Adriano Moraes – “I love challenges, so I’ll go all out to shut his mouth”
Adriano Moraes was the first fight to capture ONE Championship‘s flyweight title, and now coming off the most important title defense of his career, the 32-year-old fighter is set for his latest challenge next week.
“Mikinho” Moraes silenced critics when he defeated former UFC flyweight champion and arguably the greatest 125-pounder to ever compete in Demetrious Johnson at ONE on TNT 1 in April 2021.
Next up for Moraes is 27-year-old Japanese fighter Yuya Wakamatsu at ONE: X on March 26.
The card represents ONE’s 10-year anniversary since promoters Chatri Sityodtong and Victor Cui launched the Singaporean mixed martial arts, grappling, kickboxing and Muay Thai promotion company in 2011.
“ONE X will be the biggest card ever from ONE Championship, and it is an honor to be part of this great event,” Moraes told ONE officials. “I was the organization’s first flyweight champion and now, to be able to defend my title at ONE’s 10-year anniversary show is an honor. And even more with this taste of being able to shut the mouth of this bigmouth.
Wakamatsu has been calling Moraes out for almost a year now. When asked if Moraes is eager to shut him up, the champion’s response was pretty straight forward.
“We already predicted this fight against Yuya Wakamatsu because he doesn’t take my name out of his mouth,” Moraes said. “He won some fights with ugly performances and in the end, he always asked for a title fight. But he comes from good victories, and I believe he deserves to fight for the title. He’s a tough fighter. But come on, isn’t that what he wanted? Now, the time has come for him to get what he’s always asked for.
When sitting at the top, with a championship belt in hand, everyone on the roster wants a shot. When asked if being called out bothers him, Moraes did not seem to be fazed.
It does not bother me,” the champion said. “When you are champion, these things happen. Everyone wants your head. Everyone wants the title, as that is the main objective of fighters. As a champion, I take it as a challenge. I love challenges, so I’ll go all out to shut his mouth.”
ONE X: Grand Finale will broadcast live on pay-per-view at 8 p.m. Singapore Standard Time (SGT)/8 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Saturday, 26 March.
The bout order for ONE X: Grand Finale is as follows:
(c) Angela Lee vs. Stamp Fairtex (ONE Women’s Atomweight World Title)
Rodtang Jitmuangnon vs. Demetrious Johnson (Special Rules Super-Fight)
(c) Adriano Moraes vs. Yuya Wakamatsu (ONE Flyweight World Title)
Shinya Aoki vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama (mixed martial arts – lightweight)
Eduard Folayang vs. John Wayne Parr (Muay Thai – lightweight)
Superbon Singha Mawynn vs. Marat Grigorian (ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Title)
ONE X: Part II will broadcast live at 5 p.m. SGT/5 a.m. ET on 26 March.
The bout order for ONE X: Part II is as follows:
(c) Nong-O Gaiyanghadao vs. Felipe Lobo (ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title)
(c) Capitan Petchyindee vs. Hiroki Akimoto (ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Title)
Ham Seo Hee vs. Denice Zamboanga (mixed martial arts – atomweight)
Itsuki Hirata vs. Jihin Radzuan (mixed martial arts – atomweight)
Kim Jae Woong vs. Tang Kai (mixed martial arts – featherweight)
Finally, the 10-year anniversary show will open with ONE X: Part I, which broadcasts live at 1 p.m. SGT/1 a.m. ET on 26 March.
The bout order for ONE X: Part I is as follows:
Chingiz Allazov vs. Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong (ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix Championship Final)
Reinier de Ridder vs. Andre Galvao (submission grappling – middleweight)
Lito Adiwang vs. Jeremy Miado (mixed martial arts – strawweight)
Amir Khan vs. Ryogo Takahashi (mixed martial arts – featherweight)
Kang Ji Won vs. Paul Elliott (mixed martial arts – heavyweight)
Danielle Kelly vs. Mei Yamaguchi (submission grappling – atomweight)
Ryuto Sawada vs. Senzo Ikeda (mixed martial arts – strawweight)
Asha Roka vs. Alyse Anderson (mixed martial arts – atomweight)
