Feb 27, 2026, 09:34 AM ET
Brandon Moreno's career can be summed up in five words: "It all happened very fast." Despite being an example of perseverance, he's gotten used to abrupt changes. Saturday, he'll fight at the Arena Ciudad de Mexico for the fifth time, fourth as a headliner, and at 32 years old, he's approaching the completion of his first decade in the UFC. It went by quickly for him. The Tijuana-born flyweight is a memorable figure for Mexican MMA fans. In June 2021, he became the first Mexican-born UFC champion when he submitted Deiveson Figueiredo with a stunning rear-naked choke in the third round at UFC 263. That was the second in a streak of six consecutive championship bouts over the course of three years for Moreno -- four against Figueiredo -- a stretch of time that passed in the blink of an eye.
Since that six-title-fight run ended with a split decision loss to Alexandre Pantoja in July 2023, Moreno has gone 2-2, including a decision over Steve Erceg last March that gave Moreno his first win in Mexico City. On Saturday, ESPN's No. 7-ranked flyweight, faces Lone'er Kavanagh in a five-round fight with an opportunity to defeat an exciting prospect and return to the flyweight contenders list. But a loss could send him into limbo, where he'll be an attractive name for events focused on Latin crowds but far from championship consideration.
Moreno needs a convincing win to add to his 10-year UFC legacy. He changed Mexican MMA history, but as he reflected on his journey, he was still feeling young enough to keep fighting.
The 'TUF' entry and exciting debut
Moreno joined the UFC amid TV drama. After he spent months as Henry Cejudo's training partner, the former two-division champion helped Moreno get onto the roster for "The Ultimate Fighter" Season 24 in 2016, where Cejudo was set to coach against Joseph Benavidez. The contestants were seeded 1-16 for a bracket-style tournament, and Moreno was No. 16. Cejudo then picked No. 1-seeded Pantoja for his team, sending Moreno to Team Benavidez. Moreno was bounced from the show after losing to Pantoja, and his friendship with Cejudo ended.
But all wasn't lost. While the reality show aired, an opportunity arose to replace Sergio Pettis against the UFC's then-No. 9-ranked flyweight, Louis Smolka. Not only did Moreno submit Smolka in the first round for the win on short notice, he also earned his first $50,000 performance bonus.
"It was me living in the moment," Moreno told ESPN this week. "Everything was so fast, I didn't have time to think. When they called me to fight Louis Smolka, I didn't hesitate; it was what I wanted. I was just happy they gave me my uniform, did photos and a few interviews. I wasn't focused on anything else. It was enjoyable hearing [announcer] Bruce Buffer say my name -- it helped me enjoy the moment."
Moreno said the bonus changed his life immediately.
"I was at a bar after the fights," Moreno recalled. "[UFC matchmaker] Sean Shelby came and told me I got the first bonus. With that, I bought my first house and gave my family a better life."
He picked up another win on "The Ultimate Fighter" finale card two months later against Ryan Benoit. He finished a ranked Dustin Ortiz the following April, and the door opened for Moreno to fight in his first UFC main event in Mexico City against Pettis.
The end of the first stint
Moreno was the first in his "TUF" class to main event a UFC card, but it ended as fast as it started. "It was similar to the debut; everything happened fast," Moreno said of his first UFC loss. "In a year, I had three fights, and by August 2017, I was fighting Sergio Pettis. I was young, I wanted to conquer the world. I now recognize Sergio had more experience. I was sure I could win, but [his eight previous UFC fights] weighed a lot."
Though he seemed secure in the promotion with a 3-1 record, executives were considering cutting the division at the time, putting all flyweights at risk. After a fight against Ray Borg in Brooklyn was canceled due to injuries Borg sustained when Conor McGregor attacked a fighter bus prior to UFC 223, Moreno signed on for a rematch with Pantoja in Santiago, Chile, in May 2018.
"I lose in Chile in May, two losses, and was one of the easiest cuts when they wanted to get rid of the division," Moreno said. Around the time he was released, one of Moreno's daughters began experiencing health challenges, and the mounting medical expenses came without the security of a steady income.
"There were many obstacles I had to overcome at the same time," he explained.
The return
Though his relationship with Cejudo was broken, the Olympic champion unknowingly helped Moreno again. In August 2018, Cejudo took the belt from Demetrious Johnson, ending Johnson's 11-fight flyweight title reign and a tense relationship with the UFC. Johnson's departure opened new possibilities for a weight class that had become impenetrable.
After a year without fighting, "The Assassin Baby" got an offer to fight for the flyweight title against Cuban Maikel Perez -- a high-risk rival -- in LFA, a promotion that had become a stepping stone to the UFC.
"I knew Maikel, had trained with him, wrestled with him and he had destroyed me," Moreno said. "I was nervous but took the risk. I won, signed with my current management agency that has good company relations, and returned to UFC."
Though he knew it was a dangerous fight, he had a powerful reason to win: "It was relief and internal fire. I couldn't make my family go through those problems again because of me; it was a great motivation."
The rise
Moreno re-signed with the UFC a month after his LFA title win, and once again, he was in a hurry. He drew with Askar Askarov in September 2019 in Mexico City in his comeback fight, beat Kai Kara-France three months later at UFC 245 and beat Jussier Formiga in March 2020.
In November that year, he faced Brandon Royval at UFC 255, winning by TKO due to injury. The same night, Figueiredo submitted Alex Perez in the first round. Amid one of the promotion's most complicated years, UFC CEO Dana White decided to match Moreno and Figueiredo three weeks later in the main event of UFC 256.
The fight was one of the most spectacular bouts in the division's history but ended in a draw, starting a rivalry that'd take four fights to define. Moreno won the second meeting, becoming 125-pound champion in June 2021. Figueiredo regained the title at UFC 270 in January 2022, and a year later, Moreno closed the story with a TKO victory in Rio de Janeiro at UFC 283. Along the way, Moreno also beat Kara-France a second time for an interim title at UFC 277, then lost the belt at UFC 290 to Pantoja, another career rematch.
"They were very productive years; I can't complain," Moreno said. "I laid a path for my family's future. I traveled a lot, worked a lot trying to build that future for my daughters and wife. I burned out a bit, but I won't deny those years helped me a lot. Championship fights came, interim, main events, five-round camps, travels, and all that helped shape my career and legacy today."
After losing the belt, he has faced the division's best, but a painful loss to Tatsuro Taira at UFC 323 in December pushed him to come back as soon as possible.
The crownless champion
The flyweight division has a promising future, with a 24-year-old champion in Joshua Van and many quality contenders, such as Taira, Manel Kape, Kioji Horiguchi and former champion Pantoja. But Moreno's connection with fans keeps him one of the most popular fighters in the division.
"I like to think I'm in the division's top 5 [all-time]," Moreno said. "No one will move Demetrious Johnson [off the greatest flyweight ever spot], at least in the near future. Current champ Joshua Van has all the time to make history, but I think I'm in the top 5."
Despite that, he's not satisfied. He said he still feels very young but has to understand he started this journey at a young age.
"I think my path is full of experience," he said. "I know I'm the experienced fighter in the division but still very hungry. At the end of the day, I want to be champion. But I think the essence of combat is what keeps me motivated -- competition, waking up early, discipline, sweat and that primitive feeling of getting into a fight with another guy." Being UFC champion is a feat. Losing and regaining it is an even bigger feat. But doing it a third time would be the highlight of his career. Moreno envisions a scenario in which a victory positions him to face another top-five contender -- and puts him one step closer to a new title opportunity.
"That would put my name very high in this sport's history," Moreno said. "I'm doing everything in my control -- keep working, waking up early, disciplined with training. I'm an example that if I want to achieve my goals, I can, and my goal is to be champion again."
