At the top of the bill for ONE Championship’s extraordinary U.S. debut on May 5 will be the trilogy bout between Adriano Moraes and Demetrious Johnson. With the flyweight title hanging in the balance at ONE Fight Night 10 in Colorado, Moraes is making sure he is paying attention to the tiniest of details while preparing for battle. For that, he is thankful for his American Top Team teammates.
Adriano Moraes Ready for Furious Trilogy Fight with Demetrious Johnson
“Because it is a trilogy, the preparation is more detailed because we know each other well, but it is intense training the same way [as with any other opponent]. I have great training partners and coaches that help me every day. Katel Kubis for Muay Thai, Steve Mocco and Mike Brown for wrestling, Pitu and Gabriel de Oliveira in boxing, Marcos ‘Parrumpinha’ and Rani Yahya in jiu-jitsu,” Moraes told ONE.
One of the factors under consideration is the elevation in Denver. Moraes has already traveled to the city to begin acclimating to the conditions. The former flyweight king has been thankful for advice from several teammates who have already competed there for how best to prepare for the thin air.
“I have some training partners who have already fought there and told me about the altitude of Colorado. It’s all planned. My brother [Jorge] Masvidal has already fought there and gave me some tips,” said “Mikinho.”
The story for this high-stakes main event has been written in highlight-reel knockouts. In the first meeting, Moraes stunned Johnson with a grounded knee. In the rematch, Johnson took the gold with a brilliant flying knee.
But it is not only those results that have Moraes reflecting on what it means to have a trilogy with Johnson. It is the legacy of “Mighty Mouse.” The Brazilian is adamant that Johnson is his chief rival to date.
“I consider Johnson the biggest rival of my career. He is considered the best in the world and also in the history of this division. He was my greatest victory, and at the same time, my greatest defeat,” said the former ONE Flyweight World Champion.
“Mikinho” was the first-ever ONE Flyweight World Champion. He overcame obstacles to claim and reclaim the gold, and now he is seeking to do it one more time in ONE’s biggest event in the promotion’s history. That is not lost on the flyweight great.
Moraes is honored to be headlining the event with Johnson. It is a career achievement for the Brazilian, who seeks to affirm himself as the face of the organization. Beating Johnson on his home turf would be a culminating moment for the American Top Team star.
“I was the first World Champion of ONE’s flyweight category. I’m glad to be one of the pillars of the division and to be in the main event of the first ONE Championship event in the U.S. It will be very significant to beat him here,” said Moraes.
Three bonus bouts kick off ONE Fight Night 10 at the 1stBank Center. The event begins across all ONE platforms at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on Friday, May 5. The main card is live on Prime Video at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and is free for all Amazon Prime subscribers in the U.S. and Canada.
