For the first time, Brandon Moreno will compete on a Noche UFC event, and he’ll do so with an extremely positive attitude.
The former two-time UFC flyweight champion is set to face Joseph Morales at Saturday’s fight card in Glendale, Ariz., which just so happens to be in the same arena where he captured his first UFC world title in a submission win over Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 263 in June 2021.
“I got the first title there in Glendale, Ariz.,” Moreno told MMA Fighting. “They changed the name of the name of the arena, but in the same location and actually before [I fought there in] the UFC, I fought like four or five times in Arizona, in a local promotion, WFF.
“So I have really good memories from Arizona, and man, the No.1 [memory], like getting the title with all the crowd is screaming my name is all the people, all the Mexican flags around. Yeah man, it’s a special place to me for sure.”
“The Assassin Baby” often reflects on the incredible night in Arizona, where the crowd was absolutely on fire for his co-main event championship victory.
Not only that, but what came after his biggest victory where he mentally captured some moments with two fellow former UFC world champions
“I just remember different moments of the fight, different moments of that night,” Moreno explained. “Like, for example, once I finished the fight, I went to my locker room, I put on my suit, I was walking to the press conference, going with my wife, with my teammates, with my daughter. I don’t remember why, but Francis Ngannou was there and he was taking care of my daughter. My youngest daughter, he was carrying my daughter. That was super cool.
“Then like eating pizza with Israel Adesanya in the post [press] conference. That was super nice. So man, all those kind of moments make this fight super special because, again, I have just good memories from there.”
There have been numerous reasons over the years that Moreno has not been able to compete at a Noche UFC card. During the UFC Hall of Fame red carpet in July, Moreno told reporters that he was hoping to get the chance to compete at the annual event.
Moreno got his wish, and he couldn’t be more thrilled.
“Man, finally, I’m going to fight at a Noche UFC,” Moreno said. “This is gonna be the fourth edition of Noche. I wasn’t able to fight on the other ones for different reasons, like injuries or the schedules, but finally I, I made it and I’m super excited.
“It’s something I wanted to do this year, fight at Noche, and fighting against Joseph Morales… but he’s going to be super motivated and that made me feel excited to fight, more on that card.”
It’s not a normal setting for Moreno as he enters the bout against an unranked fighter on a two-fight losing skid — a stoppage loss to Tatsuro Taira at at UFC 323 this past December, followed by a decision loss to Lone’er Kavanagh in the main event of UFC Mexico City in February.
While Moreno sees a lot of Morales — who returned to the UFC after winning season 33 of The Ultimate Fighter and submitting both of his opponents in official octagon bouts — in himself back in the day, Moreno has a much fresher viewpoint on his career and the fight game; enjoy the moments for as long as it lasts.
“Man, 100 percent,” Moreno said. “I think more in this kind of sport, like man, tomorrow I can get injured and that’s it, and that’s crazy. ”So man, you have to try to enjoy it, because no one is here putting a gun in the head to do this. I’m doing this because I really love the sport and that’s it.
“Because I feel able to keep doing it because I feel healthy and I’m still doing amazing things in the gym, in my practices and that’s why I’m here, man. So yes, you have to remember what you started.”
