualified to give lessons on dealing with fame and championship glory. With that in mind, Moreno said the boxing great reminded him to remain focused on his career, even with the “luxury” that will begin to surround him.
“I talked a little bit with him, with Canelo. He give me some advice about, you know, about the success, about the glory, what happens when you have all this success, what happens with the people around you. (He said) ‘You need to be focused on the goal, and you need to be focused in your career with all the luxury around you.’ But man, now I know why the guy is the best in the world right now in boxing.”
With Canelo’s advice under his belt, Moreno will push forward with his reign atop the flyweight throne. Given Figueiredo’s work with former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo, it’ll seemingly be a battle of legends’ advice come January 22.
What do you make of Canelo’s advice for Brandon Moreno?
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