Three Mexico-born fighters currently hold a version of a UFC championship, but zero events are scheduled for their home country.
The promotion has witnessed a boom in Mexican talent in 2023, but it has yet to book an event in the neighboring country. There’s been many fighters pushing for a fight card in Mexico, but perhaps none more than UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno – who made history by becoming the fist Mexico-born champion in the UFC back in 2021.
Moreno is hoping to one day defend his title in Mexico City. He knows this year seems unlikely, but he’s hoping that the UFC hosts an event in his home country sometime in the first half of 2024.
“I think the UFC has resources to come back, and even Dana White said that he’s making a mistake by not taking advantage of the moment and not going to Mexico,” Moreno told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “As a fighter, not sure how to put it, but you have some kind of power or some sort of influence on the company. You best believe that I’ve spoken about it with people from the UFC brass, and they can’t really give a clear answer.
“But I do my part: I’m winning the fights, I have the title, and I’m asking them to please go to Mexico. All that’s left to do is to wait for the UFC to get on board with the idea. I do believe they have all the tools, they have it all to go to Mexico. It would be really cool for that event to happen in the first half of next year. But like I said, as an athlete, all I can do is keep fighting and winning my fights, and keep persistent with the interest of making it happen. Also, fingers crossed and staying positive that Yair (Rodriguez) and Alexa (Grasso) are going to keep doing excellent work.”
The UFC has traveled to Mexico a total of six times in its history: Once in Monterrey, and the other five in Mexico City at the Arena CDMX, which is the biggest venue in the country.
Moreno is confident he can sell out the arena at this point in his career, which seats a little over 22,000 people.
“I think we can do it,” Moreno said. “I don’t like to brag, but I think we can summon enough people to fill up Arena CDMX. We can accompany that with two or three Mexican fighters to reinforce that card. But definitely, I want to fight there, and I want the Mexican shout in that arena.”
Despite not having an event booked for Mexico, it still doesn’t take away from the country’s success and the other things the UFC is doing to grow the sport there, like building a UFC Performance Institute in Mexico City.
Moreno is joined as champion by Alexa Grasso, who won the women’s flyweight belt by submitting Valentina Shevchenko in March, and Yair Rodriguez, who submitted Josh Emmett to win the interim UFC featherweight title.
Mexico had its chance to get a fourth champion this past Saturday, as Irene Aldana challenged Amanda Nunes for the women’s UFC bantamweight title in the main event of UFC 289. Unfortunately for Aldana, she lost a unanimous decision.
Moreno is confident Aldana will bounce back, and feels defeat doesn’t take away from the stellar year Mexico has had in the octagon.
“It’s obviously sad because we wanted to see her win, and as a Mexican, that’s someone we wanted to see get her hand raised, but it didn’t happen,” Moreno said. “… This by no means is the end of Irene. She will bounce back from this. But looking at it, we’re still three champions – two undisputed and ‘Pantera,’ whose interim, but he’s unifying against Alexander at UFC 290.
“The country is going through an incredible period. The UFC PI (in Mexico City) will soon inaugurate. I think we’re going this well. I don’t like to be too optimistic, I like having a centered approach. There’s work still to be done, but I think Mexico is on a good path.”
Moreno returns to the octagon on July 8 in the co-main event of UFC 290. He defends his flyweight title against Alexandre Pantoja, who’s defeated him twice before – once professionally and once in an exhibition.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 290.
