'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Brandon Moreno responded to Alexa Grasso naming him as an inspiration.
On Saturday night, Grasso will defend her women's flyweight title in a trilogy bout against Valentina Shevchenko in the UFC 306 co-main event, which goes down inside the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dana White has claimed the spectacle will be the "greatest sporting event of all time" due to the theatrics and effects.
UFC 306 will be a special night for Grasso, as the event will honor Mexican Independence Day with a "love letter to Mexico." Before making the walk, the women's flyweight queen answered various questions at Wednesday's media day.
Grasso was asked about Mexican UFC fighters who inspired her before she became a world champion. The 31-year-old responded by saying:
"Of course, Brandon Moreno. He was the first Mexican champion. Like I said, when you see someone that achieved something, but you don't know them, they aren't from your country, you've never been surrounded by them, but it's different when you have met the person, trained with him, is from the same country, has stepped on the same line as you."
Grasso continued:
"It's different when you watch someone having success that you said, 'Oh my god, he's from the same place I come from, it's real.' He was a really huge, huge inspiration for me and for tons of Mexican fighters."
Grasso's comments were posted on Instagram by MMA Fighting. Former UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno reacted to the reigning women's flyweight queen's kind words with the following message:
"Muchas gracias Alexa 🙏🙏🙏🔥🔥🔥"
Watch Grasso praise Moreno at the UFC 306 media day below:
What's next for Brandon Moreno in the UFC?
Brandon Moreno is coming off back-to-back split decision losses against Alexandre Pantoja and Brandon Royval. The 30-year-old now looks to get back on track and strengthen his presence in the UFC flyweight title picture.
On Nov. 2, Moreno will headline a fight night event in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The number two-ranked flyweight has been matched up against the number three-ranked Amir Albazi, who last fought in June 2023 in a close split decision win against top contender Kai Kara-France.
Moreno and Albazi have a massive opportunity to show why they deserve a title shot against Pantoja. It's unclear what's next for the Brazilian after his latest defense against Steve Erceg in May.
