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#2. Jose Aldo vs. Marlon Moraes (Bantamweight)
The former king of the Featherweight division came down to the Bantamweight division looking for a new challenge. Jose Aldo may have survived a scary weight cut, but as stated by the man himself, the old Aldo is dead and the Bantamweight version could be the fastest and most dangerous Aldo that the fans have witnessed.
However, his opponent was the #1 ranked Marlon Moraes, who was looking for a big win that would get him another shot at the Bantamweight title.
Round 1: Aldo moved around and tried to press Moraes in the early stages.
However, Marlon cracked Aldo with a beautiful switch kick to the head. He followed it up with a big combo that rattled Aldo for a few seconds. Jose, however, laughed it off and moved on.
Moraes kept moving backwards to create the distance for his strikes. Aldo kept following him and went for punches to the body. Marlon was getting the better of the exchanges as he waited and then landed the overhand right that connected to the left side of Aldo's head.
Jose's defence was solid as the shots hit the guard. Moraes landed a solid inside leg kick followed by a left up top. Marlon kept backing off but he was landing more in the first round. Aldo picked up the pace in the final few minutes by landing a few big combinations. Moraes ate two massive right hand-shots before clinching and taking the former Featherweight Champion down to the mat until the end of the round. Moraes looked a little gassed in the end as he rested over Aldo. 10-9 Moraes
Round 2: Moraes came in with two jabs and another switch kick to the body. Aldo finally unleashed one of his famous kicks as he sent one to the right leg of Moraes.
Moraes landed a few good jabs but Aldo kept walking his opponent down. Aldo landed a few solid jabs before landing a clean uppercut.
Jose was getting into the groove while Moraes wasn't doing much to get his opponent's respect.
Moraes got his game together by rocking Aldo with a big right. Marlon's pace slowed down as the combinations looked sluggish. Aldo touched Moraes with the jabs. Moraes attempted a wheel kick but Aldo saw it coming. Aldo went for a wild flying knee but missed.
He looked mad as he landed a huge uppercut. Aldo absorbed all the incoming shots and relentlessly walked Marlon down. Marlon ended the round with a snappy jab. 10-9 Aldo
Round 3: They showed some respect with a hug before the final round got underway.
Aldo landed a crisp right to get the third round going. Aldo continued the press and landed the jabs and punches to the body. Aldo was winning the fight on the scorecards and Marlon needed a big moment to change the outcome in his favour.
Jose just didn't let Marlon off the hook as he hounded him everywhere he went. Aldo connected with two jabs and a quick straight right with a minute left to go
Marlon suffered a cut near his left eye, who landed a left kick and a right. Moraes changed levels before landing a combination up top. He followed it up with a sharp right.
Both men went the distance.
Result: Marlon Moraes def. Jose Aldo via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
That was a controversial decision, to say the least. The boos after the decision was announced said it all. Moraes stated in the post-fight interview that he was ready to give Aldo a rematch.
Did Moraes deserve the win or did Aldo get robbed?
