Ex-UFC champ Brandon Moreno refreshed by break from MMA: 'I feel very motivated to fight'

MIAMI – Brandon Moreno needed to step away from the battle recreation.

He wasn’t injured. He wasn’t trying to do one thing else or retire. He had sufficient and wanted to take a break from what he loves most.

Moreno, a former UFC flyweight champion, shocked many by saying earlier this 12 months that he was stepping away from MMA competitors quickly. Though on a two-fight skid, Moreno was simply 30, extremely ranked and thought of arguably the most important title within the division.

“Sooner or later the obligations, duties and all of the stresses makes you not take pleasure in as a lot what you initially liked,” Moreno advised MMA Junkie in Spanish. “I really feel that method once more and that makes me very completely satisfied as a result of each time that I felt that method, I’ve all the time carried out nicely.”

Moreno (21-8-2 MMA, 9-5-2 UFC) is formally again and scheduled to headline a UFC Combat Night time in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, on Nov. 2. He takes on prime contender Amir Albazi (17-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC).

The Mexican fighter wasn’t gone for lengthy; he most lately fought in February. In actual fact, he’s had greater lulls in between fights earlier than. But, the break was not a lot the time, however about placing a pause on issues.

“Proper now, I discover myself in a extremely good second,” Moreno mentioned. “The time I used to be away from MMA actually helped me to clear my head and be with my household with out excited about combating.

“Though I used to be solely doing one or two fights a 12 months, I’d battle, and instantly I’d already be requested when my subsequent battle can be and in opposition to who. When you will have an opponent and date set, you would nonetheless be two, 4 months away, however you will have that combating chip inside you, and also you’re not 100% relaxed. I took this time to breathe and simply spend time with my daughter and spouse and simply take pleasure in life.”

Moreno used the time to rehab some accidents and attend his physique. Though he says the break was much-needed, he can’t lie and say he didn’t miss combating.

“As an athlete you’re additionally accustomed to coach daily, the competitors, so there’s a level once you’re like, ‘Man, I need to return,’ however you must battle your self so you may calm down and wind down,” Moreno mentioned. “I really feel very motivated to battle at this second.”