Written by UFC 263 was an incredible pay-per-view, showcasing great strength, determination, and perseverance. What was most surprising, however, was what happened after the first title fight of the night.
Deiveson Figueiredo, the defending Flyweight Champion had a rematch with the same man he fought in December, 2020, Brandon Moreno. Their last fight was a constant flurry of punches, trading blows back and forth. It was electric. The seed of a rivalry was planted as Figueiredo was awarded the belt. Moreno showed great sportsmanship, he gave a quick hug and congratulations to Figueiredo after the loss, solidifying his position as a class act. A rematch was highly anticipated, and even Dana White was excited.
Their rivalry is budding after the rematch on Saturday was won by submission. Moreno avenged his prior defeat with a guillotine choke, from which Figueiredo was forced to tap out in round three. Moreno not only won the fight, but became the first ever Mexican-born champion in UFC history.
All too often, especially in combat sports, there is a lot of bad blood. From twitter rants to trash talk in the ring, bad blood is a part of the sport. However, just as Moreno became the first ever Mexican-born champion, he also joined an elite group of “nice” UFC champs, reminding everyone that you don’t have to be a hard-boiled badass in order to become a UFC champion.
Charles Barkley once said, “I’m not a role model.” He was largely misinterpreted. He meant that kids should be raised by their parents, not the athletes they see on television. While he is absolutely right about that, it doesn’t mean that kids shouldn’t look to their favorite athletes to pick up on good habits surrounding work ethic, dedication and how to carry themselves.
Brandon Moreno should be one of those athletes that kids look up to. He was all smiles, from the press conferences, to the weigh in, and fight night, too. He maintained his professional stature and confidence, without changing for anyone.
After the fight, even Figueiredo couldn’t resist showing the new champ some love, going all the way as to pick Moreno up and hold him in the air. In his post fight interview in the ring, Moreno had nothing but good things to say about his opponent, his corner, and his journey. He worked as hard as he could and then some, and it paid off.
While the UFC most likely isn’t the first place a person would look for a role model for their child, it doesn’t mean the potential for one isn’t there. If Moreno can be a good person and UFC champion, the sky’s the limit for not only him, but also anyone who recognizes the value in bringing positivity with you, everywhere you go.