Brandon Moreno not interested in trilogy with Deiveson Figueiredo
New UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno says he is not interested in a trilogy fight against rival Deiveson Figueiredo.
Moreno and Figueiredo first met at UFC 256 last December and fought to a majority draw in one of the best fights of the year. At UFC 263 earlier this month, the two rivals met for a second time, and this time around Moreno took the judges out of the equation with a third-round submission win to become the new 125lbs champion of the UFC. Following the rematch, Figueiredo said that he wants the trilogy fight next. But according to the new champ himself, he doesn’t think Figueiredo is deserving of a title shot when there are other contenders.
Speaking to AG Fight, Moreno suggested that the winner of Askar Askarov vs. Alex Perez, Cody Garbrandt, and Alexandre Pantoja are three of the potential opponents he could face.
“Maybe Deiveson needs to fight another guy and then we can fight again. I have many possibilities. The winner of Askarov and Perez, Garbrandt is out there, he lost the last fight, but he is a former champion and has a big name. The trilogy is there too. Pantoja is another possibility. He’s beaten me twice before, but I have nothing personal against him or anyone else. I’m ready. Now I’m a different guy, I feel like a superhero. I know I will be champion for a long time,” Moreno said.
While Figueiredo may want the trilogy fight, Moreno is under no obligation to give it to him since the second fight ended in such a lopsided fashion. Moreno’s manager Jason House recently told MyMMANews.com’s James Lynch that the Gardbrandt fight is the one they want, but he understands that the UFC matchmakers have several options for the title fight.
Who do you want Brandon Moreno to fight next?
