Brandon Moreno refreshed by break from MMA: ‘I really feel very motivated’

MIAMI – Brandon Moreno needed to step away from the combat sport.

He wasn’t injured. He wasn’t seeking to do one thing else or retire. He had sufficient and wanted to take a break from what he loves most.

Moreno, a former UFC flyweight champion, shocked many by asserting earlier this 12 months that he was stepping away from MMA competitors briefly. Though on a two-fight skid, Moreno was simply 30, extremely ranked and thought of arguably the largest identify within the division.

“In some unspecified time in the future the obligations, duties and all of the stresses makes you not get pleasure from as a lot what you initially liked,” Moreno informed MMA Junkie in Spanish. “I really feel that approach once more and that makes me very glad as a result of each time that I felt that approach, I’ve all the time carried out properly.”

Moreno (21-8-2 MMA, 9-5-2 UFC) is formally again and scheduled to headline a UFC Battle Evening in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, on Nov. 2. He takes on prime contender Amir Albazi (17-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC).

The Mexican fighter wasn’t gone for lengthy; he most just lately fought in February. In truth, he’s had larger lulls in between fights earlier than. But, the break was not a lot the time, however about placing a pause on issues.

“Proper now, I discover myself in a extremely good second,” Moreno mentioned. “The time I used to be away from MMA actually helped me to clear my head and be with my household with out serious about combating.

“Though I used to be solely doing one or two fights a 12 months, I might combat, and instantly I might already be requested when my subsequent combat can be and in opposition to who. When you may have an opponent and date set, you might nonetheless be two, 4 months away, however you may have that combating chip inside you, and also you’re not one hundred pc relaxed. I took this time to breathe and simply spend time with my daughter and spouse and simply get pleasure from life.”

Moreno used the time to rehab some accidents and attend his physique. Though he says the break was much-needed, he can’t lie and say he didn’t miss combating.

“As an athlete you’re additionally accustomed to coach day-after-day, the competitors, so there’s a level whenever you’re like, ‘Man, I need to return,’ however you need to combat your self so you’ll be able to loosen up and wind down,” Moreno mentioned. “I really feel very motivated to combat at this second.”