Brandon Moreno
| Brandon Moreno | |
|---|---|
 Moreno in Entram Gym Tijuana | |
| Born | Brandon Carrillo Moreno[1] December 7, 1993 Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico |
| Other names | The Assassin Baby |
| Residence | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States[1][2] |
| Nationality | Mexican |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)[3] |
| Weight | 125 lb (57 kg; 8.9 st) |
| Division | Flyweight |
| Reach | 70 in (178 cm)[3] |
| Fighting out of | Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico |
| Team | Entram Gym (2006–2022)[4][5] Bang Muay Thai[6] Team Elevation[6] |
| Rank | Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Raúl Arvizu[7] |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 27 |
| Wins | 19 |
| By knockout | 3 |
| By submission | 11 |
| By decision | 5 |
| Losses | 6 |
| By decision | 6 |
| Draws | 2 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Brandon Carrillo Moreno (born December 7, 1993) is a Mexican professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in the flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is a former UFC Flyweight Champion, and in the process became the first Mexican-born fighter to win a UFC championship. A professional since 2011, he also competed at the Legacy Fighting Alliance, where he was the LFA Flyweight champion. As of January 24, 2021, he is #13 in the UFC men's pound-for-pound rankings and #1 in the UFC flyweight rankings.[8]
Background[]
Moreno was born and raised in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico,[9][10] in a modest family with a piñata business.[4] At the age of twelve, he wanted to lose weight so his mother enrolled him in the local Entram Gym where he started training mixed martial arts.[4] Despite earlier intentions to attend law school and become a lawyer, Moreno decided to focus solely on his mixed martial arts career.[4]
Mixed martial arts career[]
Early career[]
Moreno made his professional MMA debut in his native Mexico in April 2011. Over the next two years, he amassed a record of 6 wins and 3 losses.
In 2014, Moreno would debut for the World Fighting Federation promotion. He would go undefeated in the promotion at 5–0 and would eventually win the Flyweight championship, which 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 Moreno was a participant on The Ultimate Fighter: Tournament of Champions.[11] Moreno was selected as a member of Team Benavidez. He faced Alexandre Pantoja in the opening stage and lost the fight via decision.[12]
Ultimate Fighting Championship[]
In a rare move, 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.[13] Moreno won the fight via submission in the first round. The win also earned Moreno his first Performance of the Night bonus award.[14]
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[15] He won the fight via split decision.[16]
Moreno next faced Dustin Ortiz on April 22, 2017 at UFC Fight Night 108.[17] He won the fight by submission in the second round and was awarded a Performance of the Night bonus.[18][19]
Moreno faced Sergio Pettis on August 5, 2017 at UFC Fight Night 114.[20] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[21] Moreno subsequently tested positive for clenbuterol from an in-competition urine sample collected on August 6, 2017, a day after his fight with Pettis. USADA has determined that the presence of clenbuterol in Moreno's system likely resulted from clenbuterol-contaminated meat that Moreno had consumed in Mexico, and so Moreno was not punished by USADA.[22]
Moreno was expected to face Ray Borg on April 7, 2018 at UFC 223.[23] The bout was cancelled after Borg was injured by glass from a bus window that was smashed by Team SBG.[23][24] The pairing was left intact and quickly rescheduled and was expected to take place on May 19, 2018 at UFC Fight Night 129.[25] However, Borg withdrew from the bout to take care of his child from brain surgery,[26] and he was replaced by Alexandre Pantoja.[27] Moreno lost the fight by unanimous decision.[28] In an interview in 2019, Moreno told that he was cut from the UFC in late 2018.[29]
Post-UFC career[]
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.[30] Moreno won the fight via technical knockout in the fourth round.[31]
UFC return[]
Moreno faced promotional newcomer Askar Askarov on September 21, 2019 at UFC Fight Night 159.[32] The back-and-forth bout ended in a split draw.[33]
Moreno faced Kai Kara-France on December 14, 2019 at UFC 245.[34] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[35]
Moreno faced Jussier Formiga on March 14, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 170.[36] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[37]
As the first bout of his new contract, Moreno was expected to face Alex Perez on November 21, 2020 at UFC 255.[38] However, on October 2, it was announced that Cody Garbrandt, who was scheduled to fight Deiveson Figueiredo for the UFC Flyweight Championship at the event, pulled out due to a torn bicep and was replaced by Perez.[39] Moreno instead faced Brandon Royval.[40] He won the fight via technical knockout in round one.[41]
UFC Flyweight Championship[]
Moreno faced Deiveson Figueiredo for the UFC Flyweight Championship on December 12, 2020 at UFC 256.[42] After five rounds of frenetic back-and-forth fighting in which Figueiredo was deducted 1 point in the third round due to a groin strike, the bout was declared a majority draw.[43] This fight earned both athletes the Fight of the Night award.[44]
Moreno rematched Figueiredo for the UFC Flyweight Championship on June 12, 2021, co-headlining UFC 263.[45] Moreno dominated the striking and grappling exchanges and submitted Figueiredo with a rear naked choke in the third round, becoming the first Mexican-born UFC champion in the process.[46] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[47]
The trilogy rematch with Figueiredo for the UFC Flyweight Championship was scheduled to take place on December 11, 2021 at UFC 269 initially,[48] but it was moved to UFC 270 as the co-main event.[49] He lost the bout and the title via unanimous decision.[50] This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.[51]
Personal life[]
Moreno is a big fan of Funko Pop and is a dedicated Lego collector.[52] He and his wife have three daughters.[53] Also fluent in English, Moreno is an active member of the Spanish language mixed martial arts community, and holds multiple podcasts in his native language.[54]
Championships and accomplishments[]
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- UFC Flyweight Championship (One time)
- Fight of the Night (Two times) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo x2[44][51]
- First Mexican-born UFC champion
- Performance of the Night (Three times) vs. Dustin Ortiz, Louis Smolka and Deiveson Figueiredo[47]
- World Fighting Federation
- WFF Flyweight Champion (One time)
- Legacy Fighting Alliance
- LFA Flyweight Championship (One time)
- MMAjunkie.com
- 2020 December Fight of the Month vs. Deiveson Figueiredo[55]
- 2021 June Submission of the Month vs. Deiveson Figueiredo[56]
- 2022 January Fight of the Month vs. Deiveson Figueiredo[57]
^ Voting period for 2021 awards ran through July 2020 to July 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mixed martial arts record[]
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 27 matches | 19 wins | 6 losses |
| By knockout | 3 | 0 |
| By submission | 11 | 0 |
| By decision | 5 | 6 |
| Draws | 2 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 19–6–2 | Deiveson Figueiredo | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 270 | January 22, 2022 | 5 | 5:00 | Anaheim, California, United States | Lost the UFC Flyweight Championship. Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 19–5–2 | Deiveson Figueiredo | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC 263 | June 12, 2021 | 3 | 2:26 | Glendale, Arizona, United States | Won the UFC Flyweight Championship. Performance of the Night. |
| Draw | 18–5–2 | Deiveson Figueiredo | Draw (majority) | UFC 256 | December 12, 2020 | 5 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | For the UFC Flyweight Championship. Figueiredo was deducted one point in round 3 due to repeated groin strikes. Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 18–5–1 | Brandon Royval | TKO (punches) | UFC 255 | November 21, 2020 | 1 | 4:59 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 17–5–1 | Jussier Formiga | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Lee vs. Oliveira | March 14, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Brasília, Brazil | |
| Win | 16–5–1 | Kai Kara-France | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 245 | December 14, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Draw | 15–5–1 | Askar Askarov | Draw (split) | UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Stephens | September 21, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Mexico City, Mexico | |
| Win | 15–5 | Maikel Pérez | TKO (punches) | LFA 69 | June 7, 2019 | 4 | 1:54 | Cabazon, California, United States | Won the LFA Flyweight Championship. |
| Loss | 14–5 | Alexandre Pantoja | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Usman | May 19, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Santiago, Chile | |
| Loss | 14–4 | Sergio Pettis | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Pettis vs. Moreno | August 5, 2017 | 5 | 5:00 | Mexico City, Mexico | |
| Win | 14–3 | Dustin Ortiz | Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Lobov | April 22, 2017 | 2 | 4:06 | Nashville, Tennessee, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 13–3 | Ryan Benoit | Decision (split) | The Ultimate Fighter: Tournament of Champions Finale | December 3, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 12–3 | Louis Smolka | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC Fight Night: Lineker vs. Dodson | October 1, 2016 | 1 | 2:23 | Portland, Oregon, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 11–3 | Isaac Camarillo | Submission (rear-naked choke) | World Fighting Federation 27 | April 16, 2016 | 1 | 1:53 | Tucson, Arizona, United States | Defended the WFF Flyweight Championship. |
| Win | 10–3 | Tyler Bialeck | Submission (rear-naked choke) | World Fighting Federation 22 | July 25, 2015 | 1 | 3:09 | Tucson, Arizona, United States | Defended the WFF Flyweight Championship. |
| Win | 9–3 | Matt Betzold | Decision (unanimous) | World Fighting Federation 18 | February 7, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Chandler, Arizona, United States | Defended the WFF Flyweight Championship. |
| Win | 8–3 | C.J. Soliven | Submission (rear-naked choke) | World Fighting Federation 16 | September 20, 2014 | 1 | 0:58 | Chandler, Arizona, United States | Flyweight debut. Won the vacant WFF Flyweight Championship. |
| Win | 7–3 | Alex Contreras | Submission (triangle choke) | World Fighting Federation 14 | June 28, 2014 | 3 | 1:04 | Chandler, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | 6–3 | Paul Amaro | Submission (rear-naked choke) | MEZ Sports: Pandemonium 9 | July 26, 2013 | 2 | 3:01 | Mission Viejo, California, United States | |
| Win | 5–3 | Jason Carbajal | TKO (punches) | MEZ Sports: Pandemonium 8 | March 23, 2013 | 3 | 1:52 | Pomona, California, United States | |
| Win | 4–3 | Jesse Cruz | Decision (split) | Xplode Fight Series: Anarchy | September 22, 2012 | 3 | 3:00 | Valley Center, California, United States | |
| Loss | 3–3 | Brenson Hansen | Decision (unanimous) | CITC 11: Xtreme Couture vs. Southern California | July 28, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Biloxi, Mississippi, United States | |
| Win | 3–2 | Jonathan Carter | Submission (armbar) | Xplode Fight Series: Hunted | May 19, 2012 | 1 | 1:15 | Valley Center, California, United States | |
| Loss | 2–2 | Ron Scolesdang | Decision (unanimous) | MEZ Sports: Pandemonium 6 | March 3, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Riverside, California, United States | |
| Win | 2–1 | Luis Garcia | Submission (armbar) | UWC Mexico: New Blood 1 | January 29, 2012 | 1 | 2:21 | Tijuana, Mexico | |
| Loss | 1–1 | Marco Beristain | Decision (unanimous) | UWC Mexico 10: To The Edge | June 25, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Tijuana, Mexico | |
| Win | 1–0 | Atiq Jihad | Submission (armbar) | UWC Mexico 9.5: Iguana | April 30, 2011 | 1 | 2:30 | Tijuana, Mexico |
Mixed martial arts exhibition record[]
| Exhibition record breakdown | ||
| 1 match | 0 wins | 1 loss |
| By submission | 0 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 0–1 | Alexandre Pantoja | Submission (rear-naked choke) | The Ultimate Fighter: Tournament of Champions | August 31, 2016 | 2 | 3:44 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | TUF 24 Round of 16 |
[59] *Date given is the air date of the episode. The actual dates of the fight are not released by the UFC
See also[]
References[]
- ^ a b "Nevada State Athletic Commission – December 12, 2020 – UFC 256" (PDF). boxing.nv.gov. Nevada State Athletic Commission. December 12, 2020.
- ^ Kaplan, Amy (August 13, 2021). "Brandon Moreno reveals the biggest perk he's gotten since becoming UFC champion is Canelo Alvarez meeting". fansided.com. FanSided.
- ^ a b "Brandon Moreno | UFC". UFC.com. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
- ^ a b c d Eric Gomez (August 3, 2017). "Brandon Moreno makes piñatas and pummels UFC opponents". ESPN.
- ^ Danny Segura (March 4, 2022). "Ex-UFC champion Brandon Moreno parts ways with longtime team Entram Gym". MMAjunkie.com.
- ^ a b Danny Segura (December 3, 2016). "Brandon Moreno no longer just a jiu-jitsu fighter after training with Team Elevation". mmafighting.com.
- ^ @theassassinbaby (February 12, 2021). ""Cuando empezó esto ni siquiera sabía que tan lejos hiba a llegar, realmente solo lo hacía y lo sigo haciendo por amor a este bello deporte, pero una de las metas era llegar a ser cinta negra y después de 15 años conseguí mi cinturón negro en BJJ, no se los voy a negar que se siente muy bonito y muy chingon