RIO DE JANEIRO – According to UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo, the biggest change in three-time opponent Brandon Moreno over the span of their trilogy-going-on-tetralogy is fear level.
“I’m Brandon’s nightmare,” Figueiredo told reporters including MMA Junkie at a UFC 283 pre-fight news conference Wednesday. “Unfortunately, this is the only fight the UFC has to sell: Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno. … I think the biggest difference is his fear of me. He can’t stand me and I think that’s what makes the biggest difference.”
The lifetime series between Figueiredo (21-2-1 MMA, 10-2-1 UFC) and Moreno (20-6-2 MMA, 8-3-2 UFC) is all even at 1-1-1. The two fighters drew the first time out. Moreno won the rematch by submission. Then, Figueiredo defeated Moreno via unanimous decision. During this time, both men’s popularity increased, but in particular Moreno, who became the first Mexican champion in promotion history. Large crowds of Mexican fans made sure to attend and make their presence known in the most recent two head-to-head matchups, which took place in Glendale, Ariz. and Anaheim, Calif..
