MIAMI – Henry Cejudo and Brandon Moreno might be on opposite sides, but that doesn’t mean they can’t see eye to eye.
Cejudo, the former two-division UFC champion and now coach to Moreno rival Deiveson Figueiredo, supports and defends Moreno’s decision to leave his long-time team at Entram Gym in search of new horizons at James Krause’s Glory MMA & Fitness in Kansas City, Mo. Moreno is coming off a decision loss to Figueiredo at UFC 270 where he lost his UFC flyweight title.
Cejudo doesn’t think any criticism thrown Moreno’s way is warranted, and even though their friendship is not what it used to be, “Triple C” supports Moreno’s career move.
“He needs to do what’s best for him,” Cejudo told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “… You need to be loyal to your dreams, that’s what being real is about. That’s why I had a lot of success, and that’s why Brandon is leaving his gym in Mexico.
“People, being loyal and being a true Mexican is having balls and getting things done no matter where you’re at. You need to be loyal to your dreams. So congratulations to Brandon. I’m happy he left. I have no ill will towards him or anything like that. We were friends, and he went to train with someone else because I didn’t pick him the first time (in “The Ultimate Fighter”) and from there the friendship ended.”
Moreno and Figuiredo have fought each other three times. It’s the first trilogy in UFC history where all three fights have gone down consecutively. Yet the record remains even – 1-1-1. They fought to a draw in 2020; Moreno submitted Figueiredo in 2021 to win the title; and most recently Figueiredo regained the belt by outpointing Moreno in January.
In the build-up to UFC 270, Figuiredo called Moreno a “traitor” for training with Joseph Benavidez and not Cejudo. The accusations and Figuiredo-Cejudo partnership caused tension between the former friends. But despite being in opposing camps, Cejudo said he still respects Moreno.
“Despite everything that’s happened, I still appreciate him, and I have a lot of love for him,” Cejudo said. “But Deiveson is now with me, and I need to be loyal to him. I treat him like a brother. He’s like a brother to me. I know we haven’t been working very long, but when you know someone and they understand and recognize your philosophy and everything, you say, man, you make a beautiful friendship.
“I appreciate Deiveson Figueiredo, and if we do a fourth fight against Brandon, we’re going to do even better because he’s now believing what we’re telling him. That’s a gift I have. I want to be humble, but it’s the truth. That’s why so many fighters are coming to me for help. I’m giving them the gift that God gave me.”
