ONE Championship: Adriano Moraes aims to show off ‘most important’ skill by submitting Demetrious Johnson in rematch
- Moraes defeated Johnson by knockout in 2021, and aims to win by submission in rematch slated for ONE 161 on August 27 in Singapore
- Flyweight champ says ‘it would be awesome to share the Circle with Reece McLaren’ in next title defence
Adriano Moraes is hoping to show off his most dangerous weapon in his upcoming rematch with MMA legend Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson.
Moraes, ONE Championship’s long-reigning flyweight champion, first met Johnson, a 12-time UFC champ, in April 2021. Despite being known as a submission specialist, he ended up knocking his decorated challenger out with a knee in round two. It was one of the biggest upsets of the year, and one that begged for a rematch from the moment it ended.
The rematch is now slated for the main event of ONE 161 on the morning of Saturday, August 27 in Singapore. And after knocking Johnson out the first time around, Moraes is hoping to show off his grappling in the sequel.
“[I want to] submit him this time,” the 33-year-old Brazilian champion told the Post from South Florida on Thursday. “One knockout, one submission – for me, it’s going to be perfect.
“I’ve evolved a lot in MMA, my game. There’s a lot of stuff that I’ve changed a little, but I’m still doing what I love to do. The most important thing I always train [is] my jiu jitsu, because jiu jitsu is infinite. I need to train hard in jiu jitsu. That’s the thing I most like to evolve.”
Moraes (20-3) is also expecting some new looks from Johnson (23-4-1) in their rematch, particularly after the former UFC champion tightened up his striking game for a special rules showdown with flyweight Muay Thai king Rodtang Jitmuangnon at ONE X this past March.
“I think he is going to come complete as always,” Moraes said. “In his last fight, he fought against the best striker in the world right now and I think he did a really good fight camp about striking.