Months after asserting his retirement, Marlon Moraes is returning to competitors.
‘Magic’ left his gloves within the Octagon after a first-round KO loss to Tune Yadong at UFC Vegas 50 this previous March. A month after his loss, Moraes launched an announcement confirming his retirement however vowing to remain concerned within the sport by serving to his buddies and upcoming fighters.
“I need to thank everybody — Sean Shelby, Dana White and the UFC for giving me so many alternatives,” wrote Moraes. “I wanna thank my household, my coaches, my supervisor, everyone who has been round and been a part of my profession. I need to say thanks to Mark Henry, Ricardo Almeida, Frankie Edgar, Anderson Franca and Hunter Campbell.
“I’m nonetheless gonna be across the sport serving to younger guys and serving to my buddies.”
It seems as if serving to his buddies and upcoming fighters has reignited the will to compete for Moraes, who’s now anticipated to signal with Skilled Fighters League (PFL) and compete within the 2023 season. Brett Okamoto of ESPN reported particulars of the signing have been ‘nonetheless coming collectively,’ however Moraes and his supervisor Ali Abdelaziz have confirmed he was becoming a member of the roster.
Guys I wanna announce I’m coming house the place I began, I wanna thank the legend Ray Sefo & @PFLMMA prepare for some firework
— Marlon Moraes (@MMARLONMORAES) September 16, 2022
“Guys, I wanna announce I’m coming house the place I began,” wrote Moraes. “I wanna thank the legend Ray Sefo [and] PFL MMA. Prepare for some firework.
Thanks to all of the followers for the great messages and even to the haters, I really like you guys and with out you this may not be potential
— Marlon Moraes (@MMARLONMORAES) September 16, 2022
“Thanks to all of the followers for the great messages and even to the haters,” continued Moraes. “I really like you guys and with out you this may not be potential.”
Although he has spent most of his profession at bantamweight, Moraes will return to featherweight, a weight class he competed in additional than a decade in the past.
The Brazilian established himself in World Collection of Combating (WSOF) — now often known as PFL — the place he went 11-0 between 2012 and 2016. In that run, Moraes received the inaugural WSOF bantamweight championship and defended it 5 instances, tying fellow former WSOF champion Justin Gaethje for many consecutive defenses in promotional historical past.
Following his departure from WSOF, Moraes joined the UFC and went from newcomer to contender in 5 fights. The American Prime Workforce product dropped a break up choice to Raphael Assunção in his debut however rebounded with wins over John Dodson, Aljamain Sterling, Jimmie Rivera and Assunção.
Moraes vied for the then-vacant UFC bantamweight championship in opposition to Henry Cejudo at UFC 238, the place he suffered a third-round TKO loss. He returned to the win column with a hotly contested break up choice win over José Aldo, however did not capitalize on the newfound momentum. The 34-year-old was completed by (T)KO in his subsequent 4 appearances, which introduced concerning the finish of his UFC profession.
