Marlon Moraes seeks 'perfect fight' to beat Jimmie Rivera at UFC Utica

M. Moraes has 20 wins, five defeats and one draw in his career. (Photo: Reproduction/Facebook UFC)

After a fierce rivalry on social media since December last year, Marlon moraes e Jimmie rivera vai will meet in the octagon on Friday (01) at UFC Utica. The bantamweights hold the main fight of the event. Moraes in an interview with the website Combate.com stated that his strategy for the fight is to be perfect.

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“The strategy is not to make mistakes, have a perfect fight and be better than him in boxing, be better in grappling, and win. And be faster, use my speed and not be touched. He's a guy who likes to counterattack. I'm prepared for this fight and I'm sure it's going to be a great fight. It will be a fight straight away, he's looking for the fight and I intend to look a lot too, and we'll meet sometime in the middle of the cage and we'll catch up. That’s the truth”, explained Marlon.

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Marlon moraes After ten years as a professional, he is in his fourth fight in the UFC. With a debut defeat to Raphael Assunção at UFC 212, the Brazilian won two consecutive victories in his last fights, first against John Dodson and then against aljamain sterling. He has a record of 26 fights with 20 wins, five losses and one draw.

The North American, on the other hand, Jimmie rivera has been undefeated since 2008. He has a good record against Brazilians, as he beat 'Thominhas' Almeida, Peter Munhoz and Iuri 'Marajó' Alcântara. His record is 22 fights, 21 wins and one loss.

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Rivera is in fourth place and Marlon is in sixth to fight in the bantamweight rankings. The winner of the fight will be near the top of the list and will then fight for the category title. In August, the champion TJ Dillashaw faces cody garbrandt at UFC 227.

“I don't know (if this fight determines the next challenger), the UFC is about performance. You have to go out there and put on a great fight, and sometimes some guys get a chance before others. I see that Dominick (Cruz) and Raphael (Assunção) are a little ahead, but I'm working hard to get there, press and be there in the heads. Whenever I have to fight, I’m ready”, concluded Marlon.

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