MMA News: Adriano Moraes Believes He Would 'Smash' UFC’s Deiveson Figueiredo

Adriano Moraes, the reigning flyweight king of ONE Championship, is fresh off scoring the most significant victory of his professional career.

The 32-year-old veteran from Brazil authored a stunning second-round knockout of legendary flyweight Demetrious Johnson last April, becoming the first man to finish the American inside the distance.

But already, he’s looking forward to the prospect of bigger and better fights.

A statement made by ONE Championship head honcho Chatri Sityodtong regarding the idea of a cross-promotional card recently made rounds on social media.

READ ALSO: UFC Vs ONE Championship: 10 Dream Super Fights To Rock MMA World

Sityodtong declared that he was open to hosting a massive ONE Championship vs. UFC mega event, pitting his promotion’s world champions against the very best of the UFC.

Reacting to the statement, Moraes shared what he thinks would happen if he fought UFC flyweight titleholder and compatriot Deiveson Figueiredo.

“Deiveson Figueiredo is a true Brazilian warrior. He is very strong and has incredible knockout power. He also has that ‘Marajoara’ fighting style that has proven problematic. But I think his weakness is his jiu-jitsu,” Moraes told International Business Times.

“If I fight Deiveson, I would use my timing to smash him, wrestle him, and finish him with my jiu-jitsu. Whether it’s by submission or by knockout, I believe I will win.”

Moraes is one of the most dominant world champions on the ONE Championship roster. He’s beaten the likes of Geje Eustaquio and Kairat Akhmetov as well as top talents such as Danny Kingad and Riku Shibuya to amass a 19-3 record.

His shocking victory over Johnson is by all accounts considered a monumental upset and the highlight of his prizefighting run thus far.

But Moraes believes he would be successful anywhere. He is confident he could represent ONE Championship in a showdown with the UFC, if it were to happen.

“I think I showed in my last fight that I can beat anyone in this game. I would be a UFC champion if I was in the UFC,” Moraes stated.

While Johnson wasn’t able to cross paths with Figueiredo before the American left the UFC in 2018, many fans felt that “Mighty Mouse” was still the best flyweight talent in the world when he joined ONE Championship and would have beaten the Brazilian if they had met inside the Octagon.

It’s a sentiment Moraes certainly agrees with.

“I think DJ is just an overall better fighter. He is a smarter fighter, for sure. So I would have favored DJ to win by decision or submission,” Moraes said.

“DJ is a legend. We had a great fight, but he will always be a legend. He’s still one of the best in this weight class and a tough out for anybody.”