Former ONE flyweight MMA world champion Adriano Moraes believes he is still among the best in the game. It is something that keeps him going all this time as he looks to prove it every time he competes.
'Mikinho' shared this mindset of his in an interview with Party Starter Radio in line with his return to action next month, highlighting how it has kept him constantly working on his game and maintain his topnotch standing in the field.
"Every day I wake up, I always say, 'I'm a f***in' fighter, I'm the best in the world.' I feel like that because I am that. When you think like that, everything around you can be easy. If I lost, I'll come back to the gym, change some stuff, and do it again.
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"I'm going to look for the next opportunity. If I kick wrong or have a mistake here or there, I'm going to fix it up in the gym with my coach and my teammates. In a positive way, I'll change it up in my next opportunity."
Check out what he had to say below:
Adriano Moraes will once again showcase that he still has it to compete at a high level when he takes on fellow ONE flyweight contender Danny Kingad at ONE 169: Malykhin vs. 'Reug Reug' on Nov. 8 in Thailand.
It will be his first fight back since May last year where he battled and lost to rival Demetrious Johnson in a trilogy title fight in the United States. He is out to book a victory in his return and make another go at the now-vacant ONE flyweight MMA world title.
ONE 169 will take place at the Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok and air live and for free to North American fans with an active Amazon Prime Video subscription.
Adriano Moraes proud to have shared epic moments against legend Demetrious Johnson
Adriano Moraes was last in action in ONE Championship 18 months ago in the United States against now-retired Demetrious Johnson, who he said he was proud to have shared epic moments with in competition.
'Mikinho' battled 'Mighty Mouse' in the final of their trilogy in May last year at ONE Fight Night 10 in Denver, Colorado. He, however, lost by decision and fell short in his push to regain the ONE flyweight MMA world title.
In an interview with Party Starter Radio ahead of his return at ONE 169 on Nov. 8, Moraes spoke about his rivalry with Johnson and how amazing and, in part, unbelievable it was.
He said:
"So you travel together and have this kind of journey and you meet a lot of legends around the world. When I fought Demetrious Johnson, I was following his career for as long as I can [remember]. I never would have imagined I was going to be fighting against him one day. I had a trilogy against him."
In their head-to-head matchup in ONE, Johnson took the lead following his victory last time around, 2-1.