Connect with us

MMA

Brandon Moreno opens up on layoff before return

Published

on

Brandon Moreno opens up on layoff before return

EDMONTON, Alberta, Canada – Brandon Moreno didn’t understand how much he needed to get out of the spotlight until he actually stepped away.

A former two-time UFC flyweight champion, Moreno (21-8-2 MMA, 9-4-2 UFC) returns to competition Saturday for the first time in more than eight months when he takes on Amir Albazi (17-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC) in the UFC Fight Night 246 main event at Rogers Place (ESPN+).

After he lost the belt to Alexandre Pantoja by split decision in July 2023 then dropped another split decision to Brandon Royval in February on home soil in Mexico, Moreno knew something wasn’t right.

He’s competed in seven consecutive championship or main event fights dating back to December 2020. During that time, Moreno became a figurehead of fight sport in his country.

Advertisement

The weight of all that caught up to Moreno in more ways than one, he said, and it was the primary driving force behind the hiatus.

“I am the first Mexican world champion,” Moreno told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 246 media day. “The guy from a huge country with a lot of support on a person. That person is me. It’s not just the training camp. It’s not just the fight. Now it’s about the media, about the responsibilities, the travels, the media tours. I don’t know. Maybe I’m a pussy. Maybe I’m a weak person. Maybe other fighters can say, ‘Hey, that’s nothing. Shut the f*ck up and keep going.’ Maybe that’s true, but talking about myself: That’s something huge.

“I’ve been on the grind like two, three years in a row. Fighting in an amazing spot, being around the world, doing a lot of work, a lot of media days. I’m a human being, man. And at some point, it exploded my mind. And that’s why I decided to take a break.”

Moreno, 30, admits the temptation to come back sooner was strong. He was offered a fight at UFC 306 in September, which is the promotion’s celebration of Mexican Independence Day, and he nearly jumped at it.

Advertisement

Ultimately, though, Moreno’s inner circle reminded him of the bigger picture, and he came to senses.

“When I decided to take a little break of competition, it was fine in that moment,” Moreno said. “But after that, like three weeks after, I started being like, ‘Damn, I want to fight. I want to fight.’ But then my wife, my family and my coaches were like, ‘Hey, you have to take a break. You have to take it serious. You have to rest. Be with your family. Be with your daughters. Make more nice moments with them first.’ I had to tell myself. I had this fight with myself and my mind to take this break serious.”

Now that he’s back, Moreno said all his mental challenges are behind him. He displayed his trademark smile and positive demeanor throughout a nearly 20-minute media day session, and admitted to rediscovering a joy for the process.

“My energy right now feels amazing,” Moreno said. “I feel so hype. It’s crazy how my last two training camps I didn’t feel like this. I feel all the stress, all the responsibilities. At some point that exploded my mind and I wasn’t really enjoying these kind of moments. Now I feel like before when you start your career with the UFC.

Advertisement

“I tried to recover my body, recovery my mind, heal some injuries that were bothering me in my last training camps. Now I feel perfect.”

Moreno said he holds Albazi, who has yet to be beaten inside the octagon, in high regard. He is confident in his ability to fight, and said his recent situation was one that never had much to do with a question about his abilities.

The split decision defeats to Pantoja and Royval could’ve swung in his favor, so Moreno returns with a full understanding what he’s capable of.

“I feel very frustrated because even when I lost my last two fights, I feel in my prime,” Moreno said. “I feel very strong. I feel stronger. I feel with better technique. I feel with more knowledge about the fight game. Just the result isn’t what I’ve been having in my last couple of fights. Now my goal is to show that to the world. To show all my hard work at the gym, and that’s it.”

Advertisement

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 246.

Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

MMA

UFC Edmonton post-fight show: Reaction to Brandon Moreno’s vintage performance against Amir Albazi

Published

on

UFC Edmonton post-fight show: Reaction to Brandon Moreno’s vintage performance against Amir Albazi

Brandon Moreno finally got back in the win column and he did it in style.

On Saturday night the UFC returned to Canada and in the main event, Moreno stopped a two-fight losing streak with a dominant unanimous decision victory over Amir Albazi in the main event of UFC Edmonton. Plus, earlier in the evening, Erin Blanchfield got back in the win column with a hard-fought decision over two-time strawweight champion Rose Namajunas.

Following Saturday’s event, MMA Fighting’s Jed Meshew and Alexander K. Lee react to the big outcomes that took place at UFC Edmonton and where Moreno and Blanchfield go from here. Plus, the crew discusses the rest of 13-fight card that very nearly broke the record for longest UFC event of all-time, and more.

Watch the UFC Edmonton post-fight show above, or an audio-only version of the show can also be streamed below and on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever else you get your pods.

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Football

76ers star Joel Embiid verbally confronts, then shoves, Philadelphia reporter

Published

on

76ers star Joel Embiid verbally confronts, then shoves, Philadelphia reporter


A visibly angry Joel Embiid shouted at and eventually shoved a Philadelphia newspaper columnist in a locker room altercation after the struggling Philadelphia 76ers lost to the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night.

The NBA quickly said it has opened an investigation into the matter.

Advertisement

Embiid took issue with Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes, who mentioned the All-Star center’s late brother and his son — both named Arthur — in columns questioning Embiid’s professionalism and effort not being in shape after playing in the Paris Olympics. Embiid has yet to play for the 76ers this season.

As reporters entered the locker room to talk to players, Embiid stood and confronted Hayes.

“The next time you bring up my dead brother and my son again, you are going to see what I’m going to do to you and I’m going to have to … live with the consequences,” Embiid said to Hayes.

Advertisement

Embiid continued, with several instances of profanity in the next few sentences. Hayes offered an apology, which Embiid did not want. “That’s not the f——— first time.” Embiid said.

Embiid later said that he doesn’t care what reporters say. “But you do,” Hayes answered.

Embiid appeared to get louder at that point, and not long afterward pushed Hayes on the shoulder while the team’s public relations chief got between them. Another PR person moved Tyrese Maxey’s interview to the hallway outside the locker room, trying to clear reporters.

At the same time, a team security person asked the media not to report on what had happened. Embiid yelled over the security guard.

Advertisement

“They can do whatever they want,” Embiid said. “I don’t give a s—-.”

Embiid had called Hayes out in a press conference following practice on Friday at the team’s training facility, referring to him as “Marcus, whatever his name is” and questioning critics of his prolonged absence.

Hayes recently wrote a story saying that Embiid disrespects the 76ers and the game, and that the team should consider giving fans refunds when Embiid doesn’t play.

“I’ve done way too much for this … city to be treated like this, done way too … much,” Embiid said Friday. “I wish I was as lucky as other ones, but that doesn’t mean that I’m not trying and I’m not doing whatever it takes to be out there, which I’m gonna be here pretty soon.”

Advertisement

Hayes was not at the practice on Friday. It remains unclear when Embiid will play, and the NBA probe will determine if disciplinary action is warranted.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

[Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]

Advertisement

Get more from National Basketball Association Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more




Source link

Continue Reading

MMA

Brandon Moreno styles on Amir Albazi in big win

Published

on

Brandon Moreno styles on Amir Albazi in big win

Former UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno returned to the win column with a stellar performance against Amir Albazi.

The flyweight bout was the UFC Fight Night 246 main event at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Moreno (22-8-2 MMA, 10-5-2 UFC) styled on Albazi (17-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) over the 25-minute fight, earning unanimous scores of 49-46, 50-45 and 50-45.

The fight started with a measured pace, with both fighters working behind jabs. Moreno’s primary weapon was the left hand, which set up the occasional combination. Albazi looked for a few leg kicks in his offense but was outstruck by the former champion in the opening round.

Moreno found success early in Round 2 with a solid left head kick that wobbled Albazi. After quickly getting up from a takedown, Moreno continued to lead the dance with effective striking on the feet, stumbling Albazi with a punch in the last minute.

Advertisement

With Albazi bruised and bloodied, Moreno poured on the pressure early in Round 3, getting a bit sloppy at times as he tried to create a big moment. Albazi found a home for a few solid punches, but Moreno quickly settled back in and continued to lead the fight.

Albazi’s corner implored their fighter to ramp up the aggressiveness heading into the championship rounds. That’s easier said than done against Moreno, who was loose and flowing with his offense.

In Round 4, Albazi did let his hands go more, but Moreno was more than willing to quickly return fire as he maintained control of the center of the octagon.

Albazi entered the final round needing a finish, but he was met with an aggressive Moreno, who came out fighting like he was the one down on the scorecards.

Advertisement

Shortly after an eye poke to Moreno caused a brief pause in the action, the former champ cracked Albazi with a big punch. The Canadian crowd responded with chants for Moreno.

The Mexico-born fighter wasn’t done yet, though.

He stayed on the hunt, cracking Albazi with more punches, and even attempted a rolling thunder kick in the closing seconds to end the fight with flair.

The result ended a two-fight skid for Moreno, as he ended up on the wrong end of a pair of split decisions against Alexandre Pantoja in a title fight at UFC 290 and Brandon Royval in a February main event.

During his post-fight interview, Moreno expressed his desire to dive into a full plate of food, but more importantly, regain his flyweight title and once again rule the 125-pound division.

For Albazi, his return to action for the first time since last June did not go his way, as he struggled to find momentum. As a result, his six-fight winning streak comes to an end with just his second loss as a pro.

Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 246 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 246.

Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

MMA

UFC Edmonton bonuses: Youssef Zalal’s brutal club-and-sub stoppage earns extra $50K

Published

on

UFC Edmonton bonuses: Youssef Zalal’s brutal club-and-sub stoppage earns extra $50K

Youssef Zalal’s return to the UFC has been quite lucrative.

Zalal earned an impressive second-round submission win over Jack Shore after landing a picture-perfect knee at UFC Edmonton to improve to 3-0 in his second stint with the promotion. The incredible finish earned Zalal a Performance of the Night bonus for Saturday’s event — which makes it back-to-back bonus winning submission victories.

The UFC awarded four Performance of the Night bonuses for their latest Fight Night event, with no Fight of the Night honors on the list.

Dustin Stoltzfus took home an extra check for his brutal first-round knockout upset win against Marc-Andre Barriault in a main card middleweight contest. Canada’s own Jasmine Jasudavicius and Charles Jourdain also walked away with bonuses following their submission victories on the card.

Advertisement

Jasudavicius tapped Ariane da Silva in the third round to pick up her third straight win, and second career UFC post-fight bonus. Jourdain submitted Victor Henry in the second round to cap off a successful debut in the bantamweight division.

All four fighters earned an extra $50,000.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

MMA

Brandon Moreno def. Amir Albazi at UFC Edmonton: Best photos

Published

on

Brandon Moreno def. Amir Albazi at UFC Edmonton: Best photos

MMA: UFC Fight Night – Edmonton – Moreno vs Albazi

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Football

Last-minute winner sees Walsall comeback to beat Bolton

Published

on

Last-minute winner sees Walsall comeback to beat Bolton



Watch highlights as League Two high fliers Walsall come from a goal down to stun Bolton Wanderers with a last-minute 2-1 victory in the first round of the FA Cup.



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2024 WordupNews.com