Brandon Moreno opened my eyes UFC title was achievable

LAS VEGAS – Brandon Moreno proved to Mexico that they’re able to producing UFC champions, and that features Yair Rodriguez, who’s on the hunt for undisputed standing.

Rodriguez (16-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) received the UFC interim featherweight title in February and appears to unify the belt at Worldwide Battle Week, this Saturday towards champion Alexander Volkanovski in the primary occasion of UFC 290.

Forward of such a monumental second in his profession, Rodriguez revealed the position of Moreno’s historic win in turning into the primary Mexico-born UFC champion again in 2021.

“First off, I need to categorical that Brandon Moreno, he’s an inspiration for me,” Rodriguez advised reporters in Spanish on the UFC 290 media day Wednesday. “He was the primary to win a UFC title for Mexico, and in a means, he opened my eyes.

“I’ve at all times identified that issues could be achieved. After I entered the UFC I noticed that issues had been doable, that issues had been actual, however he opened my eyes much more and mentioned, ‘Look, bro. Right here’s the UFC belt. Now every part past this is determined by the person.’ I’m proud to be sharing a card collectively, and that we’re representing Mexico in my case unifying the title and his defending it. However yeah, phrases can’t categorical how proud and joyful I’m to be on this place.”

Moreno competes within the co-main occasion of UFC 290, the place he defends his flyweight belt towards Alexandre Pantoja. That is the primary time in UFC historical past that two Mexican fighters struggle in championship bouts on a single card.

Rodriguez is joyful to be making historical past for Mexico and pushing his nation’s legacy in MMA.

“It looks like a particular second, after all,” Rodriguez mentioned in English. “However regardless this can be a particular second not just for Brandon and I, and all of the Mexican individuals and fighters competing on this card, we’re people, we’re going through our personal methods. Despite the fact that we’re a crew, a Mexican crew, we’re in search of our personal legacy. I’m joyful to be a part of what any person else is doing as properly, like Brandon Moreno, an enormous story behind all of us. I’m simply joyful to be a part of it.”

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 290.