After defeating his opponent Deiveson Figueiredo in the third round of their flyweight title rematch on June 12th, boxer Brandon Moreno made history as the first-ever Mexican-born UFC champion. The 125-pound, five-foot-five fighter, also known as the Assassin Baby, said in an Instagram post that words could not describe his feelings after achieving his dream of 15 years.
In the post, Moreno thanked everyone who has supported him along the way, noting he couldn’t have done it without the people who stood by him throughout his journey. Fans commented on his recent Instagram post captioned “the underdog life” that he was an “underdog no more” after the win.
Brandon Moreno Says the Win Has Transformed His Life
Speaking to TMZ Sports, Moreno says his life has completely transformed since his big win.
“I have both eyes purple, but I don’t care, I’m living the dream,” he says. “Everything since last Saturday changed my life. Everything is just incredible.”
However, Moreno could be facing a six-month suspension due to an injury on his right foot. Following Saturday’s fight in Glendale, Arizona, the Arizona Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts Commission issued Moreno and two others potential suspensions, noting that an orthopedic doctor will need to examine the fighter’s foot before he can be cleared to compete once again.
Brandon Moreno Started Performing MMA at 12 years Old
Moreno was born in 1993 in Tijuana, Mexico, where his family ran a piñata business. He started performing mixed martial arts at the age of 12 to lose weight, later foregoing plans to become a lawyer in favour of pursuing a career as a professional fighter instead.
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He made his professional MMA debut in 2011, later competing in the flyweight tournament on the 25th season of the Ultimate Fighter, a competition reality TV series focusing on MMA fighters.
Moreno is Active in the Spanish MMA Community
An avid LEGO collector, Moreno currently lives with his wife and three daughters. He’s also active in the Spanish MMA community, often appearing on Spanish-language podcasts and TV shows discussing the sport.
Mexican boxing legend Julio César Chávez Sr., and arguably one of the country’s greatest athletes of all time, recently congratulated Moreno on his achievements, noting it gave him great joy to see him win: “He’s a kid with a lot of talents and abilities, and thanks to God, he achieved his dream.”
Julio César Chávez’ Advice for Moreno
His tips for Moreno as one of Mexico’s most successful fighters of all time? Chávez says the hard part is not getting to the top but staying there. He believes Moreno has a good head on his shoulders and will remain a champion for a long time to come.
Moreno is already looking ahead to his next fight, telling TMZ Sports he’s considering Askar Askarov, Alex Perez and Cody Garbrandt as potential opponents. We’re excited to follow Moreno’s path as one of the most inspirational people in MMA right now.
