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#2. Adriano Moraes' underrated knockout power
This is perhaps the most underrated aspect of Moraes' game, given that the last time he knocked someone out before 'DJ' was in 2013 in his home country of Brazil. Most people sleep on Adriano Moraes' power only because he doesn't always use it.
'Mikinho' masks it well, too. He uses his footwork and movement to pepper his opponents until they get frustrated and carelessly get inside the pocket. Once in range, Moraes throws with full power. This is what he did with Johnson in their first fight.
The ONE flyweight world champion's short right hand connected cleanly to Johnson's jaw while they were in the midst of a wild exchange. The unexpected angle of the punch plus the power behind it sent 'DJ' crashing to the canvas. From there, the knee-to-face was academic and the MMA legend went to sleep.
Look to see the American fighter be wary of Moraes' striking power in their rematch, now that he's tasted it.
#1. Adriano Moraes' debilitating Jiu-jitsu
This is the most dangerous weapon in Adriano Moraes' arsenal. His blackbelt-level grappling is too much to handle even for seasoned grapplers. Against Johnson and a lot of other fighters, Moraes' trademark top pressure looks like it weighs a thousand pounds.
When Moraes was on top of Demetrious Johnson's guard in their first fight, the American MMA legend found zero chance to shrug the Brazilian off. Moraes' top pressure allows very little space for his opponents to wiggle out as he makes it tight and highly technical.
When it comes to submissions, once 'Mikinho' gets a hold of either your neck or one of your limbs, it won't be good for your health. The Brazilian world champion possesses an otherworldly squeeze.
In his fight with Wakamatsu, Moraes locked in a guillotine choke after the Japanese fighter tried to take him down. The choke wasn't fully in yet but Moraes adjusted the grip without losing it. Soon after that, Wakamatsu tapped out.
Once again, credit Moraes' conditioning as he was able to pull off the submission late in the third round. The guillotine choke is mostly considered a strong-man choke, as it requires a tight squeeze to get the finish. 'Mikinho', despite being almost 15 minutes into the fight, still had a lot left in the tank to squeeze the life out of his Japanese foe.
