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An honest self-assessment – that's something not often seen in combat sports.
Whether it's an aging fighter hanging on to a career that's plagued by defeats or a title hopeful vastly overestimating their chances of winning a world title, fighters often don't have a grip on the reality of the sport that surrounds them. This is a double-edged sword, as it's often needed to survive in the very demanding nature of fighting, but it can also lead to career taking wrong turns.
However, for Brandon Moreno, things are very clear. He's 31, has had two UFC title reigns, and currently finds himself 0-2 against the champion of his division, Alexandre Pantoja. However, anything can happen in MMA. It's a sport of second, third, and sometimes more chances. Yet, the reality is that Moreno is likely facing his final UFC title run, and he's fully aware of it.
"I want to be 100 percent ready, and do everything well, because I see this – I don't know if I'm right or wrong – but I see it as my last title chance," Moreno said in Spanish on Hablemos MMA. "I want that fight to be perfect. Being very honest with you, I've officially lost twice against the current champion, and if I were to lose a third, I'd be in a very bad spot. So that's why I want the title opportunity to be almost perfect."
With dominant back-to-back wins over top contenders Steve Erceg and Amir Albazi, Moreno is knocking on the door of a title shot once again. It also helps that he's one of the biggest, if not the biggest, names in the UFC flyweight division.
As it stands in the UFC flyweight title picture, champion Alexandre Pantoja has yet to be booked for his next title defense. At the same time, top contenders Kai Kara-France and Moreno await their next assignment. Manel Kape and Brandon Royval, also title contenders, are booked to fight at UFC 317 in June.
Moreno is ready to face Pantoja a third time and hopes it will be the case for his next fight. But if it ends up being Kara-France, Moreno is more than content with not getting any involvement as a backup fighter.
"I remember when I was the backup for the fight between Royval and Pantoja," Moreno explained. "I was told two weeks before the fight, and I accepted it. I lost like 25 pounds in one go. I don't know if there are fighters that have the ability to recover from that, it was my first time doing something like that, but the truth is that I didn't recover well. Thankfully, I wasn't needed to fight the following day because on Saturday morning, I still felt bad. I lost too much weight. I hope that the opportunity is free of all that."
"The Assassin Baby" truly believes the third time will be the charm, should he meet Pantoja when he gets his title opportunity. Moreno feels everything is coming together, and he's in the prime of his fighting career.
"Man, and I'm telling you this with all the confidence in the world, I don't know what's happening to me, or if someone did some sort of enchantment, but I just feel incredible," Moreno said. "I feel really good. I talked a little about it for the fight week in Mexico, but I really am making all the little connections of my experience. I just see fights differently.
"Whether you I wanted it or not, and even when I won, I felt a little held down by my mind and I'd get nervous. Not this time around. I feel really good and I just feel very different. The current mindset that I have right now gives me a lot of confidence."
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Brandon Moreno honest about UFC career standing
Continue reading...
Whether it's an aging fighter hanging on to a career that's plagued by defeats or a title hopeful vastly overestimating their chances of winning a world title, fighters often don't have a grip on the reality of the sport that surrounds them. This is a double-edged sword, as it's often needed to survive in the very demanding nature of fighting, but it can also lead to career taking wrong turns.
However, for Brandon Moreno, things are very clear. He's 31, has had two UFC title reigns, and currently finds himself 0-2 against the champion of his division, Alexandre Pantoja. However, anything can happen in MMA. It's a sport of second, third, and sometimes more chances. Yet, the reality is that Moreno is likely facing his final UFC title run, and he's fully aware of it.
"I want to be 100 percent ready, and do everything well, because I see this – I don't know if I'm right or wrong – but I see it as my last title chance," Moreno said in Spanish on Hablemos MMA. "I want that fight to be perfect. Being very honest with you, I've officially lost twice against the current champion, and if I were to lose a third, I'd be in a very bad spot. So that's why I want the title opportunity to be almost perfect."
With dominant back-to-back wins over top contenders Steve Erceg and Amir Albazi, Moreno is knocking on the door of a title shot once again. It also helps that he's one of the biggest, if not the biggest, names in the UFC flyweight division.
As it stands in the UFC flyweight title picture, champion Alexandre Pantoja has yet to be booked for his next title defense. At the same time, top contenders Kai Kara-France and Moreno await their next assignment. Manel Kape and Brandon Royval, also title contenders, are booked to fight at UFC 317 in June.
Moreno is ready to face Pantoja a third time and hopes it will be the case for his next fight. But if it ends up being Kara-France, Moreno is more than content with not getting any involvement as a backup fighter.
"I remember when I was the backup for the fight between Royval and Pantoja," Moreno explained. "I was told two weeks before the fight, and I accepted it. I lost like 25 pounds in one go. I don't know if there are fighters that have the ability to recover from that, it was my first time doing something like that, but the truth is that I didn't recover well. Thankfully, I wasn't needed to fight the following day because on Saturday morning, I still felt bad. I lost too much weight. I hope that the opportunity is free of all that."
"The Assassin Baby" truly believes the third time will be the charm, should he meet Pantoja when he gets his title opportunity. Moreno feels everything is coming together, and he's in the prime of his fighting career.
"Man, and I'm telling you this with all the confidence in the world, I don't know what's happening to me, or if someone did some sort of enchantment, but I just feel incredible," Moreno said. "I feel really good. I talked a little about it for the fight week in Mexico, but I really am making all the little connections of my experience. I just see fights differently.
"Whether you I wanted it or not, and even when I won, I felt a little held down by my mind and I'd get nervous. Not this time around. I feel really good and I just feel very different. The current mindset that I have right now gives me a lot of confidence."
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Brandon Moreno honest about UFC career standing
Continue reading...
