Marlon Moraes returns to MMA at Liga Monstro Combate in Brazil
The former UFC title challenger will end a three-year layoff when he makes his debut for the Brazilian promotion on Friday.
After three years away from MMA, Marlon Moraes is ready to step back into the cage. The former UFC title challenger will return to competition on Friday when he faces Maximiliano Perez at Liga Monstro Combate in Brazil. The Brazilian says he feels prepared to return at his best and prove he can still compete at a high level.
Marlon Moraes Returns After Long Hiatus
A former WSOF bantamweight champion, Moraes arrived in the UFC in 2017 riding a 13-fight winning streak, having established himself as one of the top bantamweights outside the promotion. Two years after joining the UFC, the Brazilian challenged Henry Cejudo for the bantamweight title but was defeated by the former champion.
Moraes bounced back from the loss to Cejudo with a victory over Jose Aldo, but the Brazilian was unable to build on that result. He lost his next four fights in the UFC before announcing his retirement from MMA in 2022. However, Moraes returned to competition later that year under the PFL banner, where he suffered three consecutive defeats. His final fight under the PFL banner came in June 2023, when he lost to Gabriel Braga by TKO.
As he prepares to compete again, Moraes believes his training has shown that he is ready to return at a high level.
"The expectations are very high," Moraes told Ag Fight. "I prepared very well for this fight. It's been three years since I last fought, and I want to come back at 100%, I want to come back at my best. And training has shown me that. It has shown me that I'm capable of fighting anyone in the world in this division."
Marlon Moraes Wants to Help LMC Grow
Moraes has competed in some of the biggest MMA promotions in the world, including WSOF, UFC and PFL. For his return to competition, however, "Magic" chose a Brazilian promotion and said one of his goals is to help Liga Monstro Combate grow into one of the country's biggest organizations.
"I was once one of the best in the world, and my intention in being here at Liga Monstro Combate is to help turn LMC into the biggest promotion in Brazil," Moraes said. "I came here to show MMA at the highest level in the world, and I'm sure you'll be surprised by what you're going to see on Friday."
Known throughout his career for his aggressive striking style, Moraes said fans can expect him to return with the same mentality that defined much of his career. The Brazilian promised to move forward and look for the knockout when he steps back into the cage against Perez.
"I like to move forward, I like to fight on my feet, and I do what the fans like to see," Moraes said. "I go in there looking for the knockout, and I can promise you this: you're going to see a very well-prepared, very focused Marlon who knows what he's doing and, most importantly, knows what he wants."
Moraes will now have the opportunity to show whether his time away from the sport has given him the chance to return as the fighter he believes he can still be.
