Adriano “Mikinho” MoraesDanny “The King” KingadMMAONE ChampionshipONE Championship™ (ONE)One FCONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLDPress ReleaseSports
Adriano Moraes not underestimating Filipino foe in upcoming title defense
Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes may have just reclaimed the undisputed
ONE Flyweight World Championship nearly three months ago, but he is already
preparing for the first title defense of his second reign as the division’s
kingpin.
The 29-year-old Brazilian champion is slated to put his coveted
gold-plated strap on the line against Filipino prospect Danny “The King” Kingad
in the co-main event of ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD, which takes place at the
20,000-seater SM Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines on 10 November.
Moraes may be riding a wave of momentum after snapping archrival
Kairat Akhmetov’s perfect 23-bout winning streak via unanimous decision and
unifying the ONE Flyweight World Championship in a title unification rematch
this past August, but he will not overlook Kingad as his Filipino foe is a
legitimate threat to his second title reign.
“Danny Kingad is a great competitor and he has earned the highest
level of my respect. If anything, there is no chance of me underestimating him.
That would be unwise,” he stated.
A true warrior from the mountains of the Philippines and one of
the top prospects to come out of Baguio City with an immaculate record of 5-0,
Kingad is a tremendous striker who possesses well-rounded grappling skills.
Due to his outstanding run in local promotions, ONE Championship
noticed Kingad and gave him a spot on the undercard of ONE: Global Rivals in
Manila in April 2016.
Kingad came out on top of his maiden ONE Championship assignment
by scoring a first-round technical knockout of Malaysia’s Muhamad Haidar.
The young Baguio City native had an impressive follow-up to his
ONE Championship debut by submitting compatriot Eugene Toquero with a
first-round armbar in December 2016.
In his most recent trip to the ONE Championship cage, Kingad turned
in a complete performance, putting his wide range of techniques on full display
in a unanimous decision conquest of Malaysia’s Muhammad Aiman this past April.
“He is a young martial artist, undefeated, and a Wushu champion
with good takedowns and good hands,” Moraes evaluated. “He is talented, and he
has had good matches with the organization.”
Against Kingad, Moraes stressed that he will be preparing for the
best version of his Filipino counterpart.
“I am preparing for the best Danny Kingad possible, and that is
the only way I can prepare to be at my best. I believe this match is going to
be a battle between two top-notch martial artists. It is going to be a battle
from start to finish,” he expressed.
Moraes is eager to remain as the organization’s 61.2-kilogram
titleholder and prove that he is the best flyweight on the planet at the
expense of an undefeated standout like Kingad.
“It will be my first time in Manila. I am very excited to compete
against Danny Kingad. Deep in my heart, I know that I am the best out there. I
am here to prove it. I feel great to defend my belt in Manila, expecting to
hear the words, ‘And still,’ once again,” he ended.
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