WSOF champ Marlon Moraes in talks with UFC

[Edge Guerrero]

By: John Morgan | January 19, 2017

LAS VEGAS – WSOF bantamweight champ Marlon Moraes (18-4-1) is a free agent and currently entertaining an offer from the UFC. If a deal can be reached, his manager already has an opponent in mind.

Moraes’ manager, Ali Abdelaziz, today told MMAjunkie that if his client puts pen to paper, he’ll be lobbying for the Brazilian to face UFC bantamweight contender Jimmie Rivera (20-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) at UFC 210, which takes place April 8 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y.

Moraes currently sits at No. 6 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA bantamweight rankings, and Rivera checks in just behind at No. 8.

“I believe Marlon is capable of beating any bantamweight in the world,” Abdelaziz said. “Jimmie needs a fight, and Marlon deserves to fight a top-ranked opponent if he signs with the UFC. This fight just makes sense.”

Moraes has been a fixture of WSOF events, debuting with the promotion’s inaugural event and registering 11 appearances – all victories – for the organization. Moraes fought most recently at December’s WSOF 34 event, where he was unleashing a barrage of strikes against opponent Josenaldo Silva, who suffered a knee injury in the exchange and was forced to quit in the opening round.

Full read http://mmajunkie.com/2017/01/wsof-champ-marlon-moraes-in-talks-with-ufc-manager-eyes-jimmie-rivera-in-buffalo