WSOF champion Marlon Moraes: I see Garbrandt ‘as a little bit better than Dillashaw’

WSOF bantamweight champion addressed the possibility of fighting in the UFC, as well as his praise of the likes of T.J. Dillashaw, Dominick Cruz, and Cody Garbrandt.

WSOF bantamweight champion Marlon Moraes continued his dominant reign in the division, as Josenaldo Silva was unable to continue after injuring his knee in the 1st round of their December 31st clash in New York City. The win marked 5 straight successful defenses for Moraes, who’d nearly finished Silva about a minute before the injury occurred.

Moraes (18-4-1) spoke with Phoenix Carnevale after the event, and while he recently signed a new long-term deal with World Series of Fighting, he was asked about how he’d react if he had the opportunity to fight the top bantamweights in the UFC. His response was pretty straightforward.

“Pay me well and I’m going to fight.”

When the subject of cross-promotion was brought up, Moraes seemingly put the onus on the UFC to find a way to make it happen.

“They know my number and they know my manager’s number,” Moraes said. “They just gotta make a call and make a proposal. If I like it, I’m going to go.”

The 28-year-old is regarded as one of the best 135ers currently not on the UFC roster. He did watch UFC 207 the night before his fight, and had high praise for the featured bantamweights on that pay-per-view.

“I was very surprised with the level that MMA is in now,” Moraes said. “I was very surprised at how good T.J. Dillashaw, Cody Garbrandt [vs.] Dominick Cruz, how good was their fight, you know? Even my coach, [Anderson Franca], we were talking about it, and [we’re] like, ‘man these fights are good, these guys are good!’ but I am on the same level.”

Moraes also believes that new UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt would beat T.J. Dillashaw, who is expected to get the next title shot.

“I think his boxing is good,” Moraes said. “I see him now as a little bit better than Dillashaw.”

Video of his interview can be seen at the top of the page.

WSOF bantamweight champion addressed the possibility of fighting in the UFC, as well as his praise of the likes of T.J. Dillashaw, Dominick Cruz, and Cody Garbrandt.

WSOF bantamweight champion Marlon Moraes continued his dominant reign in the division, as Josenaldo Silva was unable to continue after injuring his knee in the 1st round of their December 31st clash in New York City. The win marked 5 straight successful defenses for Moraes, who’d nearly finished Silva about a minute before the injury occurred.

Moraes (18-4-1) spoke with Phoenix Carnevale after the event, and while he recently signed a new long-term deal with World Series of Fighting, he was asked about how he’d react if he had the opportunity to fight the top bantamweights in the UFC. His response was pretty straightforward.

“Pay me well and I’m going to fight.”

When the subject of cross-promotion was brought up, Moraes seemingly put the onus on the UFC to find a way to make it happen.

“They know my number and they know my manager’s number,” Moraes said. “They just gotta make a call and make a proposal. If I like it, I’m going to go.”

The 28-year-old is regarded as one of the best 135ers currently not on the UFC roster. He did watch UFC 207 the night before his fight, and had high praise for the featured bantamweights on that pay-per-view.

“I was very surprised with the level that MMA is in now,” Moraes said. “I was very surprised at how good T.J. Dillashaw, Cody Garbrandt [vs.] Dominick Cruz, how good was their fight, you know? Even my coach, [Anderson Franca], we were talking about it, and [we’re] like, ‘man these fights are good, these guys are good!’ but I am on the same level.”

Moraes also believes that new UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt would beat T.J. Dillashaw, who is expected to get the next title shot.

“I think his boxing is good,” Moraes said. “I see him now as a little bit better than Dillashaw.”

Video of his interview can be seen at the top of the page.