DALLAS – Brandon Moreno has no intention of slow-playing his career to make sure a fourth fight with Deiveson Figueiredo happens.
Moreno (19-5-2 MMA, 7-2-2 UFC) is full steam ahead, and that’s why he’s set to rematch Kai Kara-France (24-9 MMA, 7-2 UFC) for an interim flyweight title in Saturday’s UFC 277 co-main event, which takes at American Airlines Center and airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN/ABC and ESPN+.
After Figueiredo (21-2-1 MMA, 10-2-1 UFC) reclaimed the 125-pound belt from Moreno in their trilogy fight this past January, the promotion was intent on booking a historic fourth meeting. Figueiredo sustained a hand injury, though, and couldn’t meet the original timeline. Moreno said he was given the option to postpone the fight but decided against it.
Now, here we are.
“I don’t want to wait,” Moreno told MMA Junkie and other reporters at UFC 277 media day. “Last year I fought in January one time. This year I fight in January and then no fight. I just wanted to fight. I talked with Jason (House), my manager, and I talked with UFC like, ‘Hey, give me a fight for the title. If no, OK.’ I want to fight. I want to be active.”
Although it’s not the fourth meeting with Figueiredo, Mexico’s Moreno will still see a familiar opponent on the other side of the octagon in Kara-France, whom he beat by unanimous decision at UFC 245 in December 2019.
Both men have made tremendous strides since the initial meeting, but Moreno is confident he’s still ahead.
“I’m expecting maybe not the same fight as the last fight in 2019, but I’m expecting fireworks,” Moreno said. “Kai Kara-France loves to go for the finish. He has an amazing right overhand. I’ve proved to the world my hands are very elite right now and my jiu-jitsu. My jiu-jitsu and my ground game are very special too.”
If Moreno emerges victorious, he said he’ll be keen to get back to action as soon as possible. “The Assassin Baby’ said he has no time for Figueiredo anymore, and if the UFC can’t sort out a good timeline to line up a fight, he will simply move on the next opponent again.
“I don’t care about Deiveson,” Moreno said. “I don’t care about that guy. My personal plan is to be healthy for this fight. If nothing really bad happens and I’m not injured, my plan is to fight in December before the end of the year. If Deiveson is not ready, I can fight against the winner of this Saturday, (Alexandre) Pantoja vs. (Alex) Perez, easily.”
Brandon Moreno won’t wait for Deiveson Figueiredo unifier with UFC 277 interim title win