Issue 208
August 2024
Through an exclusive interview with Brandon Moreno’s coach, Kyle Dimond explores the making of Mexico’s first champion and how it changed the country.
With UFC 306 billed as a celebration of Mexican combat sports, the nation has never been more relevant in MMA. Every movement needs its breakthrough moment, and this era of growth in Mexican MMA can be traced back to UFC 263, when Brandon Moreno became the first Mexican-born UFC champion. Moreno’s career perfectly encapsulates the legacy of combat sports in his home country. It’s a story of heart and resilience, which made him the perfect athlete to tread new ground and help usher in a golden era.
THE DAY IS ALWAYS DARKEST BEFORE THE DAWN
“I want to say something. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, and maybe not the next month. Only one thing is true: I will be champion one day. I promise, I promise.”
These are the words Brandon Moreno spoke following his third-consecutive UFC win. However, much like his introduction to the promotion where he debuted inside the Octagon while the series of The Ultimate Fighter was still airing, Moreno’s next steps were unpredictable. He would suffer back-to-back defeats before being cut from the UFC roster. At the time, the promotion’s flyweight division was a difficult place. Some of the best 125-pound fighters suffered similar fates, more reflective of the UFC’s plans for the weight class than the athletes' skill. However, Moreno wasn’t going to go away that easily. During an interview on The Fight With Teddy Atlas in 2021, Moreno described this period of his life as like a snowball where one hurdle seemed to give way to the next.
“2018 was the worst year of my life so far, and in that moment, every single morning, when I wake up in the morning I was thinking, ‘Oh man, I can’t do this anymore.’ I just feel like I don’t believe in myself. It was a hard time. But, at the end of the day, I have a hate-love relationship with that year because I hated the year because it was really hard but at the same time, that gives me much experience in my life.”
NEVER SAY DIE, NEVER BACK DOWN
Around this time, Moreno’s story crossed paths with his now long-time manager and close friend, Jason House. House signed the Mexican fighter to his stable, Iridium Sports Agency, after constant pressure from his wife. The two developed a very close relationship, and at one point, Moreno lived with House and his family, so he enjoyed this rollercoaster journey with him. After returning to the win column by becoming the LFA flyweight champion, Moreno was given a second chance in the UFC. Following a draw and a few wins, he got into contention for a title shot in short succession. Speaking to Fighters Only, Moreno’s manager reflected on what it was like to get the opportunity of a lifetime with little time to prepare.
“I wouldn’t call it bittersweet,” says House. “Brandon is such an amazing athlete that whether he had eight weeks or eight days to prepare for a fight, he’s still going to be one of the very best on the planet and more than worthy to win the belt on any given night. It wasn’t under ideal circumstances, but Brandon is someone who always sees the glass as being half full, and he tends to relish in those types of opportunities. That’s one of the best fights in the history of the UFC, and definitely one of the most memorable. I’m thankful that I had the opportunity to be in Brandon’s corner for that fight. It was one of the best experiences of my career.”
What followed would be the breakout moment for Mexican MMA, but this first meeting with Deiveson Figueiredo put Moreno on the map. He showed an unbelievable fighting spirit and toughness to back up his skills. The battle may have ended as a draw but Moreno was the people’s champion heading into the rematch.
THE NIGHT OF A LIFETIME
When Brandon Moreno made the rematch walk at UFC 263, it was clear the Moreno who Deiveson Figueiredo would be facing was a different fighter from the one he had battled six months prior. Moreno looked focused on doing everything he could to become the first-ever Mexican-born UFC champion. When pressed, House agrees that he could feel a change in his attitude heading into the rematch.
“Definitely,” said House. “As easy going, relaxed, and funny as Brandon is at almost all times, it was clear when you were with him that he wasn’t going to be denied in his rematch. I feel like he turned a corner in his career heading into the rematch. So many times leading up to it he’d message me out of the blue. His confidence had reached a whole new level, and the first fight confirmed in his mind that he could be a UFC world champion.”
His performance in the co-main event that night may still be Moreno’s best display in the Octagon. Despite knowing he could go to war, Moreno was successful without compromising himself in the process. He was a step ahead of the flyweight champion and would submit him in the third round, making him the first person to finish ‘Deus Da Guerra.’
The following moments are sure to give any sports fan goosebumps. After returning to his feet, Moreno slowly looked at the fans, taking in everything before the emotions overtook him. House describes this as one of the best nights of his life. He believes this moment, combined with his iconic post-fight interview where he screamed 'Viva Mexico' into the mic, made him an overnight superstar.
“His stock rose tremendously in the first fight, but it definitely reached another level when he won the belt,” says House. “Brandon has always been a fan-favorite fighter for obvious reasons, but bringing home the belt elevated him to a much higher level. His post-fight speech is so iconic for fans all over the world. When you combine an amazing performance with an amazing post-fight speech, it really becomes a surreal moment.”
BOXING IN THEIR BLOOD
Whenever he was asked what his title win meant for Mexico, Moreno would refer to how young the sport of MMA still is. Mexico has always been well-represented in combat sports. After all, boxing is the national sport. The country has produced so many iconic world champions in the ring, but because of how prominent boxing is, it took a while for MMA to achieve the same success. Even Moreno only ended up pursuing MMA because that was his nearest gym.
“Obviously, I have too much respect for guys like Cain Velasquez, like Henry Cejudo, they put too much work in the sport for my country too,” says House.
Moreno reflected in his post-event press conference after UFC 263, “Cain Velasquez bring the UFC to Mexico in 2014, that was amazing, they put the martial arts in Mexico on another level. But me, I born in Tijuana. I grew up there, I went to the school there. I suffered the bad opportunities, fucking government there, the huge companies don’t put support into sports, especially in the mixed martial arts because it’s a new sport for the country. So, man, I know that with this belt, I put the sport in other level, and that makes me feel amazing.”
THE FOREVER FIRST-EVER
Brandon Moreno’s legacy would not end there. After losing the flyweight title in another rematch with Deiveson Figueiredo, he would finally call an end to the feud by beating him in the UFC’s first-ever quadrilogy to become a two-time champion. While he’s currently coming off consecutive defeats, Moreno has accomplished all this while still being 30 years old. As for his lasting impact, whether he has the belt or not, no one will ever take ‘first-ever’ away from him. In the three years since he became the flyweight champion, two more Mexican-born fighters have held UFC gold: Yair Rodríguez and Alexa Grasso.
The most significant change will be felt in the next decade when the next generation of Mexican fighters starts to make their names in the sport. Talented athletes saw what Moreno could do despite coming from humble beginnings, being cut from the UFC, and fighting to a draw in his first title shot. Through his story and accomplishments, there will be young people in Mexico who may have found themselves gravitating towards soccer or boxing before watching him compete inside the Octagon. Not only will they instead divert their attention to MMA, but they will do so with the confidence and drive of seeing someone like them accomplish incredible things by staying the course.
“I’ve been all over the world with Brandon, and he always gets such an amazing reception wherever we go,” says House. “It says so much about the kind of person that Brandon is when you see the emotion that comes out of his fans when they have the opportunity to be in his presence.”
House adds that there is nothing quite like seeing the adoration he gets from his home country.
“He’s like a superhero in Mexico and throughout Latin America. I’ve never seen a country latch onto someone quite like Mexico has with Brandon. We’ll see his impact on MMA in the region forever. There’s always room for growth, and the scene is still rapidly growing in Mexico. Brandon and Alexa have done incomparable things for the sport in Mexico, and the next generation – the athletes that they’ve directly influenced over the last few years – are going to carry that torch and take it to even greater heights in the years to come.”
FOR EVER INSPIRATION
Brandon Moreno isn’t just the first-ever Mexican-born UFC champion. He’s the perfect fighter to do it. When you think of the traits of all the iconic Mexican boxers through generations, he encapsulates all their best qualities. While he’s one of the best technical fighters in his weight class, what has defined his career is pure resilience over anything else. Moreno lit the torch for others to follow. Whether he has a title or not, he will continue being a massive inspiration to people who can connect with his journey. Most importantly, he is a champion of the people, the first from his country, and he doesn’t need a belt to prove that. No todo lo que brilla es oro. Not all that glitters is gold.
