Adriano Moraes on Demetrious Johnson Clash: ‘I Want to See Blood’

One Championship flyweight king Adriano Moraes knows he will stand across from a mixed martial arts legend when he defends his title against Demetrious Johnson on Feb. 24. However, he does believe he’ll offer some unique physical challenges for the former Ultimate Fighting Championship title holder. While the bout may end up being a technically proficient affair, nonetheless the Brazilian hopes to make it a bloody one as well.

“I have long legs, and this helps a lot. I have skinny arms which helps me to hug good. I have a good arm triangle, and everything for us to defend takedowns too. It’s better than the short guys for an MMA fight. But D.J. does really good with tall guys too. He was a legend for a reason. I’m really prepared for everything he’s going to come with for this fight. But I really focus on me. I train my jiu-jitsu everyday. I evolved my muay Thai game [and] I want to put some good elbows on him. I want to see blood.”

Along with breaking down his title defense against the long time UFC flyweight king, the 31-year-old talked his past growing up in Brasilia, Brazil, and how the personal pain of being abandoned by his parents as child would lead to joining a gang as a teenager. Also, he explains how gang life pushed him to learn Brazilian jiu-jitsu, the eventual base that catapulted him into MMA.