Deiveson Figueiredo lands an uppercut on Brandon Moreno at UFC 256.
Brandon Moreno prefers Cody Garbrandt for first UFC flyweight title defense, open to Deiveson Figueiredo trilogy down the road
Brandon Moreno says he prefers Cody Garbrandt for his first UFC flyweight title defense, but he is open to the Deiveson Figueiredo trilogy down the road.
Moreno defeated Figueiredo in their rematch at UFC 263 in June to become the promotion’s new 125lbs champion and potentially emerge as a new superstar in the sport. Moreno and Figueiredo fought to a majority draw last year which is why the UFC decided to give Moreno the rematch, and he made good by picking up the win. While Figuueiredo is out there calling for the immediate trilogy fight, Moreno has some other potential opponents in mind instead.
Speaking to TMZ Sports, Moreno admitted that while he’s open to fighting anyone, the fighter who he has his eye on is former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt, who is expected to make his 125lbs debut later this year. Garbrandt was actually supposed to fight Figueiredo last year, but Moreno is hoping he gets the chance to fight him instead.
“Eh, I don’t know. Anyone, I don’t care. Cody Garbrandt is the one that will come to the division. I’m interested in that fight because he’s had a huge name. He’s a possibility. The (upcoming) fight between Brandon Royval and Alexandre Pantoja — the winner can be a possibility, too,” Moreno said.
As for Figueiredo and his calls for an immediate trilogy, Moreno said that while he’s open to fighting the Brazilian again, he believes that Figueiredo needs to get another win first.
“Yes, not right now, but yes (I’m open to the trilogy down the road). I think he needs to fight again with another guy, because the last fight wasn’t even close, right? It was submission, domination since the first round to the third one. So man, I’m open to fight against him but I think he needs to fight again with somebody. It’s not because I’m scared or something like that, it’s hard to get scared in this sport. There’s a lot of brave people here in this sport. But I don’t think it’s my next fight,” Moreno said. “Of course, the trilogy and making something huge, the first fight was a draw, the last one I beat him, you can sell that fight. He’s a former champ, so if he wins the next fight, we can do something.”
Who do you want to see Brandon Moreno fight in his first UFC flyweight title defense?
