UFC 283 - Brandon Moreno on facing Deiveson Figueiredo (again): 'For me, this is Rocky IV'

Yahoo Sports MMA insider Kevin Iole spoke with the UFC interim flyweight title holder against his upcoming bout at UFC 283 in Rio de Janeiro - the fourth meeting between the two fighters.

Video transcript

KEVIN IOLE: Hey, everybody, I am Kevin Iole. Welcome to Yahoo Sports UFC 283 Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, January 21. And the co-main event of that is-- they're doing it again. Do they ever fight anybody else? Brandon Moreno, the Interim Flyweight Champion fighting Deiveson Figueiredo, the Flyweight Champion. Joining me right now, the Interim Champ, Brandon Moreno. And Brandon, do you ever get sick of seeing this guy's face?

BRANDON MORENO: Hey, guys! I promise this is the last one. I will finish this guy and that's it. Let's see the next challengers. But then-- I know. I know it looks like we will gonna to fight, like, forever, right? But no, man, I think it's part of history. And--

KEVIN IOLE: Yeah.

BRANDON MORENO: And it's very unusual. I understand that. But at the same time, it's like, it is a special situation for both of us. I'm just trying to enjoy it.

KEVIN IOLE: I mean, I look at it, Brandon, and I say, you know, you've had great fights. I'm just trying to look here, what is it, two of them were Fight of the Night, one of them you won Performance of the Night. So they're great fights. So why not see it again, right? Especially given the stakes that are involved.

BRANDON MORENO: Yeah, I mean, I'm just making fun about it. Because I understand a lot of people is saying, like, man, again these guys? Again, Daiveson Gigueiredo against Brandon Moreno?

Like I mean, I understand the point. But I mean, it's part of the history. And it's very [INAUDIBLE], like, two guys that fighting each other three times. And it's one draw and one win for each other.

So it's a special situation. But I don't know, I have the feeling inside of me, like, this is the last one. I mean, that's the-- win or lose and that's it. So that's a lot of pressure, of course. But at the same time, I'm so excited to fight against him.

KEVIN IOLE: You're going to his country, in Brazil, for the last one. So does that put any-- make it any more extra difficult to go down there and you have to fight on his turf? Where, obviously, the crowd's not only going to be for him, you know, they're famous chant of "Kill him! Kill him! And all that. They're going to kind of be naturally not looking too kindly upon you.

BRANDON MORENO: Man, for me, this is a "Rocky 4." For me, this is legacy. This is a movie, right? The movie is, like, grinding by himself.

So man, again, of course it's a lot of pressure and extra pressure. Go to Brazil, go to his hometown. And maybe the people will be against me or not. I don't know, man.

I don't know. Let's see what happens. I mean, I can see this scenario, like, maybe how fierce the people will be with Deiveson. But with the pass of the time, with the past of the rounds, I feel I can win the hearts of the Brazilian people here in Brazil.

KEVIN IOLE: Mentally, how do you keep yourself positive? And how have you been able to grow and block out all the negative stuff and just focus on what you need to in order to win a fight?

BRANDON MORENO: Kevin, to be honest, I don't know. Maybe something natural in me. Because I can recognize that, like part of the key of my success is, like, I'm always very positive. And I'm always trying to part the page and see what can do in the future, or what I need to do to be better again.

Again, I understand this fight will be very hard. but I don't know, man, I did a lot of good things for this one. And like you say, I brought my-- the evolution of the sport, by myself, is really cool. Not just in the technical part, but in the mental part.

KEVIN IOLE: Right.

BRANDON MORENO: I grew up, like, a lot, too much. And I'm ready to fight.