Rio de Janeiro – The first ever quadrilogy in UFC history takes place this Saturday night at UFC 283 between UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo and interim champion Brandon Moreno in Brazil.
“The biggest difference (between the first fight and this fight)…I said this before brother. I think the essence of the fight is the same you know. Deiveson Figueiredo is the same huge guy for the division with a lot of power in the right hand trying to be a bully,” Moreno told members of the media on Wednesday.
“Brandon Moreno is the same guy with amazing cardio, with speed, with the volume of punches. I think we can change that, but talking about me…I was very focused in the technical part, in the game plan.”
Moreno (20-6) looks to unify the belts and once again become the undisputed king of the flyweights when he faces Figueiredo for the fourth time as the co-main event of UFC 283. To do so he knows he’ll need to execute his game plan to perfection, but acknowledges that sometimes he wants to throw that out the window.
“I’m really good doing this sport, but I’m an asshole sometimes. I just want to throw punches and I just want to go forward, and I have a lot of people around me telling me like I’m smart, and I can use my brain sometimes. So that’s the goal for this one,” Moreno said.
“That’s the goal for me, and last fight against Deiveson Figueiredo he surprised me a little bit with the game plan. I’m still thinking I won the fight.”
The rivalry between Moreno and Figueiredo seems to have pushed the flyweight division into the conversation for best and most exciting divisions in MMA.
“Everything start with Demetrious (Johnson). With is legacy and what he did in the flyweight division before. He made a statement, and a lot of people think he’s the God of mixed martial arts for that. Then Henry Cejudo saving the division against TJ Dillashaw. Now, in the present, this rivalry between Deiveson Figueiredo and I is so important for us. For all the flyweight guys,” said Moreno.
“I think after this Saturday I want to make a statement of who won this (rivalry), but at the same time I’m just very grateful to share the octagon with Deiveson and make history together.”
Fighting in Brazil will likely put the crowd against Moreno, but the interim champ says he has visualized this already.
“Maybe at first starting the fight or walking to the octagon maybe the people will be a little bit aggressive with us, with me specially obviously, but with the (passing) of the rounds, with the (passing) of the minutes of the fight the people will see all my hard work. People will understand I’m just a little kid trying to put food on the table for my kids and my family, you know,” he said.
With four fights in fans wonder if there is a chance to make it five fights in the series with Figueiredo.
“Man, the last dance man. My plan is to make a statement in this one. My plan is to just finish Deiveson Figueiredo. I did it before, and I know, I feel it, I can do it again. I will, and that’s it. It’s funny because I understand the people maybe when the rumor start to come. The people was saying, ‘Ah, again these guys?’ I understand the point, but at the same time the people also understand Deiveson and I we make fireworks inside of the octagon. The fight will be awesome, I promise, but that’s it you know. I don’t want to see this guy again,” Moreno said.
“Right now I’m so happy, I’m excited, I’m ready to fight, but…I don’t want to see this guy again.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Brandon Moreno above. Moreno faces Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 283 for the undisputed flyweight title in the co-main event.
