Former UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno recently shared his perspective on the differences between training for mixed martial arts and boxing during an appearance on the Jaxxon Podcast. The Mexican star has been exploring boxing since 2018, offering insights that might surprise combat sports fans.
“I’m going to say this, it’s harder to train for MMA fights,” Moreno explained. “But for being a boxer and just boxing, it’s like very difficult to get all the stuff. You know, as MMA fighter, we think we box and just punch. No, no, no. It’s the head movement, the footwork, you know, the coordination with your feet and your body. It’s super cool.”
However, Moreno believes the transition from MMA to boxing is more manageable than many realize. “Let me say something – coming from mixed martial arts to boxing is super easy, at least for me, because you have to be very focused with wrestling, with jiu-jitsu, with your takedown defense, the striking. With boxing you have to be focused in just one thing, and now you put all your effort and all your focus in just one thing – it’s kind of easy.”
The former champion has been seriously training boxing for several years and plans to pursue it professionally after achieving his MMA goals. “I want to do it, you know, just at the end. Obviously right now I have a goal and a target with mixed martial arts, but after that, I want to try boxing for sure,” he said.
Moreno’s boxing journey began in 2018, and he’s developed a deep appreciation for the sport’s technical aspects. “Boxing really is a sweet science,” he noted. “But you go to boxing and you discover all those things like the coordination, the footwork, the head movement, you know, the punches with the hips. It’s nice.”
The 31-year-old believes this is why more MMA athletes successfully transition to boxing compared to boxers moving to MMA. “That’s why you see more MMA guys going over to boxing. The fans think it’s because boxers make more money. That’s not the case. You don’t see boxers coming over to MMA that often because I don’t think they could do it.”
Moreno pointed to the example of James Toney’s failed UFC debut against Randy Couture as evidence of how difficult the transition is for pure boxers. “That fight was the easiest fight of Randy Couture’s career,” he observed.
Currently in a transitional period in his UFC career, Moreno is eager to return to action and reclaim the flyweight title. His boxing aspirations remain on hold as he focuses on his primary goal: “Be champion again in the UFC, defend my title, and after that, see what happens, right? Like try boxing.”
