LAS VEGAS – Brandon Moreno is days away from his first UFC title fight that one way or another doesn’t have ties with Deiveson Figueiredo.
The Mexican star has been in five UFC flyweight championship bouts, and Saturday night he’ll clock in his sixth when he faces Alexandre Pantoja in the co-main event of UFC 290 at the T-Mobile Arena. Four of the five title bouts were against Figueiredo and the other was an interim title fight against Kai Kara-France, which led to the final fight against Figueiredo.
Now fighting Pantoja (25-5 MMA, 9-3 UFC), Moreno (21-6-2 MMA, 9-3-2 UFC) is thankful for the rivalry, as it elevated his career, but glad it’s no longer a thing.
“Let’s go!,” Moreno said at Wednesday’s UFC 290 media day when asked about not having Figueiredo as a rival. “I always answer the same. I’m very grateful with Deiveson for what we did in the UFC and MMA, for our careers and the history of the sport, but of course, I feel happy at the same time to fight with another guy. I felt this kinda fresh air when I fought Kai Kara-France in Dallas and this one is the same. I feel very good.”
Although the Pantoja matchup is bringing some relief for Moreno, this isn’t a fresh matchup. Moreno has fought Pantoja twice – once in an exhibition bout during The Ultimate Fighter 24 in 2016 and the other in a professional bout in 2018 at UFC Fight Night 129. Moreno lost both contests.
Despite the history, the fight against Pantoja is not personal for Moreno and has had a very respectful buildup, unlike the series with Figueiredo.
“Sorry if I’m not this guy who talks sh*t on social media or tries to make some drama, but at the end that works for me,” Moreno said. “The people love what I’m doing because it’s real, it’s natural. It’s nothing personal against Pantoja.
“For sure, there’s a competitive part of myself knowing he beat me twice in the past. It gives me a different flavor. But at the same time, I’m thinking about the opportunity, if you beat Alexandre Pantoja at the T-Mobile Arena, International Fight Week – man, your legacy. I’m just very focused on that last goal, to win my second, first title defense.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 290.
