Former ONE flyweight MMA world champion Adriano Moraes greatly respects Danny Kingad's immense heart. The two went to war, and Moraes emerged victorious with a second-round submission of 'The King' at ONE 169: Malykhin vs. 'Reug Reug' this past Friday, Nov. 8, inside the Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Moraes told the Bangkok Post:
"I saw some interviews that Danny did, saying he could knock me out, so he came for it. In the first round, I put him down, but he had good transitions and he set up a good ground and pound that I felt a little bit. But I was able to swap with him at the end of the round. In the second round, it was the same thing, we had some striking exchanges so I accepted some good hands from him, and I saw he felt it a little bit."
He continued:
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"I heard my corner telling me to put him down because we were almost ending the round, so I put him down. Then he started to stand up and I enjoyed the opportunity and jammed in the guillotine."
Moraes, then reigning as the ONE flyweight MMA world champion, defended the throne from Kingad by submitting him via rear-naked choke in November 2017. However, Moraes lost the crown to Demetrious Johnson in August 2022 and ultimately fell short of winning it back in their May 2023 trilogy bout.
Adriano Moraes dedicates his ONE 169 win to his daughter
Adriano Moraes devoted his landmark victory at ONE 169 to his newborn daughter, Lila. 'Mikinho' said in the post-fight interview with ONE commentator Mitch Chilson:
"I just became a dad. I want to dedicate this fight for my daughter Lila, and I'm here to work. Like I said, the champ is back, guys!"
Fans in the United States and Canada with an active Prime Video subscription can rewatch ONE 169 on demand.