Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Marlon Moraes and Jose Aldo faced each other in a Bantamweight clash tonight (Sat., Dec. 14, 2019) at UFC 245, which took place inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. In a very close, competitive fight, Moraes was awarded the victory.
Moraes opened with an immediate left high kick that clipped Aldo upside the head, rocking the champion. Moraes tried to swarm, but Aldo kept his defenses together and recovered well. Aldo cracked his foe with a counter right hand. Moraes stuck his foe with a jab. Aldo returned the favor with a jab of his own. Aldo checked a low kick. Hook-cross combination landed well for Moraes. Moraes landed a nice overhand on the counter. Moraes scored with an inside low kick and left hand. Aldo stung his foe with a right, then he dug a body shot. Two right hands landed for Aldo, stunning his foe. Aldo swarmed, ate a right hand, then scored with another big right hand. Just as Aldo seemed to be picking up real momentum, Moraes landed a clinch throw and finished the final few seconds in top position.
Moraes stuck his foe with a couple jabs early. Aldo landed a snappy jab of his own. Aldo chopped the lead leg, partially ate a counter cross. Aldo continued to pressure heavily. Aldo snuck another right hand to the chin. Moraes ripped a hook to the body. Aldo attacked the mid-section. Hard jab from Aldo, followed by two hooks to the mid-section and a clean uppercut. 1-2 from Aldo scored. Aldo stabbed at his opponent with a trio of straight shots. Moraes cracked him with another counter overhand, but Aldo ate it well. Aldo scored to the body once more. Moraes answered with a nice jab. Aldo landed partially with a jump knee. Left hook landed for Moraes, but another uppercut from Aldo found its target. Hard jab from Moraes landed clean, but it didn’t deter Aldo’s pressure.
Aldo began the final frame with pressure and body jabs, prompting a huge left swing with Moraes. Moraes snapped his foe’s head back with a stiff double jab. Aldo landed a left hook. The pace slowed a bit, but Aldo kept pressing as his foe circled. Both men looked to land jabs. Aldo chased with a jump knee, landed a counter combo. Aldo stung his foe with a 1-1-2. Good right hand connected for Moraes. Chopping low kick from Moraes. Moraes attempted a takedown, landed a punch on the break. Moraes with a stiff jab. Aldo exploded at the clapper, but neither man landed anything too significant.
Ultimately, this fight proved to be incredibly close, as both men managed to land and absorb significant blows. Aldo’s forward pressure and active jabbing seemed to be the difference maker, but the judges’ decision went to “Magic.”
Result: Marlon Moraes defeats Jose Aldo via split-decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)
For complete UFC 245: “Usman vs. Covington” results and play-by-play, click HERE!