Brandon Moreno Bio
Brandon Moreno Carrillo, born on December 7, 1993, in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, is a Mexican professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Nicknamed “The Assassin Baby,” he is a former two-time UFC Flyweight Champion and the first Mexican-born athlete to win a UFC championship. A professional competitor since 2011, Moreno is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished flyweights in the promotion’s history.
Standing 170 centimeters tall with a reach of 178 centimeters, Moreno has compiled a professional record of 23 wins and 8 losses, with 11 of those victories coming by submission. He holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and currently trains out of Fortis MMA in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he also resides. As of February 27, 2024, he was ranked the number two flyweight in the UFC.
Early Life and Background
Brandon Moreno Carrillo grew up in Tijuana, Mexico, in a city known for its strong combat sports culture. As a young fan, he described himself as a devoted boxing follower, though he had little awareness of other combat sports during his early years. His curiosity for martial arts expanded when he became interested in capoeira, a Brazilian art form that blends dance, acrobatics, and music.
Unable to find a capoeira school in Tijuana, Moreno searched for an alternative and stumbled upon a local mixed martial arts gym. This chance discovery redirected his athletic path, as he began training in kickboxing and jiu-jitsu. The early combination of striking and grappling laid the foundation for his versatile fighting style and set him on a course toward a professional career.
Path to MMA
Moreno’s introduction to professional mixed martial arts came in April 2011 when he debuted at Ultimate Warrior Challenge Mexico. Over the following two years, he built a competitive foundation, recording six wins and three losses in his native country. His performances during this developmental period showed promise, particularly in his submission skills, which became a defining element of his game.
In 2014, Moreno signed with the World Fighting Federation, where he went undefeated at 5-0 and captured the Flyweight Championship. His success in the regional circuit earned him a place on The Ultimate Fighter: Tournament of Champions in 2016, where he was selected as a member of Team Benavidez. Although he lost his opening-round bout to Alexandre Pantoja, his appearance on the show introduced him to a wider audience and led directly to his UFC opportunity.
Brandon Moreno Career
Early UFC Career (2016–2018)
Brandon Moreno Carrillo made his UFC debut on October 1, 2016, against Louis Smolka at UFC Fight Night, winning by submission in the first round and earning his first Performance of the Night bonus. He followed that victory with a split-decision win over Ryan Benoit at The Ultimate Fighter: Tournament of Champions Finale and a second-round submission of Dustin Ortiz at UFC Fight Night 108, collecting another Performance of the Night award in the process.
His early run hit turbulence in 2017 when he dropped a unanimous decision to Sergio Pettis. A post-fight test revealed trace amounts of clenbuterol in Moreno’s system, though the United States Anti-Doping Agency accepted his explanation that the substance came from contaminated meat consumed in Mexico and imposed no punishment. After a unanimous-decision loss to Alexandre Pantoja in May 2018, Moreno was released from the UFC roster in late 2018.
UFC Return and Championship Rise (2019–2021)
Following his release, Moreno signed a multi-fight deal with the Legacy Fighting Alliance and won the LFA Flyweight Championship by stopping Maikel Perez in the fourth round at LFA 69. He returned to the UFC in September 2019 and immediately produced a split draw against Askar Askarov that 12 of 13 media outlets scored in his favor. He then reeled off decision wins over Kai Kara-France and Jussier Formiga to re-establish himself as a top contender.
On December 12, 2020, at UFC 256, Moreno challenged Deiveson Figueiredo for the UFC Flyweight Championship in a fight that earned both men the Fight of the Night award. Their five-round majority draw was hailed as an instant classic. The rematch came on June 12, 2021, at UFC 263, where Moreno submitted Figueiredo with a rear-naked choke in the third round to become the first Mexican-born UFC champion, claiming the Performance of the Night bonus in the process.
Trilogy, Interim Title, and Reclamation (2021–2023)
The trilogy bout took place at UFC 270 on January 22, 2022, where Moreno lost the title by unanimous decision in another Fight of the Night performance. He rebounded at UFC 277 on July 30, 2022, by stopping Kai Kara-France via third-round technical knockout to win the interim UFC Flyweight Championship, securing his third Fight of the Night award along the way.
On January 21, 2023, at UFC 283, Moreno and Figueiredo met for an unprecedented fourth time, the first such quadrilogy in UFC history. Moreno reclaimed the undisputed flyweight crown when the ringside physician stopped the fight before the fourth round due to Figueiredo’s severely swollen eye. The reign ended at UFC 290 on July 8, 2023, when Alexandre Pantoja took the title by split decision in another Fight of the Night battle.
Recent and Current Form (2024–2025)
After a split-decision loss to Brandon Royval in February 2024, Moreno bounced back with a unanimous-decision victory over Amir Albazi at UFC Fight Night 246 on November 2, 2024. He then headlined UFC on ESPN 64 in Mexico City on April 5, 2025, earning a unanimous decision over Steve Erceg in front of a home-country crowd.
Looking ahead, Moreno is scheduled to face former Shooto Flyweight Champion Tatsuro Taira on December 6, 2025, at UFC 323, in a bout that could position him for another title shot.
Notable Events and Milestones
Brandon Moreno Carrillo’s defining moment came at UFC 263, where his third-round submission of Deiveson Figueiredo made him the first Mexican-born UFC champion. His quadrilogy with Figueiredo at UFC 283 marked the first time in UFC history that two fighters faced each other four times. Multiple Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night bonuses have punctuated his UFC tenure, reflecting his consistent ability to deliver memorable performances.
Brandon Moreno Career Wins
Brandon Moreno Carrillo has accumulated 23 professional victories across multiple promotions. His wins are distributed across submissions, decisions, and knockouts, demonstrating a well-rounded and adaptable fighting style that has served him well against a deep flyweight field.
UFC Flyweight Highlights
Moreno’s UFC victory tally includes wins over Louis Smolka, Ryan Benoit, Dustin Ortiz, Kai Kara-France, Jussier Formiga, Brandon Royval, Amir Albazi, Steve Erceg, and Deiveson Figueiredo. His first UFC victory came by first-round submission over Smolka in 2016, and his most recent at the time of writing was a unanimous decision over Erceg in Mexico City in 2025. The two Figueiredo fights in 2021 and 2023 stand as crown-jewel moments, with the 2023 quadrilogy producing the undisputed championship.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside the UFC, Moreno captured the World Fighting Federation Flyweight Championship with a 5-0 run and later won the Legacy Fighting Alliance Flyweight Championship by stopping Maikel Perez. He also reached the finals of the inaugural Combat Jiu-Jitsu Fight Night bantamweight tournament in 2019, winning two matches before falling in overtime.
Brandon Moreno Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Brandon Moreno Carrillo’s parents and extended family remains limited. He grew up in Tijuana, Mexico, and has spoken about how the city’s combat sports culture shaped his early interest in martial arts.
Personal Life
Brandon Moreno Carrillo is married, and he and his wife have three daughters. Outside of fighting, he is an avid collector of Lego sets and a dedicated fan of Funko Pop figurines. He also hosts a Spanish-language MMA podcast called Entre Asaltos, where he discusses fight analysis and his experiences in the sport.
2025 Season Performance
Brandon Moreno Carrillo’s 2025 campaign began with a triumphant return to Mexico, where he headlined UFC on ESPN 64 in Mexico City on April 5 and earned a unanimous-decision win over Steve Erceg. The victory reaffirmed his place among the elite of the flyweight division and gave him momentum heading into the second half of the year.
His scheduled December 6, 2025, bout against former Shooto Flyweight Champion Tatsuro Taira at UFC 323 represents a pivotal opportunity. A win over the rising Japanese contender would likely cement Moreno’s position as the next challenger for the UFC Flyweight Championship and set up a potential late-career run at a third title reign.
Now training out of Fortis MMA in Las Vegas, Moreno appears focused and motivated as he approaches the latter stages of his career. His blend of experience, grappling pedigree, and finishing ability continues to make him one of the most dangerous fighters in the 125-pound division.