Brandon Moreno’s UFC flyweight title shot goes beyond simply proving he’s the best fighter at 125 pounds.
The top contender fights for gold Saturday night, challenging champion Deiveson Figueiredo in the main event of UFC 256 in Las Vegas.
It’s a big moment for Moreno (18-5-1 MMA, 6-2-1 UFC) in his career, as the Tijuana, Baja California native makes history. “The Assassin Baby” is the first Mexican-born fighter to challenge for a UFC belt and if all goes well, will become the first Mexico-born UFC champion.
“When UFC gave me the opportunity, I couldn’t believe that moment, everything was so fast,” Moreno told MMA Junkie at Wednesday’s UFC 256 virtual media day. “Right now I’m so happy and so proud about what I’m doing in this sport and what I’m doing not only just for me, but for my country, my parents, my family.
“I know I can be an example to these young kids who are starting in this sport. I can show to the world, Mexico and Latin America in general that we can do it. You can do it, with a lot of sacrifice in life. Right now I’m making history, but it’s not complete, I need to get that title.”
MMA in Mexico is still far from boxing’s level of popularity. It’s relatively a new sport, but countries like United States, Brazil and others are far move advanced in their MMA development.
Moreno hopes to win the UFC title not only for his own legacy, but to bring more attention and raise the profile of the sport in Mexico.
“Definitely, first of all, I can be the first 100 percent Mexican born and raised in Mexico to be the flyweight champion,” Moreno said. “The opportunity for us in general in this sport are (small). Brazil is a third-world country too, but MMA was born there, so you can go to any small academy and find two or three good guys who can help you be better in this sport.
“In Mexico we’re good in combat sports, but just boxing we don’t have wrestling or Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Right now, the evolution in my country is getting better and better every day but we need more work. That’s why I think it’s different from me.”