ATLANTA – Marlon Moraes intends to make good on his first crack at UFC gold. He is predicting a knockout of Henry Cejudo at UFC 238.
After T.J. Dillashaw (16-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) gave up the UFC bantamweight title because of a U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USDA) issue that resulted in a two-year suspension, the UFC needed to book a fight for the vacant belt.
Moraes (22-5-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) got the call and will meet UFC flyweight champ Cejudo (14-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC), who is moving up a division, to decide the next champion for the weight class in the June headliner. Cejudo has vowed that he’s not going to let UFC have a champion who, “looks like Mr. Clean and talks like Michael Jackson,” but Moraes said he won’t be stopped in the octagon.
“I’m going to silence ‘The Messenger,’ my friend,” Moraes said at the UFC’s recent news conference announcing many of its second quarter fights. “No more gold medal, no more fight with the belt. That’s it. I’m going to knock you out.”
UFC 238 takes place June 8 at United Center in Chicago. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and UFC Fight Pass.
Cejudo has upped his vocal game since his victory over Dillashaw at UFC on ESPN+ 1 in January. Moraes said he’s going to “handle this very well,” and is focused on what he needs to do inside the octagon in order to win.
Moraes, the former WSOF bantamweight champion, is a stellar 17-1 in his past 18 fights. He owns three consecutive first-round finishes against top competition in Raphael Assuncao, Jimmie Rivera and Aljamain Sterling.
None of those names have been UFC champions, though, and Cejudo has proven to be one of the most exceptional and successful athletes in combat sports history. Every challenge has a conquerer, though, and Moraes is confident his time to shine comes at UFC 238.
“I’m ready and it’s the biggest fight of my life,” Moraes said. “It’s time to become a champion.”
For more on UFC 238, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.
