Tag: Brandon Moreno

Video: What Brandon Moreno’s MMA hiatus means for UFC flyweight division

What to make of Brandon Moreno’s surprise announcement? We discuss on “Spinning Back Clique.”

On the latest episode of “Spinning Back Clique,” the panel discusses [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] announcing that he’s stepping away from MMA following his decision loss to Brandon Royval in February.

Moreno (21-8-2 MMA, 9-5-2 UFC), arguably the most popular name in the UFC’s flyweight division, is stepping away from the sport as he needs both a mental and physical break from fighting in the octagon. The former champ gave no timeline on a return, but he did promise he’ll eventually come back to fighting.

MMA Junkie’s Brian “Goze” Garcia, Danny Segura, Nolan King, and host “Gorgeous” George Garcia discussed Moreno’s big news and how it impacts the UFC’s flyweight division.

Watch their discussion in the video above, and also don’t miss this week’s complete episode of “Spinning Back Clique” below on YouTube and in podcast form.

https://youtube.com/live/f9e84PpMjN0

Spinning Back Clique REPLAY: UFC on ESPN 54, Brandon Moreno’s hiatus from MMA, Whittaker-Chimaev, more

On this week’s episode of “Spinning Back Clique,” our panel discusses UFC on ESPN 54, Brandon Moreno’s hiatus from MMA, and more.

Check out this week’s “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly live show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts.

This week’s panel of Brian “Goze” Garcia, Danny Segura, and Nolan King will join host “Gorgeous” George Garcia live at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) to discuss and debate:

  • UFC on ESPN 54 is in the books, and it left plenty to talk about, including [autotag]Manon Fiorot[/autotag]’s win over Erin Blanchfield and where she fits into the title picture at women’s flyweight; [autotag]Joaquin Buckley[/autotag]’s 3-0 start in his return to welterweight; [autotag]Chris Weidman[/autotag]’s controversial win over Bruno Silva and his future in MMA. We recap the main results of Saturday’s event in Atlantic City.
  • Sad news for the men’s flyweight. Arguably the division’s most popular name has announced a hiatus from MMA. Former champion [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] revealed that he’s in need of a break from fighting and that he will be stepping away for some time, but he promises to come back eventually. We react to the news and its impact on the flyweight division.
  • The UFC’s debut event in Saudi Arabia is taking shape. UFC CEO Dana White announced several key matchups for the June 22 event, including a title eliminator bout between [autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag] and [autotag]Khamzhat Chimaev[/autotag] – which will serve as the main event of the card. We break down Whittaker vs. Chimaev, along with the rest of the fights announced.
  • Things got weird earlier this month when [autotag]Igor Severino[/autotag] got disqualified, and later cut from the UFC, after biting his opponent Andre Lima at UFC on ESPN 53. We heard almost immediately after the incident from Lima, UFC CEO Dana White, the Nevada Athletic Commission, but this Severino broke silence in an exclusive interview with MMA Junkie. We discuss the whole incident as well as Severino’s recent comments.

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Ex-UFC champ Brandon Moreno to take time off from MMA: ‘I just need to rest my body and mind’

Feeling the stress and pressure of the past few years, former UFC champ Brandon Moreno announced he’s temporarily stepping away from MMA.

Former UFC flyweight champion [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] is stepping away from MMA – just for a little while.

Moreno has announced that he’ll be taking a temporary leave from his MMA career. He mad it clear this is not a retirement as Moreno (21-8-2 MMA, 9-5-2 UFC) promises he’ll eventually return to the octagon. Moreno made the announcement in a lengthy video posted to his Instagram account Monday.

“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,” Moreno said in Spanish. “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.

“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.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/C486oq5PSIp/

Moreno is coming off a competitive split decision loss to Brandon Royval in February in Mexico City. That five-round defeat came on the heels of another split decision in which he lost his UFC flyweight title to Alexandre Pantoja, which was one of the best fights of 2023.

Apart from the pressure and mileage he’s put on his body, Moreno also said the results have been demoralizing.

“So yeah, what can I say? Even a month after the fight, I’m still digesting it a bit,” Moreno said. “I’m thankful for the beautiful moment because that walk to the octagon in Arena CDMX was super cool. It was something special and very beautiful because the last time I was there was in 2019, and people already knew who I was, and I was getting cheered, but you can’t compare it to this time. Everyone was supporting me and singing my song, and it was beautiful.

“At the same time, it also frustrates me a bit because I tried so hard to win. The camp was very good. I managed to stay away from injuries, and I was able to work very well. I put all my heart to get the win, and it didn’t happen. I now have two consecutive losses, but they’re two weird losses. Those are losses where you can make an argument that I won. Obviously, at the end of the day, a loss is a loss. Even though one guy left to the hospital and the other had to be taken out on a wheelchair out of the arena, I still didn’t get the win. So based on that, there’s work to do.”

Although the video had a somber tone, and it might come off as bad news for Moreno fans, “The Assassin Baby” promises that not only will he be back, but that he’s determined to recover his UFC flyweight title.

“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.

“I just think I’ve reached a limit in my mind, and I’m tired. But outside of that, everything is excellent. I’m happy. I leave with the event on Feb. 24 with all the Mexicans that did get wins: “El Loco” Torres, Daniel Zellhuber, Edgar Chairez, Yazmin (Jauregui), Jesus Aguilar, all of them had the flag up high, and we have to keep supporting them. I know that more Mexican talent is coming, and we’ll see them in big UFC events. So I leave with that and the support. Everyone that supports me is fully on board, and there’s no way I can ever repay that. 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.”

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Steve Erceg explains Brandon Moreno callout after UFC Fight Night 238 victory

Steve Erceg walloped Matt Schnell at UFC Fight Night 238, then called out former champ Brandon Moreno. Here’s why.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Steve Erceg[/autotag] knows if he can beat them, he can join them.

That’s why Erceg (12-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) called out former flyweight champion [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] (21-8-2 MMA, 9-5-2 UFC) on the microphone Saturday at UFC Fight Night 238 following his big knockout of Matt Schnell (16-8 MMA, 6-6 UFC).

“He’s one of the best in the world, a former titleholder,” Erceg told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference. “He’s obviously coming off two losses and I’m looking to get myself into the top five. So I think a win over him not only improves my confidence because I’m beating somebody who was at that level, but really puts me into that title contention picture.”

Moreno, 30, is currently on a two-fight losing skid including a split decision main event loss Feb. 24 to Brandon Royval.

“I didn’t think that was his best performance,” Erceg said. “I don’t know if it was the range that was giving him trouble or – I’m not sure. He looked a little bit sloppy in that fight. Usually, he’s a really good boxer. He looked average last week.”

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If the UFC is as keen on the idea of the proposed matchup as he is, Erceg already has an event and location in mind.

“(I want to return) as soon as possible,” Erceg said. “Obviously, the Sphere (in Las Vegas in September). That’s a huge event. That’s UFC Noche. He’s Mexican. That would be absolutely epic. But if they come to Australia, I’d love to fight in Australia, as well, and have my home crowd cheering me on, getting to see me fight live.”

Erceg, 28, was thrown into the deep end immediately upon his UFC arrival. He fought then-UFC-ranked David Dvorak (and won) in his short-notice promotional debut. He then defeated short-notice newcomer Alessandro Costa prior to Saturday’s KO of Schnell.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 238.

Henry Cejudo: Brandon Moreno struggles to make flyweight, should fight me at bantamweight

Henry Cejudo doesn’t see why Brandon Moreno shouldn’t fight him at bantamweight.

[autotag]Henry Cejudo[/autotag] doesn’t see why [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] shouldn’t fight him at bantamweight.

Moreno (21-8-2 MMA, 9-5-2 UFC) called out Cejudo for a bantamweight bout last May, and Cejudo is willing to fight him at UFC 306 at the Sphere in Las Vegas – also known as “Noche UFC.”

Moreno is coming off a split decision loss to Brandon Royval in the UFC Fight Night 237 main event Saturday at Mexico City Arena. Cejudo (16-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC) says he’s merely responding to Moreno’s prior callout.

“This was Brandon’s idea – I’m just accepting his challenge,” Cejudo told MMA Junkie in an interview to promote his new “Pound for Pound” podcast with Kamaru Usman. “Once I lost to Aljamain Sterling, he says, ‘Henry, don’t retire yet. F the belts, F everything, this isn’t about that, let’s me and you fight.’ And after this fight, just like, ‘All right man.’ I was contemplating retirement, but I just couldn’t – once I watched the fight, I knew the errors, I knew everything pretty much that happened, you know?”

In a recent interview with The Schmo, Cejudo’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, suggested there’s reluctance to make Cejudo vs. Moreno because the UFC thinks “The Assassin Baby” is too small. Cejudo dismissed that notion.

“That’s the stupidest sh*t ever,” Cejudo said. “I know Brandon. The dude struggles to make 125 pounds. He’s too f*cking big. It’s time for him to move up. I’m short. It sucks to make 125 pounds. This is the same reason why I went up (to bantamweight). I think he’ll become more successful, and I personally think he’ll feel better.”

Cejudo contemplated retirement after getting outlasted by Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 298, but quickly changed his tune.

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4 biggest takeaways from UFC Fight Night 237: Is Brian Ortega’s rebirth a title threat?

Analysis of the biggest storylines coming out of UFC Fight Night 237, including the paths of Yair Rodriguez and Brian Ortega.

What mattered most at UFC Fight Night 237 at Mexico City Arena in Mexico? Here are a few post-fight musings …

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UFC Fight Night 237 matchmaker: What’s next for key winners and losers in Mexico City?

Time to play matchmaker for Brandon Royval, Brandon Moreno, Brian Ortega and Yair Rodriguez in the aftermath of UFC Fight Night 237.

After every event, fans wonder whom the winners will be matched up with next.

With another night of UFC action in the rearview mirror, it’s time to look forward, put on a pair of Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard’s shoes, and play UFC matchmaker for UFC Fight Night 237’s key winning fighters.

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UFC Fight Night 237 post-event facts: Yair Rodriguez hits unprecedented career slump

Check out all the facts from UFC Fight Night 237, which saw Yair Rodriguez hit the first losing skid of his career.

The UFC’s final event of February took place Saturday with UFC Fight Night 237 at Mexico City Arena in Mexico.

A flyweight contender re-emerged in the main event, when replacement headliner [autotag]Brandon Royval[/autotag] (16-7 MMA, 6-3 UFC) exacted revenge on former UFC champ [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] (21-8-2 MMA, 9-4-2 UFC) with a split decision victory in their rematch from November 2020.

For more on the numbers to come out of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC Fight Night 237.

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UFC Fight Night 237 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Headliners get combined $17,000

UFC Fight Night 237 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that continued after the UFC’s deal with Venum.

MEXICO CITY – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 237 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $135,500.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC Fight Night 237 took place at Mexico City Arena. The entire card streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC Fight Night 237 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Brandon Royval[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Brian Ortega[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Yair Rodriguez[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Daniel Zellhuber[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Fransisco Prado[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Yazmin Jauregui[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Sam Hughes[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Manuel Torres[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Chris Duncan[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Raoni Barcelos[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Cristian Quinonez[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Jesus Aguilar[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Mateus Mendonca[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Edgar Chairez[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Daniel Lacerda[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Fares Ziam[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Claudio Puelles[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Ronaldo Rodriguez[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Denys Bondar[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Felipe dos Santos[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Victor Altamirano[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Muhammad Naimov[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Erik Silva[/autotag]: $4,000

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2371 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,500; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $42,000 while title challengers get $32,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2024 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $1,228,500
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $23,935,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 237.

UFC Fight Night 237 results: Brandon Royval upsets Brandon Moreno in Mexico

The winner of the UFC Fight Night 237 main event was Brandon, but not the one the Mexico City crowd in attendance hoped for.

The winner of the UFC Fight Night 237 main event was Brandon, but not the one the Mexico City crowd in attendance hoped for.

Saturday at Mexico City Arena, [autotag]Brandon Royval[/autotag] (16-7 MMA, 8-3 UFC) defeated former flyweight champion [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] (21-8-2 MMA, 9-5-2 UFC) by split decision (48-47, 46-49, 48-47).

The five-round non-title affair was filled with high-volume exchanges, despite the elevation. Royval overcame a bothersome left knee, which his Factory X corner iced between rounds, to defeat Moreno with his aggression and boxing.

Moreno was strong early, but as the fight progressed, Royval’s rate of success increased. The fight was razor-close going into the fifth round. Both corners indicated to their fighters the urgency of the moment.

The final minute of the bout was thrilling as the two flyweights wildly chucked fists at each other in a last-ditch effort to make their final impressions of three cage-side judges.

While the “Brandon” that rolled off Bruce Buffer’s tongue caused some confusion, the “Royval” sealed the deal.

The first meeting between the two took place in November 2020 and ended in unfortunate fashion when Royval injured his shoulder, which caused a stoppage with one second left in the first round. The win propelled Moreno to a title tetralogy against Deiveson Figueiredo. Upon his return, Royval went 3-1 en route a title challenge against Alexandre Pantoja, which he lost by unanimous decision in December.

It’s unclear if Royval will be next for Pantoja. UFC CEO Dana White would not commit to who the next flyweight contender is during his post-fight news conference.

Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 237 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 237.