Former two-time UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno took to Instagram to give his thoughts on his last loss, and announced that he will be taking a break from MMA for a while.
Moreno (21-8-2) captured the imagination of an entire nation and MMA fans putting together one of the more storied careers in MMA history. Moreno went from being cut from the promotion to returning and winning the UFC flyweight title in 2019.
He, along with Deiveson Figueiredo, put together four fantastic bouts which Moreno ultimately finished by walking away with the flyweight title for a second time. Following the rivalry he dropped the belt to Alexandre Pantoja, and ultimately fell short of a rematch by losing to Brandon Royval in February.
Moreno said in an 8-minute video posted to IG that he was not walking away permanently, but taking a much-needed rest to heal his body and mind.
The video is available below, and a translation has been added under it.
* Translated by Cageside Press
View this post on Instagram
“Hey, how’s everybody doing? I hope you’re doing well.
It’s been a month that I haven’t uploaded or said anything. By the time I recorded this message it’s been about a month since my last fight in Mexico.
I’ve used this time to be on my own a bit, to think about life, be with my girls and my family. Be with my wife, and try to enjoy the fruits of my labor.
This message is more to give thanks. I haven’t wanted to post much on social media. Normally, even when taking a break, you still take a look at your social media. This time I stepped away from it a bit because I needed to take a mental break from everything.
I’m feeling much better, happier, and I wanted to take the time to thank everyone that helped me in camp, everybody in Puebla that helped me, my team. I’m very grateful.
All of my coaches, they all know it, but the truth is that I’m very grateful to them for their work.
What can I say? Even after a month I’m still trying to go through what happened.
I’m thankful for the walk to the octagon, in Arena Ciudad De Mexico, it was super cool. It was very special and very beautiful. Last time I was there was in 2019 and people knew me and cheered me on, but nothing like this time around. Everybody cheering my name, singing my song, that’s beautiful, very cool, and I appreciate it very much.
At the same time it’s frustrating because I worked very hard for the win. The truth is that camp was great, tough, I was able to stay away from injuries.
I put all of my heart in earning the win, and it didn’t happen.
I’m on a two-fight losing streak, but they’re two losses that one could argue that I won. At the end of the day a loss is a loss even though one opponent had to go to the hospital with me, and the other left in a wheelchair.
I’m at a point in my life that I’m doing the job, dedicating myself to the gym and to training, but the results aren’t there and it’s very frustrating.
It’s something that makes me very sad, but I’ve always found a way to come back.
I’m tired. I’m tired of the media, the same questions every time, the environment.
Everything that I’ve carried on my shoulders these last few years, at this point, my mind feels stressed out and tired, and I need a break.
This doesn’t mean I’m completely leaving the sport, but I do plan to take some time to rest. To be with my family, to live a normal life, be with my daughters, and do new and different things. Things that, due to my complete focus on training and fighting, I haven’t been able to do.
Now I want to rest a bit. This isn’t goodbye or anything like that. Be patient with me. I need my body and mind to recover and then we’ll be back to doing things the right way.
Last time this happened, when I came back, I became world champion. I’d like to think that I’ll do the same thing this time and regain my title.
I still believe I’m an incredible fighter, I have all of the characteristics and abilities to become champion again, but I’m just tired.
Outside of that everything is great.
I’ll remember the event on February 24 thinking of all the Mexicans that did win. (Manuel) ‘El Loco’ Torres, Daniel Zellhuber, (Edgar) Chairez, Yazmin (Jauregui), they lifted the flag way up high and we need to continue to support them. I’m sure that in the next few years we’ll see more Mexican talent taking part in major UFC events.
The people that support me do it at 100% and I don’t know how to repay that.
To everyone that continues to support me throughout the good and the bad….at this point the only thing I can promise you is that I’m going to keep fighting. I’m going to keep going forward and trying to get back on the right path and I’ll do everything I can to rise up once again.
Why not? I can. I’m going to be world champion again. I just need my body and mind to rest.
To all my haters, enjoy this moment.
A big hug to everyone, and we’re good. Let’s go!”
Watch the entire video message in Spanish above.
