Brandon Moreno: The Story of a Mexican-American MMA Star

Introduction

Brandon Moreno, also known as Brandon Gabriel Moreno Brandon Carrillo Moreno, is a renowned professional mixed martial artist from Mexico. He is currently the two-time UFC Flyweight Champion, competing in the Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Moreno has been a professional mixed martial artist since 2011, and he has also fought for the Legacy Fighting Alliance, where he held the Flyweight Championship title. As of March 7, 2023, he is ranked #10 in the UFC men’s pound-for-pound rankings.

Early Life and Career Beginnings of Brandon Moreno

 Brandon Moreno was born on December 7, 1993, and raised in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. He was brought up in a modest family that operated a piñata business. When he was twelve, Moreno’s desire to lose weight prompted his mother to enroll him in the Entram Gym in his locality, where he started training in mixed martial arts. Despite initially intending to attend law school to become a lawyer, Moreno decided to focus solely on his mixed martial arts career.

Early Career of Brandon Moreno in Mixed Martial Arts

Moreno began his professional MMA career in April 2011 in his native Mexico. Over the next two years, he competed in various promotions and amassed a record of 6 wins and 3 losses. In 2014, Moreno debuted for the World Fighting Federation promotion, where he went undefeated at 5-0 and won the Flyweight championship. This led to him being cast in the Flyweight tournament on the 25th season of The Ultimate Fighter.

 

The Ultimate Fighter

In July 2016, it was revealed that Brandon Moreno was a participant on The Ultimate Fighter: Tournament of Champions. He was selected as a member of Team Benavidez and faced Alexandre Pantoja in the opening stage. Unfortunately, he lost the fight via submission, ending his run on the show.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

In a rare move, Brandon Moreno debuted in the UFC while his season of The Ultimate Fighter was still airing. He faced Louis Smolka at UFC Fight Night: Lineker vs. Dodson on October 1, 2016. Moreno won the fight via submission in the first round, earning his first Performance of the Night bonus award. In his second fight for the promotion, Moreno returned to face Ryan Benoit on December 3, 2016, at The Ultimate Fighter.

Tournament of Champions Finale. He won the fight via split decision. Moreno’s next fight was against Dustin Ortiz on April 22, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 108. He won the fight by submission in the second round, earning another Performance of the Night bonus.

Brandon Moreno faced Sergio Pettis on August 5, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 114. Unfortunately, he lost the fight via unanimous decision. After the fight, Moreno tested positive for clenbuterol from an in-competition urine sample collected on August 6, 2017. However, USADA determined that the presence of clenbuterol in Moreno’s system was likely due to clenbuterol-contaminated meat that he had consumed in Mexico, and he was not punished by USADA.

Moreno was expected to face Ray Borg on April 7, 2018, at UFC 223, but the bout was canceled after Borg was injured by glass from a bus window that was smashed by Conor McGregor. The pairing was left intact and quickly rescheduled, and Moreno was expected to fight Borg on May 19, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 129. However, Borg withdrew from the bout to take care of his child from brain surgery, and Alexandre Pantoja replaced him. Moreno lost the fight by unanimous decision. In an interview in 2019, Moreno revealed that he had been cut from the UFC in late 2018.

 

Post-UFC Career

Following his release from the UFC, Moreno signed a multi-fight contract with the Legacy Fighting Alliance and made his promotional debut against the prevailing Flyweight Champion Maikel Perez at LFA 69 on June 7, 2019. Moreno won the fight via technical knockout in the fourth round.

UFC Return

Moreno returned to the UFC in 2019, facing promotional newcomer Askar Askarov on September 21, 2019.

 Post-Championship trilogy

After winning the interim UFC Flyweight Championship in a rematch against Kai Kara-France at UFC 277 on July 30, 2022, Brandon Moreno continued his post-championship trilogy. This victory marked his third Fight of the Night award and he also received the Crypto.com “Fan Bonus of the Night” awards paid in bitcoin of US$20,000 for second place.

Following this, Moreno faced Deiveson Figueiredo for the undisputed UFC Flyweight Championship for a record-breaking fourth time at UFC 283 on January 21, 2023. Moreno emerged victorious in the fourth round after the ringside doctor stopped the fight due to Figueiredo’s eye swelling shut, thereby winning the undisputed title via technical knockout. This marked the first time in UFC history that two fighters had fought each other four times.

Personal Life of Brandon Moreno

In addition to his successful career in mixed martial arts, Brandon Moreno also leads an interesting personal life. A unique aspect of Moreno’s hobbies is his love for Funko Pop figurines and Lego building sets. He is a passionate collector of both and often shares his latest finds on social media.

Brandon Moreno Stats

Brandon Moreno has a professional MMA record of 21 wins, 5 losses, and 2 draws. Out of his 21 wins, 6 are by knockout, 5 by submission, and 10 by decision. Moreno’s longest win streak is 5, and he has never been knocked out or submitted in his professional career.

Moreno is known for his impressive striking and grappling abilities, with a significant strike accuracy of 37% and a takedown accuracy of 35%. He also has a striking defense of 59% and a takedown defense of 65%, showing his ability to both defend against and execute these techniques in the octagon.

In addition to his impressive stats, Moreno has won several awards throughout his career. He is a former LFA Flyweight Champion and a two-time Performance of the Night award winner in the UFC. He also holds the distinction of being the first Mexican-born fighter to win a UFC championship title.

Moreno vs Deiveson Figueiredo

The intense rivalry between Brandon Moreno and Figueiredo has been a highlight of the UFC’s flyweight division. Their first encounter in December 2020 saw Figueiredo secure the victory with a rear naked choke in the third round. The following rematch six months later resulted in a majority draw. Fans eagerly anticipated a third fight, and Moreno emerged victorious with a rear naked choke in the third round in June 2021, becoming the first Mexican-born UFC champion.

Their fourth and possibly last fight occurred in January 2023, with Moreno defending his undisputed flyweight title against Figueiredo with a technical knockout. The remarkable battles between these two fighters have mesmerized MMA fans, with both Moreno and Figueiredo displaying their impressive skills and determination in the octagon. The rear naked choke has become a defining move in their rivalry, with both fighters utilizing the technique multiple times throughout their bouts.

 

Wife of Brandon Moreno

Moreno is also a dedicated family man, with his wife Shirley by his side. The couple is proud parents to three daughters. Despite his busy schedule, Moreno makes sure to prioritize quality time with his family whenever possible.

Fluent in both English and Spanish, Moreno is an active member of the Spanish language mixed martial arts community. He is known for hosting multiple podcasts in his native language, where he discusses his fights and shares insights about his training and personal life. These podcasts have helped him connect with his fans on a deeper level and establish a loyal following.

Brandon Moreno net worth.?

Brandon Moreno’s net worth is estimated to be around $1-2 million. The majority of his income comes from his professional fighting career in the UFC, where he has earned significant amounts through prize money, bonuses, and sponsorships.

Moreno has also been awarded the Crypto.com “Fan Bonus of the Night” award on multiple occasions, which adds to his overall earnings. Despite his success in the UFC, Moreno has remained humble and continues to work hard to improve his skills and achieve even greater success in his career.

Brandon Moreno Height.?

Brandon Moreno stands at a height of 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm) tall. This is a fairly average height for a male, but in the UFC Flyweight division, Moreno’s height is considered to be on the taller side. His height gives him an advantage in the division, allowing him to reach his opponents with his strikes and kicks more easily.

However, height is not the only factor that contributes to a fighter’s success in MMA. Skills, training, and strategy are all crucial components as well. Moreno’s success in the UFC can be attributed to his well-rounded skill set and relentless work ethic, as he continues to improve his game and climb the ranks of the Flyweight division.

 

Is Brandon Moreno out of the UFC?

No, Brandon Moreno is not out of the UFC.Moreno was still an active UFC fighter and the reigning UFC Flyweight Champion at the time. There have been no reports or announcements indicating that he has been released or retired from the UFC.

Who has Brandon Moreno lost to?

Brandon Moreno Records : 20-21-21.

Who was the first Mexican UFC champion?

Moreno.

How many times did Brandon Moreno fight Figueiredo?

During the first two bouts Moreno won his undisputed flyweight championship. Moreno stopped Figueireiredo in both fights.

Championships and accomplishments

·    Ultimate Fighting Championship

o    UFC Flyweight Championship (Two times; current)

o    Interim UFC Flyweight Championship (One time)

o    Fight of the Night (Three times) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo x2 and Kai Kara-France

o    Performance of the Night (Three times) vs. Dustin Ortiz, Louis Smolka and Deiveson Figueiredo

o    First Mexican UFC champion

·     World Fighting Federation

o    WFF Flyweight Champion (One time)

·     Legacy Fighting Alliance

o    LFA Flyweight Championship (One time)

·     MMAjunkie.com

o    2020 December Fight of the Month vs. Deiveson Figueiredo

o    2021 June Submission of the Month vs. Deiveson Figueiredo

o    2022 January Fight of the Month vs. Deiveson Figueiredo

·    World MMA Awards

o    2021 Breakthrough Fighter of the Year

o    2021 Fight of the Year vs. Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 256

o    2021 Fighting Spirit of the Year for perseverance – from being cut, to fighting back and becoming the first Mexican UFC champion

Brandon Moreno Record