ONE Championship’s arrival on U.S. soil is just a few months away. ONE on Prime Video 10 will take place at the 1stBank Center in Colorado on Friday, May 5. Already announced as the main event, ONE Flyweight World Champion Demetrious Johnson will take on Adriano Moraes for the third time.
The trilogy has already had two epic battles. The third will help usher ONE into the United States with its boots on the ground. It is an exciting time for the sport, and Moraes is excited to help lead the charge for the organization.
“I was very happy with this news that the ONE Championship will be holding its first event in the United States. And I’m also very happy because I’m going to fight for the first time in the United States. I really like a quote by Demetrious Johnson where he said, ‘The greatest fighters have always fought on both sides of the world.’ I’ve fought in Brazil, I’ve fought in Asia, and now it’s time to fight in the United States,” Moraes told ONE.
The Brazilian understands this moment is not just important for his legacy but also crucial to the global landscape of mixed martial arts. ONE’s arrival on U.S. soil will bring new and exciting opportunities for athletes who chose this line of work. That, perhaps more than anything else, excites Moraes about ONE’s upcoming U.S. debut event.
“Undoubtedly, it is a very important moment for the company. The company has always dreamed of holding an event on the other side of the world and closing major partnerships. I believe this moment has arrived. It’s a dream that will come true and give fighters many opportunities,” said the former ONE Flyweight World Champion.
But the task at hand will be to take the series from Johnson. Moraes scored a knockout with a grounded knee in the first meeting that shook up the martial arts world. When the two came together at ONE on Prime Video 1, it was Johnson’s knee that exploded on social media. The third bout promises to deliver just as much action.
To help regain his gold, Moraes is relying on what he has learned throughout his career. Resiliency has been a major key for the former flyweight king, as each time he has lost his crown, he was quick to return to recapture the magic. After sharing the Circle with Johnson, Moraes expects to take those lessons and apply them in Broomfield, Colorado.
“It was a big loss for my career. I learned a lot from that defeat. Especially because sharing the cage with one of the best fighters in the world is always a great learning experience. I always like to say that we earn a lot and learn a lot. So, my biggest lesson is that no matter how much we get beaten up inside the cage, life will definitely hit harder. So, we always have to be prepared,” said “Mikinho.”
While Moraes is focused on reclaiming the gold and taking another massive step forward with his legacy, he is still pleased to share the Circle with arguably the greatest to ever compete. It was a dream matchup for the Brazilian that he never thought would happen. Now it will go down in history as an all-time great trilogy.
“Making this trilogy means a lot to me. It’s an honor for me to be able to make history in MMA facing an athlete like Demetrious Johnson – an athlete I never imagined I would face, and now I’m going to fight him for the third time. It’s very rewarding to have this opportunity, and I’m very happy to be doing this trilogy against one of the best fighters in the world,” said Moraes.
Stay tuned for more updates on ONE on Prime Video 10: Johnson vs. Moraes III right here at MMASucka.com. Fans can sign-up for priority access to tickets right here.
