5 Things You Might Not Know About Adriano Moraes

Demetrious Johnson’s presence notwithstanding, Adriano Moraes has become the standard by which all other One Championship flyweights are measured.

The 32-year-old American Top Team representative forged his impeccable reputation across nearly eight years with the Singapore-based promotion. Moraes has compiled a 10-3 record since he joined the roster in November 2013—a run that includes victories over Yasuhiro Urushitani, Kosuke Suzuki, Riku Shibuya and Tilek Batyrov. He cemented himself as the organization’s premier flyweight on April 7, when he retained his title with a stunning second-round knockout of the aforementioned Johnson in the One on TNT 1 main event. A knee strike brought their encounter to an emphatic close 2:24 into Round 2 and marked the first time “Mighty Mouse” had been finished in his 35-fight career.

As Moraes awaits his next assignment from One Championship matchmakers, here are five things you might not know about him:

1. Seemingly insurmountable odds greeted him from the start.

Moraes was abandoned at birth and spent the first three years of his life in an orphanage before being adopted by a single mother. She enrolled him in judo and capoeira classes, sparking his interest in martial arts. Moraes eventually shifted to Brazilian jiu-jitsu, earning his black belt under Constrictor Team founder Ataide Ludgero Junior.

2. Strangulation has been his method of choice.

The Brasilia, Brazil, native has delivered nine of his 13 career finishes by submission. All nine involved the neck: four rear-naked chokes, two guillotine chokes, two arm-triangle chokes and one brabo choke. However, Moraes has not executed a submission since he put away Danny Kingad with a rear-naked choke at One Championship “Legends of the World” on Nov. 10, 2017.

3. He could easily be undefeated.

All three of Moraes’ professional defeats have resulted in split decisions. He wound up on the wrong side of the scorecards against Yusup Saadulaev at One Championship “Warrior Spirit” on Nov. 15, 2013, fell short against Kairat Akhmetov at One Championship “Dynasty of Champions 4” on Nov. 21, 2015 and missed the mark against Geje Eustaquio at One Championship “Pinnacle of Power” on June 23, 2018. Only the loss to Saadulaev remains unavenged.

4. His persistence yields fruit.

Moraes has enjoyed three different reigns as undisputed One Championship flyweight titleholder. His first run as champion covered 435 days, from Sept. 12, 2014 to Nov. 21, 2015; the second covered 323 days, from Aug. 5, 2017 to June 23, 2018; the third began on Jan. 25, 2019 and now covers nearly 900 days.

5. He puts his passport to use.

“Black Diamond” has competed in eight different countries during his 22-fight career as a mixed martial artist. He has gone 9-0 in Brazil, 2-2 in China, 2-1 in Malaysia, 2-0 in the Philippines, 1-0 in Indonesia, 1-0 in Cambodia, 1-0 in Myanmar and 1-0 in Singapore.