Tag: Marlon Moraes

Ex-UFC Title Challenger Marlon Moraes Confirms Retirement From Active Competition

Marlon MoraesFormer WSOF (World Series of Fighting) bantamweight kingpin, and one-time UFC title challenger, Marlon Moraes has retired from active competition – spelling an end to a decorated 15-year professional mixed martial arts career. Marlon Moraes, a native of Nova Friburgo occupied the #14 rank in the official bantamweight pile at the time of his retirement […]

Marlon Moraes

Former WSOF (World Series of Fighting) bantamweight kingpin, and one-time UFC title challenger, Marlon Moraes has retired from active competition – spelling an end to a decorated 15-year professional mixed martial arts career.

Marlon Moraes, a native of Nova Friburgo occupied the #14 rank in the official bantamweight pile at the time of his retirement – most recentl suffering a heavy first round knockout loss against Song Yadong on the main card of UFC Vegas 50 back in March. The defeat came as Moraes’ fourth consecutively. 

Moraes’ manager, Ali Abdelaziz confirmed his client this Wednesday evening along with a statement from the Brazilian to The Underground reporter, John Morgan.

“I want to thank everyone – Sean Shelby, Dana White and the UFC for giving me so many opportunities,” Marlon Moraes wrote. “I want to thank my family, my coaches, my manager, everybody who has been around and been part of my career. I’m still gonna be around the sport helping young guys and helping my friends. I also want to say thank you to Mark Henry, Ricardo Almeida, Frankie Edgar, and Anderson França.”

Retiring from professional mixed martial arts boasting a 23-10-1 professional record, Moraes, 33, who plys his trade at American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida – managed to clinch the now-defunct WSOF bantamweight title with a 2014 win over Josh Rettinghouse, before landing a total five successful defenses of the promotion’s title. 

Marlon Moraes entered the UFC off the back of a stunning 13-fight undefeated run

In his UFC debut back in June 2017 in his native Brazil, Moraes would suffer a close, contentious split decision loss to compatriot, Raphael Assuncao – before embarking on a four-fight winning streak – defeating John Dodson, Jimmie Rivera, the aforenoted, Assuncao – and scored a highlight-reel knockout win over current champion, Aljamain Sterling.

Once challenging for undisputed bantamweight gold, Moraes unsuccessfully landed the vacant crown during a battle against then-flyweight best, Henry Cejudo – who rallied from a one-sided opening affair to stop Moraes with a third round barrage and become a two-weight champion.

In his most recent professional victory, Moraes defeated former featherweight champion and fellow Brazilian striker, Jose Aldo, with a split decision at UFC 245 in December 2019.

Fighters React To Yadong’s KO Of Moraes At UFC Vegas 50

Song Yadong showed why he’s a future bantamweight title contender in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 50. Yadong earned a spectacular first-round KO of former title challenger Marlon Moraes at the UFC Apex this evening, extending his win streak to three. For Moraes, the loss was his fifth in six fights, all of which…

Continue Reading Fighters React To Yadong’s KO Of Moraes At UFC Vegas 50 at MMA News.

Song Yadong showed why he’s a future bantamweight title contender in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 50.

Yadong earned a spectacular first-round KO of former title challenger Marlon Moraes at the UFC Apex this evening, extending his win streak to three. For Moraes, the loss was his fifth in six fights, all of which have come via KO or TKO.

Still only 24 years old, Yadong has fought in the UFC since 2017. His record in the promotion now stands at 8-1-1, while his overall record reads like that of a fighter far more advanced in years, at 19-5-1. With a victory over #10 ranked bantamweight Moraes, it’s likely we’ll see #14 ranked Yadong enter the top ten in the coming days.

You can catch the highlights of the co-main event below.

This was Yadong’s third win in a row.

Now, let’s see how fighters reacted to the co-main event of UFC Vegas 50.

UFC Vegas 50: Santos vs. Ankalaev Results & Highlights

MMA News is providing ongoing coverage of UFC Vegas 50. We’ve got you covered with live results, video highlights, and post-fight tidbits.

Continue Reading Fighters React To Yadong’s KO Of Moraes At UFC Vegas 50 at MMA News.

Song Yadong Knocks Out Marlon Moraes – UFC Vegas 50 Highlights

Song YadongSong Yadong scored the biggest win of his career at UFC Vegas 50. The Chinese youngster started fast against Marlon Moraes dropping his man in the opening seconds of the fight. Moraes started to work his way into the bout but it seemed to be a matter of time before he got cracked again. Yadong […]

Song Yadong

Song Yadong scored the biggest win of his career at UFC Vegas 50.

The Chinese youngster started fast against Marlon Moraes dropping his man in the opening seconds of the fight.

Moraes started to work his way into the bout but it seemed to be a matter of time before he got cracked again.

Yadong landed a picture-perfect right uppercut that closed the show inside the first round.

Check out the highlights.

UFC Fight Night 203 Results: Ankalaev Beats Santos via Decision in Main Event

Magomed Ankalaev scored a big unanimous-decision win over Thiago Santos in the main event of UFC Fight Night 203 from the Apex facility in Las Vegas on Saturday…

Magomed Ankalaev scored a big unanimous-decision win over Thiago Santos in the main event of UFC Fight Night 203 from the Apex facility in Las Vegas on Saturday…

REPORT | Marlon Moraes Targeted To Meet Song Yadong At UFC Event On March 12.

Marlon MoraesOne-time UFC bantamweight title challenger, Marlon Moraes will attempt to bring a halt to his three-fight losing skid on March 12. as he draws top-15 contender, Song Yadong at a UFC Fight Night billed event. At the time of publication, the promotion has yet to officially confirm a venue or location for the showcase. Moraes, […]

Marlon Moraes

One-time UFC bantamweight title challenger, Marlon Moraes will attempt to bring a halt to his three-fight losing skid on March 12. as he draws top-15 contender, Song Yadong at a UFC Fight Night billed event. At the time of publication, the promotion has yet to officially confirm a venue or location for the showcase.

Moraes, the #9 ranked bantamweight in the organization, suffered his third consecutive knockout defeat at UFC 266 back in September, dropping a second round loss to Merab Dvalishvili. 

For Yadong, the Chinese striker prospect earned the #14 rank in the official bantamweight pile back in November with a high kick and subsequent follow-up strikes knockout win over Julio Arce. The victory came as Yadong’s seventh under the UFC’s banner. Farah Hannoun of MMA Junkie was first to report the pairing of Moraes and Yadong. 

Marlon Moraes attempts to halt his three-fight knockout skid against Song Yadong on March 12.

Before his loss to Dvalishvili, Moraes, a former WSOF bantamweight champion had suffered other damaging knockout losses to recent headliner, Rob Font, and a wheel kick knockout loss to Cory Sandhagen in October of last year on ‘Fight Island’.

Moraes, who once challenged for undisputed bantamweight gold is without a win since a close decision triumph against compatriot, former featherweight champion, Jose Aldo at UFC 245 in December 2019. 

Before his vacant title loss to Henry Cejudo, the Nova Fribrugo striker would amass an impressive string of four straight wins against John Dodson, Jimmie Rivera, Raphael Assuncao, as well as stopping current bantamweight champion, Aljamain Sterling with a highlight-reel high kick knockout. 

Team Elevation MMA staple, Yadong boasts an impressive 7-1-1 promotional record since his transition to the UFC back in 2017. 

The 24-year-old’s sole blemish came opposite Kyler Philips in a decision loss back in March of at UFC 259. 

Yadong holds promotional victories over the likes of Marlon Vera, Alejandro Perez, Casey Kenney, and Vince Morales to name a few.

A light heavyweight clash between one-time division title challenger, the #5 ranked contender, Thiago Santos and the surging #6 rated Dagestan native, Magomed Ankalaev is slated to take the headlining status on the card. Marlon Moraes and Song Yadong are now set to join the undercard.

Marlon Moraes Targeted To Return Against Song Yadong In March

Former UFC bantamweight title challenger Marlon Moraes will look to get back in the win column against Song Yadong at a March 12 event.

MMA Junkie was among the first to report news of the targeted matchup.

Moraes most recently fell to Merab Dva…

Marlon Moraes, Song Yadong

Former UFC bantamweight title challenger Marlon Moraes will look to get back in the win column against Song Yadong at a March 12 event.

MMA Junkie was among the first to report news of the targeted matchup.

Moraes most recently fell to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 266 via second-round TKO. After nearly finishing the fight in the first round, Moraes appeared gassed, and Dvalishvili took advantage of it with a barrage on the feet and ground.

Moraes has had a tough recent run of fights inside the Octagon. After losing the title fight against Henry Cejudo at UFC 238, he squeaked out a split-decision win against José Aldo before losing three straight. Before the loss to Cejudo, Moraes had been considered one of the most dangerous bantamweight contenders in the world.

Moraes has also suffered tough losses to top contenders such as Rob Font and Cory Sandhagen, both of whom are in the upper echelon of the division.

With the bantamweight division being as stacked as it is in many eyes, Moraes desperately needs a win to remain in the conversation at 135 pounds.

Marlon Moraes Faces A Tough Task In Song Yadong

Another Turning Point For Song Yadong | UFC
Song Yadong. Image Credit: UFC.com

Moraes will face a rising prospect in Yadong, a 24-year-old juggernaut who has won back-to-back fights against Julio Arce and Casey Kenney. He is widely regarded as one of the top prospects to watch in 2022 and beyond.

Yadong made his UFC debut in 2017 against Bharat Khandare, earning a first-round submission before winning four straight bouts. He’s earned wins over the likes of Vince Morales and Marlon Vera during his run in the promotion.

Moraes and Yadong are both fiery strikers who could provide a potential Fight of the Year matchup in the first quarter of 2022. The winner could get back into title contention at bantamweight.

What is your early prediction for Marlon Moraes vs. Song Yadong?

Continue Reading Marlon Moraes Targeted To Return Against Song Yadong In March at MMA News.