UFC 245 results: Marlon Moraes squeaks by Jose Aldo via split decision
On Saturday night, Dec. 14, 2019, the UFC caps off their pay-per-view calendar year with a loaded fight card in Las Vegas.
UFC 245 takes place at the T-Mobile Arena and features three world title fights, including the highly anticipated main event for the welterweight title between Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington.
Leading into the three title fights, a bantamweight matchup between Marlon Moraes and Jose Aldo takes place on the main card. Moraes is looking to bounce back from his most recent appearance at UFC 238. Moraes took on Henry Cejudo for the vacant bantamweight title and was finished in the third round. Prior to his first attempt at UFC gold, “Magic” picked up first round finishes of Aljamain Sterling, Jimmie Rivera and Raphael Assuncao.
Standing across the Octagon will be a former, longtime world champion and, arguably, the greatest featherweight in UFC history in Jose Aldo. The 33-year-old Aldo makes his bantamweight debut at UFC 245 and was one of the big talking points heading into the event. After a lot of concern over his weight cut, Aldo successfully hit the scales at 136 pounds to make this fight official for Saturday night.
Here is how the bantamweight fight between Marlon Moraes and Jose Aldo went down at UFC 245, including round-by-round scoring. For full results of the event, check them out right here.
ROUND 1
At first glance, Jose Aldo looks pretty good as he has put some size back on. Moraes, who closed at nearly a 2-1 favorite, looks extremely relaxed as he enters the Octagon for the second of back-to-back bantamweight fights to kick off this main card. Marc Goddard gets them started as they touch gloves. Moraes lands a huge left switch kick right away and Aldo was on wobbly legs. Moraes throwing big shots and Aldo looks to have recovered. Moraes comes up short with an uppercut and continuously changes stances. Aldo cracks Moraes with a right hand. They circle around the Octagon and Aldo lands a jab. Moraes lands a leg kick as he is more patient than he was in the opening seconds. Aldo with some great head movement as Moraes throws heavy shots, landing a sneaky left hook with under two minutes to go. Leg kick from Moraes lands flush followed by a left hand. Aldo moving forward and has Moraes moving backwards. Under a minute to go. Aldo lands a shot and lands a big punch behind it and has Moraes hurt. Moraes lands a big takedown after eating those right hands and is happy enough to end the round relaxing on top of Moraes.
Magic @MMarlonMoraes turning it 🆙 early! 🎩#UFC245 pic.twitter.com/NKibsbIYTT
— UFC (@ufc) December 15, 2019
MyMMANews.com scores it 10-9 Moraes
ROUND 2
Second round begins with Aldo moving forward again. Moraes throws a high kick, blocked by Aldo. Leg kick from Aldo, Moraes answers with a hard right hand. Aldo with a right hand to the chest of his opponent. Hard jab from Moraes, but it isn’t stopping Aldo from pushing forward. High kick from Moraes blocked from Aldo once again. Right hand from Aldo over the top grazes Moraes. Left hook to the body by Aldo and an uppercut lands. Right hand from Aldo lands clean, and another, Moraes answers with a big right hand. Aldo eats it. Moraes looks to be slowing down a little bit as Aldo goes back to the body with a right hand. A pair of jabs by Aldo. Wheel kick by Marlon Moraes blocked, but lands a jab behind it. Aldo continuing to move forward in the final minute of the round. Aldo with a jumping knee that just missed Moraes. Big uppercut from Aldo and Moraes moves backwards. Aldo is answering all the questions so far. Moraes with a left hand, Aldo with a jab behind it. Moraes lands the last jab of the round as the horn sounds.
The King of Rio pouring on the pressure! 👑@JoseAldoJunior #UFC245 pic.twitter.com/I9T0L9RvNX
— UFC (@ufc) December 15, 2019
MyMMANews.com scores it 10-9 for Aldo
ROUND 3
They high five at the beginning of a pivotal third round. Right hand from Aldo lands and continues to not let Moraes breathe. Aldo lands another crisp jab. Left hand lands by Aldo and a right hook as well about 10 seconds after. Aldo comes up short with a right hand to the body. Moraes scores with a pair of right hands and Aldo is right in his face. Halfway through the round and Moraes lands a short right hand. Jumping knee from Aldo comes up short leading to a smile from Moraes. They trade shots in the middle of the cage with nothing landing of significance. Aldo with a jab and a right hand. Moraes backs off a bit as Moraes is bleeding from the left eye. Moraes with a right hand, Aldo lands a jab. Final minute of the fight and Moraes lands a body kick, one to the leg behind it. Left hand from Moraes. Final 30 seconds as Aldo lands a knee, Moraes answers with a left hand. Another left from Moraes. Aldo with a combination and the round ends. Close fight but the pressure from Aldo may be the difference.
MyMMANews.com scores it 10-9 and the fight 29-28 for Aldo
Official result: Marlon Moraes def. Jose Aldo via split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29)
