Andrew Ravens
When a reporter asked Brandon Moreno during a recent press event whether he would be interested in competing at the UFC White House event on June 14, the former flyweight champion did not hold back his distaste for the idea.
“Brother, I want you to tell me why I would want to be there,” Moreno stated, his frustration clear to everyone in attendance.
While many fighters across the roster have carefully navigated the political spectacle of the upcoming June card, the UFC veteran had zero interest in playing it safe.
“For what? … I’m not interested,” Moreno concluded, providing the loudest possible rebuke of the UFC White House conversation.
Moreno has long been a proud representative of his home country, famously carrying the Mexican flag into the octagon during some of the sport’s most memorable moments. As the first Mexican-born champion in the promotion’s history, he is deeply tied to his cultural identity and national pride.
The UFC White House card has drawn considerable attention and controversy since its inception. Several athletes have actively campaigned for a spot on the historic lineup, while others have quietly distanced themselves from the organization’s political crossover.
Moreno captured the flyweight championship by submitting Deiveson Figueiredo in 2021, kicking off a series of bouts that defined the division for several years. Instead of looking toward Washington, D.C., he is currently preparing for a return to his home country.
He is scheduled to headline UFC Fight Night at Arena CDMX in Mexico City this Saturday, February 28, 2026, where he will face late-replacement Lone’er Kavanagh. Moreno, currently ranked number six in the flyweight division, is looking to rebound from a TKO loss to Tatsuro Taira at UFC 323 last December.
