Frustrated Brandon Moreno anxious to return, pushes for UFC title eliminator vs. Amir Albazi

Brandon Moreno’s patience is being tested while he waits for his next UFC assignment, and he hopes the promotion will come through with something for him soon.

After suffering a hand injury in his title-fight loss to Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 290 in July, Moreno (21-7-2 MMA, 9-3-2 UFC) is now 100 percent healthy. He has been for some time, and was originally targeting a return to the octagon in December. He didn’t get it, and now he’s just waiting for a date – and sees Amir Albazi (17-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC) as his likely foe.

“They told me Amir,” Moreno told MMA Junkie in an interview facilitated by his sponsors at Cuervo. “They told me about December, but nothing was real, nothing was official. So right now I’m waiting for a specific name to make it official. I know Amir is there. I think it’s the most logical fight in line for me with Amir. The winner can fight for the title in the next one. I know Amir is there.”

Moreno, No. 3 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie flyweight rankings, admits his angst to compete has gotten the better of him at certain moments. He’s not fully understanding the reason for the delay, but has done his best to maintain a positive attitude.

“That’s the most frustrating part here, because I’m healthy,” Moreno said. “I’ve been waiting for a fight. Actually I put a little pressure with the UFC like, ‘Hey, I want to fight in December. I want to be active.’ If they needed I could be the replacement for the title fight (at UFC 296) on Dec. 16, but they didn’t give me nothing. I tried to be very stoic and be calm and be relaxed. I’m just waiting for my moment. I’ve been using all this time to improve myself.”

There have been rumors of UFC angling a return to Mexico for the first time since September 2019 a part of its first quarter schedule for 2024. Moreno, 29, isn’t sure if he’s being held out for that date, but hopes to get some answers soon.

It would be an honor to compete in his home country, Moreno said, but it doesn’t trump his desire to fight as soon as possible. After seeing his title reign ended by Pantoja earlier this year, he is tired of having the taste of defeat in his mouth, and wants to rectify things.

“If it’s in Mexico in front of my people, it would be very cool,” Moreno said. “Obviously the altitude in Mexico City is a real challenge. I have to be prepared for that. But I’m ready. I’ve been the champion in the past and I know I can be the champion again. I just have to be calm, focused and ready for whatever is happening in the future. But January, February – I’m in.”