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Adriano Moraes is not feeling the pressure of the moment as he goes into arguably the biggest fight of his mixed martial arts career.
The former ONE flyweight world champion will attempt to recapture gold for an unprecedented fourth time on May 5 when ONE Championship presents ONE Fight Night 10 on Prime Video. Standing in his way will be the reigning ONE flyweight world titleholder, Demetrious Johnson.
Splitting victories in their previous two meetings, the two flyweight superstars will attempt to close out the trilogy with the upper hand and 26.4 pounds of gold wrapped around their waist.
Ahead of the highly anticipated flyweight clash, Adriano Moraes spoke with the South China Morning Post regarding his mindset going into his third meeting with the pound-for-pound great:
“There’s no pressure. Of course, I’m going to fight against a guy who just knocked me out, so it’s different feelings. But I’ve been here before and I can’t wait to put on a show for everybody.”
Adriano Moraes scored a shocking second-round knockout over ‘Mighty Mouse’ in April 2021. 16 months later, Johnson evened the score with a spectacular flying knee knockout in the fourth round of their ONE on Prime Video 1 main event.
Less than nine months removed from their sequel, the pair will run it back once and for all in front of a raucous crowd at the 1stBank Center in Colorado.
Watch the interview below:
Adriano Moraes believes a bad weight cut contributed to his loss at ONE on Prime Video 1
Ahead of his second meeting with Demetrious Johnson in August 2022, Adriano Moraes was able to successfully make weight for the flyweight showdown, but it wasn’t without some difficulty.
Failing his hydration test for the first time, Moraes was able to make the weight on his second attempt but depleted his body in the process, leaving him exhausted and unable to fully recover in time to compete at 100%:
“Unfortunately, for my first time ever I missed my hydration test for the first time. When I came back to make the weight and didn't lose my world title on the scale, I gave my best one day before. I got my body really exhausted. When I think of the fight, in the championship rounds, I felt it a little bit. Demetrious Johnson just enjoyed this opportunity very well.”
It was in the championship rounds that ‘Mighty Mouse’ was able to land a highlight-reel-worthy flying knee that caught Moraes on the chin, immediately rendering him unconscious.
Fans in North America can watch the conclusion to MMA’s greatest flyweight rivalry live and free on Amazon Prime Video in U.S. primetime on May 5.
