Brandon Moreno: Frustration Statements with Fists

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Over the last few months, Ultimate Fighting Championship flyweight Brandon Moreno has been passed over twice for a shot at division kingpin Deiveson Figueiredo. As the second ranked fighter in the weight class, those promotional decisions have perplexed him; those decisions have also served as a motivator. He plans to focus his frustrations on UFC 255 opponent Brandon Royval and looks to make a statement on his title worthiness that UFC President Dana White can no longer deny.

“I think sometimes [the UFC] takes the situation very personal. Maybe that’s the reason. For me it’s never personal. This is the business. It’s his company. When they have this kind of decision, I’m always saying in my mind it’s his company. It’s his business. Nothing is personal, but my [job] is to win the fight and make a statement for everybody there. For [UFC matchmaker] Mick Maynard, for Dana White; there in the UFC Apex. And after I win the fight, I will say something really nice,” Moreno told Sherdog with a sly grin.

In his conversation with Sherdog, Moreno talked in-depth about not being chosen as the championship replacement opponent for Figueiredo, and why he is hesitant about airing his frustrations publicly. He then broke down his match-up with Royval on Nov. 21 in Las Vegas.