MEXICO CITY – Simply to provide an concept of how relaxed Brandon Moreno is heading into UFC on ESPN 64, the previous flyweight champion was seen having fun with a slice of cheesecake Wednesday, two days earlier than chopping weight.
That’s a welcomed change from the final time Moreno fought in Mexico Metropolis, when he misplaced a break up resolution to Brandon Royval in February 2024.
“I’m simply having fun with the second significantly better than the final time,” Moreno informed reporters, together with MMA Junkie, throughout UFC on ESPN 64 media day. “The final time I used to be simply exhausted. I used to be drained to be within the health club, to be making the load minimize, no matter. So this time I’m simply having fun with it a bit bit extra.”
After the loss to Royval, Moreno (23-8-2 MMA, 11-4-2 UFC) determined he would take a much-needed depart of absence, which lasted nearly 9 months, after being one of many UFC’s most lively fighters – and champions – of the post-pandemic period. A return to Mexico Metropolis, the place he’s 0-2-1, may very well be trigger for the Mexican standout to be involved forward of Saturday’s foremost occasion (ESPN, ESPN+) in opposition to former title challenger Steve Erceg (12-4 MMA, 3-3 UFC) at Enviornment CDMX.
Moreno insists nothing may very well be farther from the reality.
“I’m not even excited about my previous. That’s one thing I needed to keep away from for this one,” Moreno mentioned. “You guys at all times ask me, ‘What’s the strain of your subsequent combat?’ And I at all times reply the identical: There’s quite a lot of strain on us at all times. However I can’t put extra of that weight on my shoulders. I simply stopped excited about my previous. I don’t know nothing about my previous. I grabbed all the teachings from that, however proper now I’m very targeted on my current, very targeted on Steve Erceg, and I’m prepared for the problem.”
Moreno, who’s coming off a pleasant win over Amir Albazi final November, acknowledged that Erceg presently is “not in his greatest second” coming off a title-fight loss to Alexandre Pantoja and most lately a first-round TKO loss to Kai Kara-France.
“However he’s harmful,” Moreno added. “He’s very gifted, superb boxing, superb martial arts typically. I’m prepared for him and all issues he’s bringing to the combat. It’s a combat that makes me very excited.”
Moreno, a two-time champion at 125 kilos, most lately held the title in 2023 and is trying to get it again. Whereas Moreno acknowledged Manel Kape and Kara-France as each very deserving, he’s trying to remind everybody that he additionally belongs within the combine.
“Successful this Saturday, I consider I can increase my hand and say, ‘Hey, man, I deserve the chance, as nicely,’” Moreno mentioned. “Let’s see what occurs.”
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