Two-time former UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno has announced he is taking a break from MMA to recover mentally and physically following his split decision loss to Brandon Royval, but emphasized he is not retiring.
Brandon Moreno is hitting the pause button. He’s a two-time ex-UFC flyweight champ, and he’s announced a break from MMA. This comes after his split decision loss to Brandon Royval at UFC Mexico City in February.
He’s not retiring, though. Moreno, 30, just needs a breather after his first two-fight losing streak since 2018. He shared this in an eight-minute Instagram message.
“I’ve hit a mental wall, and I’m exhausted,” Moreno said in Spanish. This was translated by MMA Junkie’s Danny Segura.
He’s not saying goodbye. He’s just asking for patience. He needs time to let his body, and more importantly, his mind, recover.
“The last time I took a break, I came back and became a world champion. I believe I can do it again,” he said. “When I return, I’m going to go on a tear. I still think I’m an incredible fighter, and I have all the qualities and abilities to be a champion again.”
Moreno (21-8-2) has been a key player in the UFC flyweight title scene since his second stint with the UFC in 2019. He won the belt twice against Deiveson Figueiredo in a four-fight series from 2020-23. But then he lost the title to Alexandre Pantoja in July.
He was expected to be a top contender to face Pantoja again. But he lost that chance with another split decision setback against Royval.
Damon Martin from MMA Fighting confirmed with Moreno’s management that the Mexican fighter’s announcement is just a break from MMA. Nothing more.
Moreno’s entire message in Spanish can be read and watched below. (Translation courtesy of Segura and MMA Fighting’s José Youngs.)
“What can I say? Even a month after the fight, I’m still digesting it a bit. I’m thankful for the beautiful moment because that walk to the octagon in Arena CDMX was super cool. It was something special and very beautiful because the last time I was there was in 2019, and people already knew who I was, and I was getting cheered, but you can’t compare it to this time. Everyone was supporting me and singing my song, and it was beautiful.
“At the same time, it also frustrates me a bit because I tried so hard to win. The camp was very good. I managed to stay away from injuries, and I was able to work very well. I put all my heart to get the win, and it didn’t happen. I now have two consecutive losses, but they’re two weird losses. Those are losses where you can make an argument that I won. Obviously, at the end of the day, a loss is a loss. Even though one guy left to the hospital and the other had to be taken out on a wheelchair out of the arena, I still didn’t get the win. So based on that, there’s work to do.
“I feel like I’m at a point in my life where I’m putting in the work, I’m dedicated, but the results just aren’t there, and it’s very frustrating. This is something that makes me very sad, but something that makes me who I am is that I always find a way to come back.
“I think with all the technical aspect things aside, I think I’m just tired. I’m tired of the media, the same questions, the vibe, the constant pressure. I don’t even think it’s a single moment anymore. I think it’s everything I’ve piled on my shoulders in the last few years. I’ve reached a point where my mind is stressed, and I just want to rest a bit. I’m not saying I’m 100 percent stepping away from MMA, but I do want to take a break to rest, be with my family and just be a normal person, be with my daughters, and just do new things.
“There are many things I haven’t done because I’m 100 percent focused on my training. I just want to rest a bit. This is by no means a goodbye. Just wait for me, have patience, let my body and my mind recover, and we’ll come back to do things well.
“It’s not goodbye or anything like that, it’s just wait for me, be patient with me, let my body, but more than anything my mind, my head, compose itself and recover, recover and we’re going to get back to doing things right. The last time that happened, I came back, and I became a world champion. I’d like to think I can do the same and when I return, I’m going to go on a tear. I still think I’m an incredible fighter, and I have all the qualities and abilities to be a champion again.
“I just think I’ve reached a limit in my mind, and I’m tired. But outside of that, everything is excellent. I’m happy. I leave with the event on Feb. 24 with all the Mexicans that did get wins: ‘El Loco’ Torres, Daniel Zellhuber, Edgar Chairez, Yazmin [Jauregui], Jesus Aguilar, all of them had the flag up high, and we have to keep supporting them. I know that more Mexican talent is coming, and we’ll see them in big UFC events. So I leave with that and the support. Everyone that supports me is fully on board, and there’s no way I can ever repay that. At this point, all I promise is that I’ll continue fighting, moving forward, and I will find the right path to move forward. I’m going to do everything to pick myself up again. I want to do it, I know I can do it, and I’m going to do it. I’m going to be champion. I just need to rest my body and mind.”