M.Moraes (right) states that provocations from H. Cejudo (left) will not change the result of the fight. Photo: Reproduction / Facebook UFC
Bantamweight (up to 61,2kg.) Marlon moraes showed calm when facing the provocations made by his next opponent, Henry Cejudo, during the promotion of the duel that takes place this Saturday (8), in Chicago (USA). In a recent interview with 'Combate', the athlete revealed that the opponent's attitudes do not change the focus for the clash and that his strategy is defined. The match is valid for the category title and represents the main fight of the UFC 238.
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“It doesn’t matter what he does. Joking, teasing, nothing will change on Saturday. My mission is Saturday night, to put my foot in the ring, get in there and do what I know”, said Marlon. “Provocations aside, he can do whatever he wants. Afterwards, he will be the one who will be laughed at”, commented the Brazilian.
Regarding his relationship with Cejudo, Moraes was categorical in stating that he does not sympathize with his opponent. For the Friborg native, as long as the two have the same ambitions, there is no way to maintain a friendly relationship.
“He wants something that I really want. How am I supposed to like a guy who’s trying to get something I really want?”, asked the bantamweight.
Even with the disagreements, the athlete shows respect for Henry's story, who, in addition to being the current UFC flyweight champion (up to 56,7kg), won a gold medal for the United States at the Beijing Olympics (China), in 2008, in wrestling.
“Cejudo is a very dangerous guy, he is a very good wrestler, he has a gold medal, he has fought in several competitions and has already proven his qualities. In MMA, he is a guy who has been growing, he arrived in the UFC not yet so prepared to fight MMA, he grew, he improved fight after fight”, said Moraes. “There was that fight with the Demetrious Johnson, that a lot of people expected him not to win and he surprised everyone and came out the winner, he won the title. And he just knocked out a guy who is one of the best, in my opinion, which is TJ Dillashaw. He's a guy who's dangerous on the ground and dangerous on the feet, but I'm prepared,” said Marlon.
The two fighters are coming off victories in their most recent engagements. The Brazilian defeated his compatriot Raphael Assunção, currently number two in the category ranking, at UFC Fortaleza, in February this year. The North American's opponent was the former bantamweight champion, TJ Dillashaw, in a fight valid for the flyweight title. On that occasion, Henry triumphed over TJ by knockout in just 32 seconds, on January 26, at UFC 233.
Marlon moraes is already in Chicago, where he will face Cejudo in the main fight of UFC 238. At 31 years old, the athlete from Nova Friburgo (RJ) has 28 fights on his record, with 22 wins, five losses and one draw.
Cejudo, 32, who is also already in the city where the clash will take place, has 15 fights, with 13 triumphs and only two setbacks.
UFC 238 technical sheet
MAIN CARD (22pm Brasília time):
Bantamweight: Henry Cejudo x Marlon moraes
Fly weight: Valentina Shevchenko x Jessica Eye
Lightweight: Tony Ferguson x Donald Cerrone
Bantamweight: Jimmie rivera x Petr yan
Heavyweight: Tai tuivasa x Blagoy Ivanov
PRELIMINARY CARD (18:15 p.m. Brasília time):
Straw weight: Tatiana Suarez placeholder image x Nina ansaroff
Bantamweight: aljamain sterling x Peter Munhoz
Straw weight: Karolina Kowalkiewicz x Alexa grasso
Featherweight: Ricardo Lamas x Calvin kattar
Straw weight: yan xiaonan x Angela Hill
Middleweight: Bevon Lewis x Darren stewart
Bantamweight: Eddie Wineland x Grigory Popov
Fly weight: Katlyn chookagian x Joanne calderwood
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