Five years ago at UFC 263, Brandon Moreno defeated Deiveson Figueiredo by rear-naked choke, securing the submission after taking Figueiredo's back from a takedown. The victory made Moreno the first Mexican-born fighter to claim a UFC championship.
Five years ago on this date, Brandon Moreno etched his name into UFC history at UFC 263, submitting Deiveson Figueiredo with a rear-naked choke to become the first Mexican-born fighter to capture a UFC championship. Moreno secured the finish by taking Figueiredo's back from a takedown, turning a grappling exchange into a landmark moment for Mexican combat sports.
Moreno, nicknamed "The Assassin Baby," is now 32 years old and carries a professional record of 23-10-2. The Tijuana native competes in the flyweight division, where he currently sits ranked second. Fighting out of Fortis MMA, Moreno brings an active offensive game, landing 3.84 significant strikes per minute while also averaging 1.36 takedowns per 15 minutes. His submission attempts average of 0.4 per 15 minutes underscores the grappling threat he demonstrated that night in convincing fashion.
Figueiredo, known as "Deus da Guerra," was the reigning champion heading into that bout. The Brazilian is now 38 years old and holds a record of 25-6-1. He has since moved up to bantamweight, where he is currently ranked fifth. Figueiredo remains a high-output grappler in his own right, averaging 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes, and his 53 percent striking accuracy reflects his precision on the feet.
Why it matters
- The victory broke a historic barrier, making Moreno the UFC's first Mexican-born champion across any division.
- The two fighters met a total of four times, forming one of the most celebrated rivalries in flyweight history.
- Moreno's current ranking of second at flyweight keeps him positioned as a significant force in the division even years after that defining night.
