“I knew it was my day” - Adriano Moraes reminisces about submitting Geje Eustaquio to win inaugural flyweight MMA belt

Brazilian superstar Adriano Moraes recalled the time he first became ONE flyweight MMA world champion. He said everything felt good that day and he knew it was his time to take his place in the promotion's roster of champions.

'Mikinho' battled 'Gravity' in September 2014 at ONE: Rise Of The Kingdom in Cambodia for the inaugural ONE flyweight MMA world title. The American Top Team standout went on to claim the belt by sending Eustaquio into submission in the second round.

In an interview with Partner Starter Radio earlier this year, Adriano Moraes relived what went down in his title showdown with Eustaquio on his way to world championship glory, saying:

"I love being inside the cage, it's one of the best places I love to be in. When the fight started, I was so light, and I knew it was my day. In the second round, I gave him a nice guillotine choke and he tapped. And I became the first ONE flyweight MMA world champion -- the first ever of the organization."

Check out what he had to say below:

Moraes and Eustaquio met two more times after, both with world title implications as well, the last time in January 2019, with the former winning by decision to reclaim the flyweight belt and earn a 2-1 advantage in their head-to-head matchup.

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Adriano Moraes shoots for chance to vie for world title again with win at ONE 169

Adriano Moraes returns to action next month looking to bag a big victory to put himself in position to make another run at the ONE flyweight MMA world title he previously held.

The 36-year-old Brazilian fighter will take on familiar foe Danny Kingad of the Philippines in a featured flyweight MMA match at ONE 169: Malykhin vs. Reug Reug on Nov. 8.

It is part of the marquee event happening at the Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, and airing live and for free in U.S. primetime to North American fans with an active Amazon Prime Video subscription.

The contest will be the first fight back for Adriano Moraes since he last competed in May last year in the United States against rival Demetrious Johnson in their trilogy title fight. He lost by decision and fell short in his push to reclaim the ONE flyweight MMA belt.

Now at ONE 169, 'Mikinho' is seeking to get a shot at the now-vacant flyweight title after the retirement of Johnson, with a win over fellow contender Kingad, who himself has the same world title mission.

The upcoming showdown between Moraes and Kingad is a rematch of their first encounter in November 2017, where the American Top Team fighter won by submission.