Brandon Moreno, Yair Rodriguez share dream of bringing two UFC title fights to Mexico in one event
MMA is often an individualistic sport, but sometimes there can be common goals and dreams among fighters. And that’s the case with Mexican stars Brandon Moreno and Yair Rodriguez.
The two title contenders look to further their own careers and become champions in the UFC. But on top of seeking UFC gold, Moreno and Rodriguez want to expand Mexico’s presence in the history of the sport. That’s why they both hope to one day share the top billing of a UFC event in Mexico with two championship fights.
Rodriguez, who’s coming off a win over Brain Ortega, is pegged by many as the next title challenger for featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. “El Pantera” hopes to get the next shot, and in an ideal world, have that be in his home country.
“The ideal scenario would be to have two title fights, so Brandon Moreno to win the title (at UFC 277) and then fight for the (undisputed) championship and have both of us fight for titles in the same night,” Rodriguez told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “That for me would be a dream come true. Two championship fights for two Mexicans in one night. That would be a spectacle.”
Moreno, a former UFC champion who made history in 2021 as the first Mexican to hold a UFC belt, returns this weekend in the co-main event of UFC 277 in Dallas, Texas. Moreno takes on Kai Kara-France in a rematch for the interim flyweight title.
Moreno is focused on the task at hand, but likes Rodriguez’s idea and doesn’t see it as something impossible.
“We’d blow up Mexico, for sure,” Moreno said. “I’m down, and I’ve already seen people commenting about it. Imagine that, it would be insane. It’s not a crazy possibility, it’s not like we’re just making up things. It could happen. I don’t think it could happen this year, but maybe next year. I don’t know, dreaming is allowed, so why not? …
“That would be (the biggest Mexican event in UFC), and we’d probably have enough to convince the UFC and say, ‘Hey, a stadium, it’d be cool. Look for one of the newer ones in Mexico, and we’ll hit it.’”
Moreno and Rodriguez go way back. They met each other in their early 20s in 2013 before they were in the UFC. The two were part of the now defunct UFC developmental program for Latin America where they were both sent to JacksonWink in Albuquerque to polish their skills with all expenses paid for.
They’ve come very far since, with Moreno being a former UFC champion and Rodriguez easily one of the top contenders and a staple at featherweight.
“I’m very proud of Brandon Moreno,” Rodriguez said. “He’s someone whose example I follow not only inside the octagon, but also outside of it for the type of person that he is and how dedicated he is.
“He’s a family-oriented person, and I’m happy to call him my friend. I’m super proud of him. I know he will continue to do well in his life and career. I’m just waiting for an opportunity like the one I mentioned to you, so we can both crown ourselves as champions in one night and have that moment be recorded with gold writing in the history books of not only UFC, but the sport in general. I anxiously wait for that moment.”
Moreno is equally proud of Rodriguez. He believes a title shot against Volkanovski is warranted and warns people not to count out his fellow countryman.
“I appreciate him so much, he was the guy that I would best get along with, and we would train a lot together and push ourselves,” Moreno said. “I was 20, and he was 21. So we met and then each went along with our own careers.
“I think at this point, Yair is prime for big things. We’ll see what happens with Volkanovski because he wants to move up to 155 pounds. I think Yair deserves the shot. Obviously, Volkanovski is a super tough fighter, but hey, the Mexican heart is there. ‘El Pantera’ has proved it.”
Brandon Moreno, Yair Rodriguez share dream of bringing two UFC title fights to Mexico in one event
