In the main event of UFC Utica, we saw top bantamweights Jimmie Rivera and Marlon Moraes go to battle, for all of 30 seconds.
The main event of UFC Utica features top-five bantamweights Jimmie Rivera and Marlon Moraes vying for title contention. Rivera has not lost in nearly a decade, including five wins in the UFC. Marlon Moraes is looking to rule another bantamweight division after dominating WSOF’s for years. So far, he is 2-1 in the Octagon with wins over John Dodson and Aljamain Sterling.
Jimmie Rivera last fought Thomas Almeida in a thrilling bout, and was briefly linked to a fight with Moraes at UFC 219 following an injury to Dominick Cruz. However, the two could not agree on a weight to fight at on short-notice, and Rivera ended up not fighting at all. Marlon Moraes is coming off a beautiful knee knockout of Aljamain Sterling in the first round.
In what was a heated build-up to the UFC Utica, we saw Jimmie Rivera and Marlon Moraes go back and forth on social media and at press conferences. Both fighters are in the top-five and are within striking distance for a title shot and could potentially fight the winner of UFC 227’s main event, TJ Dillashaw vs. Cody Garbrandt. So this fight was a big deal for the both of them.
Marlon Moraes ended Jimmie Rivera’s 20-fight win streak with a single headkick, Rivera went down and Moraes jumped on him and landed some ground and pound. A couple of shots later, the fight was over. Marlon Moraes has absolutely cemented his place as one of the top bantamweights in the UFC and there’s a decent shot the next time we see him in the Octagon next will be a title fight.
After a performance like that, the kid would deserve it.
Marlon Moraes def. Jimmie Rivera by KO (Head Kick) in Round 1 (0:33)
