The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Daniel Cormier TV - Brandon Moreno on Steve Erceg fight, Cain Velasquez, NOT WINNING in Mexico

Episode Date: March 28, 2025

Brandon Moreno MAKES HIS RETURN to the Daniel Cormier Check-In, ahead of a MASSIVE FIGHT against Steve Erceg to get back to championship contention! The Assassin Baby goes through his losses to Alexandre Pantoja and Brandon Royval, and what changed for him in the win over the extremely skilled Amir Albazi. Plus, Brandon talks about how much he hates weight cuts, and why that's been one of the toughest challenges for him leading up to fights. Moreno also talks to DC about getting back to the top of the division, Mexican food, getting his first UFC win in Mexico, and much more! #Volume #HerdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Hey guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas.

We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it. But, you know, tired and sick. Tired and sick.

Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you. you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy. Not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier.

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telling you exactly what happened. That's where SportsSlice comes in. I'm Timbo, and every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headline. And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slicalife 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. I'm Michelle McPhee, and I've been unraveling the strangest criminal alliance I've ever reported on. A Mormon polygamist and an Armenian businessman.

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Let's go, John. Fine, thank you so much. I got to be honest, I never thought I would hang out with you in Mexico. Why? I don't know. I didn't think that I would come to Mexico and then get to hang out with you. But now I feel like, I live in Gilroy, where there's like a lot of Mexican people. Okay.

I feel more Mexican. I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I don't have heard Mexicans out. I'm more Mexican. Oh, man, I don't think so, man. That's how much credibility you have. Champ, come on. Don't say that. Seriously, bro.

You have to, man. I'm the big Vato. Brother, you come here. That's me. That's my name and kill that. Don't say that. But, man, we have to go and need something good. After you win.

After the win. After the fight. You know, amazing food around, you know? You have the opportunity to try something? I need some suggestions. Okay. week. I'm going to go to lunch here. Guys, I'm joined by the Assassin Baby

Brandon Marino. Thanks for checking for a show. Second time. Mexico City, you've been here multiple times fighting. What does it feel like? How does this one feel compared to the first time you were able to fight Mexico? Yeah. I mean,

this one feels very cool, man. You know, I feel very chill, very relaxed. Like, before I felt some pressure maybe, because you know, it's a huge responsibility. You know, I'm representing my country. JFC is putting a lot of effort to try to expand the mixed martial arts here in Mexico. So I felt that before, but now in this fight, I feel more relaxed, you know.

I feel with less responsibility. I'm just trying to enjoy the moment, enjoy the talk with you, D.C. Come on, brother draw, legend. And that's it, you know? Like, I've been the champion before. I win and I lose the title. But now, I mean, I feel with a lot of experience, and I'm still very young. So I feel a little bit in my prime.

Do you think that the switch in your mindset is because of where the career is right now, it's obviously not where you want it to be, but you kind of can release the pressure of every time, since you came back, right, it was always win, win, win, win, championship fight, championship fight, or win the next fight to get back to a championship fight.

Well, maybe it's not as clear right now, right? So you're able to just go out and compete a little more freely? Actually, yes, you know, and it's crazy. my last five for three rounds was in 2020. After that, I've been fighting in main events, co-meaning events, fighting for titles. So it's crazy. I know I'm so young, but at the same time,

I pass for too much in the past. So, yeah, I'm just trying to be focused after my last fight here in Mexico when I lost against the Royval. I tried to be more chill, spend time with my family, with my wife, with my daughters, and say, like, hey, man, like,

whatever happens in the future, You already won. You've done everything. And you sat out with fighters like Dustin Porter, with other fighters like this. Like, man, I'm from the hood. I'm from, like, I don't have nothing. And now I'm living my dream, you know?

So I try to get the same mentality. And, man, right now I'm just enjoying it. Paul Felder was talking about you fighting in Mexico City. Because you are the guy. Love it or hate it. Even Max Grasso was the champion. It was always about Brandon Moreno. You are the guy in terms of Mexican mixed martial martial.

artist. But with that in fighting in Mexico City comes all that pressure you speak about, but also the people that are drawn to you because, hey, can I get a ticket? Can I get this? I almost fought New Orleans one time. And I started getting that immediately, right? How have you dealt with that this time, opposed to the other times? Because with that responsibility, you feel like you do have to answer those calls. And you got to make sure that all your teammates and everybody's in the building, how do you avoid all those distractions, this time in the fight. And I think that was a huge reality, right?

That's true. Like you say, when you were almost fighting in New Orleans, like every single time you're fighting in Mexico, like all the media, all the people around, and the people get very excited, you know, and they stop you. I spent one month preparing myself for this fight, so I spend one month here in the city,

and the people are so excited for this fight. And they don't care if you win or lost. They support you, you know? Yeah, for sure. But before, I felt that pressure. Like, it's something real. It's something crazy. But now at least I have that different mentality.

And I remember my last fight against Samir Alvasi. Like, I felt the same. Like, you know what? Like, win or losing is the same. Like Kobe Bryant said, like, anyway, I'm going Monday with my family, with my daughters. And I get some vacations, winning or losing. But that's ultimately what's important, yeah? Exactly.

Just the family. Man, for sure. 100%. You know, for so long you have, there was a time where you talked about walking away.

Yeah, for sure. How much went to the decision to return back to fighting and then be able to compete in the way that you have? So, I don't know

if that happened to you when you decide to retire. Like, I lost. I was done. Like, I was done. There was nothing you could have done.

Let me tell you something, man. You ever have a barbecue? You ever have a barbecue? And you go and your, you and your wife, You start talking, or you maybe a couple of Cervaisas, and you just forget about the meat. Yeah?

That was me. I was done. It was all charcoal, burn, like just done. I was done, bro. Like, I knew that it was over. Like, you feel it as an athlete. So the thing is, and I'm going to explain to you, like, I lost a control. I was very sad and I was very disappointed with myself.

And you know what? I mean, in the moment, I was like so angry with myself. Like, I don't want nothing more. That's it. You know? That's over to me. So my team and my family say, hey, man, just chill. Take some time.

Take some time with your family. Go out of the gym a little bit. I spend like two months out of the gym. I don't even step on the gym in those two months. So with the past of the time, I feel like, okay, you start to get excited again to fight, you know? I understand. I mean, you have so many experience, Olympic and all that stuff. So maybe I understand you have a different position than me.

So that's why I feel like, you know what? I don't know. In some point I say like, you know what, no. I mean, I have so much to do. I have so many years to give to this sport, yeah. You know, I'm so young. I'm no over for sure. You know, the only thing I start to feel more pressure is with the diet, man.

I hate fucking diet. The diet and yeah, it sucks. Yeah, man. Every wake up. Because you're rich, no. When you're rich, you don't like to. Shut out. No, because I wait, wait.

When you're rich, you don't like you're uncomfortable. I don't know. Dude, you're a rich man. You're a champion. You do TV. When you're rich, you don't want to be uncomfortable. So now you're uncomfortable and rich, right? When you're a starving artist, when you're starving, right?

When you and your family had nothing, you would cut that weight. And then you'd have to cut that way. Easy. But now, you know, you eat steak, love, live good. Fancy restaurants. Fancy restaurants. Every day. Buji restaurants.

Buying Rolex every week. So like, it's like, I hate cutting weight. It's the worst. It's the worst. But yeah, it's the worst for sure, man. So after being a champion for so long, the Roy Val fight doesn't go your way. They give you a mirror al-Bazi. Dude that's riding hot, young guy, like, he's supposed to take you out.

He's supposed to take your spot. But you pitch an absolute shutout, a masterpiece, right? How encouraging was that to know that, hey, man, everything I believe that made me come back is true. Because now you beat a guy that was on a short list of people that was going to fight for the belt. you can introduce yourself back into the picture a little bit. But you know you've got to do more work in order to get back to the title fight. I mean, first of all, that fight gave me a lot of confidence. And made me understand like, no, okay, like, we're still there.

We fought good, man. We still, we have something still there, you know? So that got me a lot of confidence. I went there. That was an statement, not just for the UFC, not just for the people, but for myself. Like, I can't get the bell back. I have to be focused and I have to manage. the pressure better, but I can make it.

I know Pantoja is doing an amazing job with the title, but I know if I beat, and obviously I really believe I'm going to beat Steve Ersek this weekend, I can fight for the title again. But you've been in that situation where you and Davidson fought four times. So you know about getting another title fight, even if you guys have fought on multiple occasions. Speaking of Steve Erseg, was that a surprise to get him,

as the opponent after beating Al-Bazi who was doing so well and Erseg after fighting Pantoja really

well having that performance against Kai Kar-Franc kind of like I mean I expected something different. I know.

I know. I mean, it wasn't to me a surprise to fight against the Erzik because he was already there.

I mean, he fought for the title. He fought very close too. I mean, last year, and the fight

was very close against the champion, right? So I know he was on the map. I don't know. I don't know. I don't, I don't, I don't know in that moment if he was the next one, but I knew he was

there. So, UFC, first table, they offered the fight to Tatsu Tad, I think, but for some reason... Against you, Tatsur Tartor Tartan. Here in Mexico. Yeah. Obviously, I, personally, I don't like to throw shit to the other fighters. He just

just say no, for some reason. This guy. This guy. This guy. Okay. You can't fight Mexico City altitude. I won't say a name, but the first time with K. Somebody shit on himself.

I saw him in the back. Shit on himself, bro. Oh, my goodness. He was so tired from the altitude. He shit his pants. Who? I'm not doing. I can't tell you that.

If I tell him, name this guy, will hate him to mess. Shit his pants in the locker room, Brent. It's hard to fight here. Man, it's always part of the conversation, man. Fighting altitude is hard. But this time, like, three different things. Like, first of all, I started my preparation in Las Vegas.

I saw you that running that deal. chamber that I mean looks like works you know then I use the this thing like it's like a tent like a hyperbar tent yeah epoxy cup I put it in my in my in my house I took naps there I sleep some some nights there and then I was running a lot I was running like crazy like miles a lot of miles so that prepared myself to come here to Mexico City for one month and I was waiting the the first hit of the altitude but never came so that really more confidence yeah so you never felt that like that drag on your chest. No, no, no, I promise you.

I remember my... So you prepared yourself right. I remember the last year when I was prepared myself to fight against Roybal. First week, terrible. I feel so fucking tired. Not to shit, but... Legs heavy, everything. Heavy, my arms, everything.

I remember the first class was Wild Wrestling. So we went live. Man, I was dying. Yeah. But this time, I feel much better. March Madness is here. And for so many kids. college basketball fans.

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What's the news, name? Huge news. We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there.

But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. And we were thinking I'm originally called. calling it one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers. This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes.

I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, people could call in and say, hey, Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform?

We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. guests. The French Open is one of the toughest tests in tennis, and I know firsthand because I competed there myself. I'm Renee Stubbs, and on the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast, I'm breaking down everything happening at Roland Garris, every match, every upset, and what it really takes to win on Clay. Jenchian win. I mean, she went down in three to Rabakina, but I'm delighted. She's an

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on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free, our Heart Radio app. Search, Learn the Hardway, and listen now. So Steve Erseg is a guy that has tremendous skills. He made his way up to a title fight. It's very, very fast. So when you look at him and break him down because you're a smart guy, right? You do the broadcast for the Spanish broadcast and everything. When you break him down as an opponent, where do you feel like you hold

the biggest advantage because your boxing is high level? But that's where he's best at too. Right? So are we in for a fight like that where you guys are just being boxing? Actually, it's funny because I was like a student in the field and I think was you and Felder or Dominic But you was there And they were saying like Oh, the boxing skills of this guy is the best The division So that is stuck a little over here

Like okay Now you get to get to show him All right, all right So it's interesting because yes He's very good with his boxing He's very complete You know he's part of the elite of the Of the sports so

Good grappling, good jiu-jitsu Good wrestling But I think His specialty is the boxing He has really good distance, a lot of precision, really good counters. So with that being said, we made the plan, you know? Yeah. I have to, that's the thing, man.

Sometimes I'm trying to be smart on the fights, but, man, something happened, man. Something happened there, man. And we're trying to put pressure. And you just go. Yeah. So in Mexico City, you're one, two and one? Something like that. Yeah.

So I lose two and I had one draw. One draw. So you owe two and one. Yeah. So you need to get a victory. Right. Could you imagine that moment, right, where because you've been this guy to Mexican mixed martial arts, you haven't had success here, you haven't had that when you felt it, when you leave the octagon and everybody's screaming, cheering. I know. That's the best.

The best emotion. But you haven't had that. You've had that in places, but not here. Yeah. Can you ever, like, sit and think to what that would feel like on Saturday night? Man, I've been cooking that moment so long, man. I mean, the first time I fall here was 2017. And then 19, then 24, man, I've been cooking that moment for so long. And I'm excited to leave that moment, you know? I just, for sure I want that moment in my career, you know.

I don't want to leave this sport in the future and say like, oh, you know, I had to do this and that. So that one is one of the things I want to do for sure, man. And I'm excited. And even when I fought in Mexico, because obviously UFC know the business, they put me in, in a Mexican market, in Anaheim, in Dallas, in Arizona. So, you know, watching all the Mexican flags. Yes, crazy. It's not going to be different this weekend.

I've never heard a arena louder than when Kane Velasquez fought here. For sure. Or when he fought Los Angeles. Okay. Los Angeles was crazy and then here was even better. Are you keeping up with Keynes deal? Have you seen what happened with King Velasquez? Oh, man, yes.

It's very sad, you know. And I know for you is even more sad because you're a very close friend of him. But that shows you how legality and justice is not the same, and that's very sad. Yeah. I just wish him all the power to manage this moment for sure. Yeah, pray for the big champion.

I know. Fuck, man. And so many people are praying for you as you head into this main event this weekend. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. Guys, Brand Marino takes on Steve Urs. Seg this weekend. Make sure you taping everything this man is doing. Follow him on X, Instagram. Do you do Facebook? Are you too young for that?

Yeah. No, I have Facebook. You have Facebook? Yeah. A lot of young people don't do Facebook anymore. It's very annoying. It makes me feel always. Thank you. What? I'm talking to them at the desk, too. Until next time, I like to subscribe and tell you friends from watching the channel. I'm talking to people like the assassin baby. Peace.

Hey, guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions.

Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it, but, you know, tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bip. Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier.

This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Michelle McPhee, and I've been unraveling the strangest criminal alliance I've ever

reported on. a Mormon polygamist and an Armenian businessman. Multi-million dollar house, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, a billion dollar fraud. But how long can this alliance last? Tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me?

Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. And nobody's telling you, exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. In every episode, we're cutting through the noise,

breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headline. And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves. Their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast,

or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.