Brandon Moreno (UFC) Wiki, Height, Weight, Age, Wife, Family, Biography & More

Brandon Moreno is a Mexican professional mixed martial artist who has fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He has competed in the Bantamweight (2011–2014) and Flyweight categories, and has been the former two-time UFC Flyweight Champion. He has been a pro fighter since 2011 and has also competed for the Legacy Fighting Alliance, where he became the Legacy Fighting Alliance Flyweight Champion. He is the first-ever Mexican-born Champion in UFC history. As of 2023, he was ranked #1 in the UFC flyweight rankings.

Wiki/Biography

Brandon Carrillo Moreno was born on Tuesday, 7 December 1993 (age 29 years; as of 2023) in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. His zodiac sign is Sagittarius.

When Brandon was 12 years old, he wished to shed some weight which led his mother to sign him up at the local Entram Gym for mixed martial arts training. He wanted to join a law school and become a lawyer, so he completed his degree in Law School but later chose to pursue a career as a full-time martial artist. Moreno trained at Entram Gym from 2006 to 2022. He has also been affiliated with Bang Muay Thai, Team Elevation, and Glory MMA & Fitness in 2022. Since 2022, he has been training at Fortis MMA. He trained under Raúl Arvizu for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Physical Appearance

Height (approx.): 5′ 7″

Weight (approx.): 57 kg

Hair Colour: Black

Eye Colour: Black

Body Measurements (approx.): Chest: 38″, Waist: 30″, Biceps: 14″

Family

Brandon belongs to a Mexican family. In an interview he said,

I love to be just with my family, and at the same time, I am trying to be very educated, respectful, and nice with the people who are trying to ask for a picture or whatever.”

Parents & Siblings

Brandon’s Mother is Cecilia Moreno, and his Father is Alfredo Moreno. They used to own a pinata show in Baja California.

Wife & Children

Brandon got married to Shirley Moreno in 2011.

They have three daughters. Their first daughter Maddie Moreno, was born in 2014 and is a gymnast. Their second daughter Megan Moreno was born in 2018. Their third daughter, Morgan Moreno was born in 2021.

Relationship/Affair

Brandon dated Shirley since he was 18 years old in high school and later got married.

Religion

Brandon is a Christian. ¹

Signature/Autograph

Career

Early Career

Moreno started his MMA career in Mexico on 16 April 2011 in the Bantamweight category at UWC Mexico 9.5: Iguana. He fought against Atiq Jihad and won the match in the first round by a submission hold, marking the first win of his career. Later, on 25 June 2011, he had a match against Marco Beristain at UWC Mexico 10: To The Edge, and lost the match by a unanimous decision. He then fought Luis Garcia at UWC Mexico: New Blood 1 on 29 January 2012 and won the fight by a submission hold in the first round.

After his fights in Mexico, he had his next fight in Riverside, California at MEZ Sports: Pandemonium against Ron Scolesdang on 6 March 2012. He lost the fight by a unanimous decision after fighting for his first five-round fight. On 19 May 2012, Moreno faced Jonathan Carter in the Xplode Fight Series: Hunted in Valley Center, California. He won the fight by a submission hold in the first round.

On 28 July 2012, Moreno faced Brenson Hansen at CITC 11: Xtreme Couture vs. Southern California, and lost the fight by a unanimous decision. Moreno had his next fight against Jesse Cruz at the Xplode Fight Series in Valley Center, California on 22 September 2012. He won the fight against Cruz by a close split decision. On 23 March 2013, Moreno had a match against Jason Carbajal at MEZ Sports: Pandemonium in Pomona, California. He won the match in the first round by TKO (punches).

Moreno next faced Paul Amaro at MEZ Sports: Pandemonium 9 on 26 July 2013. He won the fight in the second round by a rear-naked choke submission. On 28 June 2014, Moreno had his fight against Alex Contreras at World Fighting Federation 14. He won the fight in the third round by a triangle choke hold submission. On 16 September 2014, Moreno faced C.J. Soliven at World Fighting Federation 16 in Chandler, Arizona, United States as a flyweight contender. He won the match in 58 seconds by a rear-naked choke hold submission to Soliven. In the flyweight debut, he won the vacant WFF Flyweight Championship. After winning the title, he had his first title defence against Matt Betzold on 7 February 2015 at World Fighting Federation 18. He was successful in defending his title by winning the fight by a unanimous decision. He had his second title defence on 25 July 2015 against Tyler Bialeck at World Fighting Federation 22. Moreno won the fight in the by a rake naked submission hold in the first round. On 16 April 2016, Moreno had his third title defence against Isaac Camarillo at World Fighting Federation 27. He won the fight in the first round by a rear-naked choke hold submission. This victory marked his 5 consecutive wins and 3 title defences in the World Fighting Federation.

The Ultimate Fighter

In July 2016, Moreno took part in The Ultimate Fighter: Tournament of Champions as a part of Team Benavidez. He lost his first match to Alexandre Pantoja by submission. However, he made a comeback on 3 December 2016 by defeating Ryan Benoit by a split decision at the Tournament of Champions Finale.

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)

Brandon Moreno made his debut in the UFC in October 2016 along with his continuing fights in The Ultimate Fighter. On 1 October 2016, at UFC Fight Night: Lineker vs. Dodson, Moreno had his first fight against Louis Smolka. He won the fight in the first round with a submission. This win also got Moreno his first ever”Performance of the Night” award.

In his next UFC match, Moreno competed against Ryan Benoit on 3 December 2016, at The Ultimate Fighter: Tournament of Champions Finale. He won the match with a split decision. Later, on 22 April 2017, at UFC Fight Night 108, Moreno faced Dustin Ortiz. He got a win in the second round by submission and earned his second “Performance of the Night” bonus.

On 5 August 2017, at UFC Fight Night 114, Moreno fought Sergio Pettis and lost the fight by a unanimous decision. The next day, on 6 August 2016, a test showed he had clenbuterol in his system. USADA believed it came from the meat he ate in Mexico, so they didn’t punish him.

Moreno was set to fight Ray Borg on 7 April 2018, at UFC 223. But after Conor McGregor broke a bus window, Borg got injured, and the match was cancelled. They planned to reschedule the fight for 19 May 2018, at UFC Fight Night 129. But Borg had to attend for his child’s brain surgery, and he was replaced by Alexandre Pantoja. Moreno ended up losing that fight by a unanimous decision. In 2019, Moreno shared that he had been cut off from the UFC in 2018. In his interview he said,

Apparently, I was cut a while back, like around November, December. I was removed from the rankings, and you know, I was like, ‘what’s going on?’ And I don’t know if I didn’t get all the info, but I thought that I was still with the company and that maybe they were going to find me some space a weight class above, but no. Around January, I understand the situation and realize that I was out of the UFC completely without a possibility of getting a fight. The thing is that we were talking to Sean Shelby, the matchmaker, to see if I could get a fight or not (at bantamweight). What I was told was that the division was full, so I didn’t have my hopes up, but I thought that maybe I was in like a waiting list, but that was never the case. I wasn’t in any waiting list, I was cut. The moment that I found out, I started looking around.”

Brandon Moreno vs Ray Borg

Post-UFC career

Moreno signed a multi-fight contract with the Legacy Fighting Alliance and made his promotional debut on 7 June 2019, against former Flyweight Champion Maikel Perez at LFA 69. Moreno won by technical knockout in the fourth round, and he won the LFA Flyweight Championship.

Return to UFC

On 21 September 2019, at UFC Fight Night 159, Moreno fought Askar Askarov, a newcomer to the promotion. The match ended in a split draw. Later, on 14 December 2019, at UFC 245, Moreno took on Kai Kara-France and won the fight by a unanimous decision. On 14 March 2020, at UFC Fight Night 170, Moreno fought Jussier Formiga and won with a unanimous decision.

For his next fight and the first in his new contract, Moreno was set to compete against Alex Perez on 21 November 2020, at UFC 255. However, due to an injury to Cody Garbrandt, the original opponent for Deiveson Figueiredo, Perez was chosen to replace him. So, Moreno faced Brandon Royval instead and won the fight by a first-round technical knockout.

UFC Flyweight Championship

On 12 December 2020, at UFC 256, Moreno competed against Deiveson Figueiredo for the UFC Flyweight Championship. After an intense five-round fight, the match ended in a majority draw. Both fighters received the Fight of the Night award.

The two faced off again on 12 June 2021 at UFC 263. Moreno managed to submit Figueiredo in the third round using a rear naked choke. This victory made Moreno the first Mexican UFC champion and earned him the Performance of the Night award.

Moreno’s third fight against Figueiredo for the UFC Flyweight Championship was set for 11 December 2021 at UFC 269. However, it was shifted to UFC 270 as the co-main event. Moreno lost the fight and his title through a unanimous decision, but received the Fight of the Night award.

Later, on 30 July 2022, Moreno faced Kai Kara-France in a rematch for the interim UFC Flyweight Championship at UFC 277. Moreno won the fight with a third-round TKO and also earned his third Fight of the Night award. He also received the Crypto.com “Fan Bonus of the Night,” earning $20,000 in Bitcoin for second place.

On 21 January 2023 at UFC 283, Moreno and Figueiredo faced each other for the fourth time, which created a history in the UFC for two fighters to face off 4 times against each other. Moreno won the fight and reclaimed the undisputed title. The fight ended just before the fourth round when a doctor stopped it due to Figueiredo’s eye injury.

Post-Championship quadrilogy

On 8 July 2023, at UFC 290, Moreno had a rematch against Alexandre Pantoja. Moreno lost the match and his title through a split decision. Despite the loss, he was awarded the Fight of the Night award.

 

Awards/Titles/Achievements

Ultimate Fighting Championship

• UFC Flyweight Championship (Two times)
  

  Brandon with his UFC title belt

  

  Brandon won the Flyweight title belt a second time

• Interim UFC Flyweight Championship (One time)
  

  Brandon’s title belt

• First Mexican-born Champion in UFC history

• Fight of the Night (Four times) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo x2, Kai Kara-France and Alexandre Pantoja

• Performance of the Night (Three times) vs. Dustin Ortiz, Louis Smolka and Deiveson Figueiredo
  

  Brandon with his MMA awards

• Second most Post-Fight bonuses in UFC Flyweight division history (7)

• Tied (Joseph Benavidez & Alexandre Pantoja) for third-most finishes in UFC Flyweight division history (6)

• Tied (Demetrious Johnson) for fourth most bouts in UFC Flyweight division history (15)

World Fighting Federation

• WFF Flyweight Champion (One time)
  

  Brandon with his WFF Flyweight Champion belt

Legacy Fighting Alliance

• LFA Flyweight Championship (One time)

MMAjunkie.com

• 2020 December Fight of the Month vs. Deiveson Figueiredo

• 2021 June Submission of the Month vs. Deiveson Figueiredo

• 2022 January Fight of the Month vs. Deiveson Figueiredo

World MMA Awards

• 2021 Breakthrough Fighter of the Year

• 2021 Fight of the Year vs. Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 256

• 2021 Fighting Spirit of the Year for perseverance – from being cut to fighting back and becoming the first Mexican UFC champion

Controversy

Brandon Moreno Responds to Brazilian Fans Following Controversial “Eyepoke” Incident with Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 283

At UFC 283, the fight between Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno was stopped before the 4th round. Figueiredo had a bad cut above his eye. It was first thought that Moreno had intensely committed a foul by an eye poke, but later found out it wasn’t a case of poking, but instead, Moreno confirmed that he punched Figueiredo which caused the bleeding. In the post-fight press, Moreno said,

The hook was clear, right in [Figueiredo’s] right eye. Then, maybe that’s why people were a little confused because I pushed his head with my hand… Maybe that’s why the people were a little bit mad with me.” ²

Car Collection

• Dodge 2019 Charger SRT Hellcat
  

  Brandon’s Dodge car

• McLaren 720S
  

  Brandon with his car

• Camaro
  

  Brandon’s car

• Red Trax Car
  

  Brandon with his red car

Tattoos

He has a quote inked on his left forearm.

He has a star-like pattern tattoo on his right arm.

He has a sword tattoo on his forearm.

He has a tribal tattoo on his right shoulder.

He has a Jiu-Jutsu tattoo inked on his right forearm.

Brandon has a tattoo of Mickey Mouse on the left side of his back.

Brandon has the tattoo of Cuauhtemoc on his inner right forearm.

On his left shoulder, Brandon has a tattoo that symbolizes his love for his daughters.

Salary/Income

• UFC Fight Night: Lineker vs. Dodson: W (Smolka) – $72,500 ($10,000 to show, $10,000 win bonus, $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus, $2,500 Reebok sponsorship)

• TUF 24 Finale: W (Benoit): $26,500 ($12,000 to show, $12,000 win bonus, $2,500 Reebok sponsorship)

• UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Lobov: W (Ortiz) – $80,500 ($14,000 to show, $14,000 win bonus, $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus, $2,500 Reebok sponsorship)

• UFC Fight Night: Pettis vs. Moreno: L (Pettis) – $22,500 ($20,000 to show, $2,500 Reebok sponsorship)

• UFC 223: paid despite the fight being cancelled: $20,000 (UFC paid despite the fight being cancelled)

• UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Usman: L (Pantoja) – $22,500 ($20,000 to show, $2,500 Reebok sponsorship)

• LFA 69: W (Perez) – $4,000 ($2,000 to show, $2,000 win bonus)

• UFC Fight Night: Rodriguez vs. Stephens: D (Askarov) – $36,000 ($31,000 to show, $5,000 fight week incentive pay)

• UFC 245: W (Kara-France) – $67,000 ($31,000 to show, $31,000 win bonus, $5,000 fight week incentive pay)

• UFC Fight Night: Lee vs. Oliveira: W (Formiga) – $71,000 ($33,000 to show, $33,000 to show, $5,000 fight week incentive pay)

• UFC 255: W (Royval) – $75,000 ($35,000 to show, $35,000 win bonus, $5,000 fight week incentive pay)

• UFC 256: D (Figueiredo) – $180,000 ($100,000 to show, $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus, $30,000 fight week incentive pay)

• UFC 263: W (Figueiredo) – $282,000 ($100,000 to show, $100,000 win bonus, $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus, $32,000 fight week incentive pay)

• UFC 270: L (Figueiredo) – $292,000 ($200,000 to show, $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus, $42,000 fight week incentive pay)

Total Career Earnings: $1,251,500 ³

Net Worth

Brandon has a Net Worth of $2 million dollars (USD).  ⁴

Favourites

• Marvel Character: Iron Man

• Pop Culture Store: Funko Pop

• Collectables: Bobbleheads

• Toys: LEGO

• Anime: Pokemon

• Protein Flavour: Chocolate

Facts/Trivia

• Brandon Moreno is famously known as ” The Assassin Baby” in the octagon.

• Brandon hosts multiple podcasts in Spanish for the Mexican martial arts community. ⁵

• Brandon earned major recognition in the world when his octagon interview became viral and people used it to make millions of videos online.

 

• Brandon loves to collect action figures and has a big collection of Marvel action figures at his home. He is also a dedicated LEGO collector and has a giant collection of LEGO merchandise. In an interview he said,
  

  Since I was a child I have been a collector, I collected mugs, for example. Now I put the Funkos together. I was injured, I was training and suffered a second degree tear in my forearm. I had to apply myself to rehabilitation, to be at 100, so I was at home for a while. My wife was going to go to a child’s party, the fact is that she was no longer there, but she had already bought the child some toys. In short, I opened it and started putting it together, the bottom line is that I liked it, it changed my life. Funkos are not so much of an escape valve, I just buy those and put them there. I leave them with everything and box, because that way they look better. I love entering my room, seeing them there, the net never touches them. I’ve never played with them, because I see them and say: ‘how cool they are!’”

  

  Brandon playing with LEGO

  

  Brandon’s action figure collection

• Brandon owns a Black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jutsu.
  

  Brandon with his Black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jutsu

• Brandon has multiple sponsors and collaborations with brands like Puma, Venum, Monster Energy, Game Up Neutrition, Pur3 L1fe, MyBookie, and Sheath.
  

  Brandon became a part of the PUMA family

• After becoming the champion, Brandon started feeling weird when he used to visit places and said that he didn’t know how to deal with people as he is an introvert. ⁶

• Brandon consumes a non-vegetarian based diet.
  

  Brandon’s diet

• Brandon can play guitar and drums.
  

  Brandon playing drums

  

  Brandon playing a guitar

• Brandon has his own official website to showcase his career and get official business inquiries at assassinbaby.com.

• Brandon owns 2 miniature Schnauzer pet dogs.
  

  Brandon with his dog

  

  Brandon with his dog

• Brandon enjoys spending time in the swimming pool and beaches.
  

  Brandon in a swimming pool

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