UFC's Ultimate Pokémon Fan: Rousey's Legacy vs. Moreno's Collection

The upcoming release of "Pokémon Champions" on April 8, 2026, has reignited discussions among MMA enthusiasts about which UFC fighter is the ultimate Pokémon superfan. The perennial question often revolves around whether anyone can surpass Ronda Rousey's well-documented passion for the franchise.

About Pokémon Champions

"Pokémon Champions" is a new, battle-focused title set to launch on Nintendo Switch, utilizing a free-to-start model akin to "Pokémon Unite." This game emphasizes core mechanics like elemental types, unique Abilities, and strategic team formations of six Pokémon for both Single and Double Battles. It will offer ranked, casual, and private online modes, supported by optional paid bundles and a premium battle pass. A day-one update will enhance visuals for the Nintendo Switch 2, and the game is poised to become the official platform for Video Game Championships events in 2026. This title is designed for strategic, competitive player-versus-player (PvP) online battles, where players assemble and tune their Pokémon teams using in-game currency to climb leaderboards, including formats recognized by the official Pokémon World Championships.

Ronda Rousey's Enduring Pokémon Fandom

Ronda Rousey's connection to Pokémon runs exceptionally deep, making her a strong contender for the title of the UFC's biggest fan. In a 2015 Reddit AMA, she revealed her past as a moderator for a "Pokémon Stadium 2" forum on GameTalk under the username "mew182," proudly identifying as a "big-time Pokémon nerd" during her teenage years. Her favorite Pokémon is Mew, and she has engaged in detailed hypothetical combat scenarios, such as choosing to face a single Mew-sized Mewtwo over 100 Mewtwo-sized Mews, illustrating her tactical understanding. Rousey has even playfully imagined how her signature armbar technique would apply to Pokémon like Throh, the Judo Pokémon, showcasing a level of intricate engagement with the game's mechanics and characters far beyond casual interest.

Brandon Moreno: The Modern Collector

More recently, Mexico's former flyweight champion, Brandon Moreno, has emerged as a prominent figure for Pokémon fandom within MMA, largely due to his extensive collection of Pokémon cards and memorabilia. Moreno has frequently discussed his serious dedication to buying and trading Pokémon cards during podcast appearances, highlighting his commitment to collecting outside the octagon. His downtime often involves searching for rare pulls and discussing his favorite cards, which defines a different facet of Pokémon enthusiasm compared to Rousey's—more focused on the physical trading card game and collecting culture rather than online forums and in-game lore.

The Ultimate Fan Debate

While Brandon Moreno represents the contemporary face of Pokémon collecting in MMA, Ronda Rousey's long-standing and deeply personal fandom—rooted in early internet forum culture, specific game knowledge, and a declared "nerd" status from her youth—gives her a uniquely powerful historical claim to being the UFC's ultimate Pokémon fan. As "Pokémon Champions" prepares to propel competitive battling into a new era, the affinity between the Pokémon franchise and MMA culture appears destined to strengthen.