Demetrious Johnson v Adriano Moraes III: Fighters predict ONE Championship flyweight title outcome

Sporting News Australia

Demetrious Johnson v Adriano Moraes III: Fighters predict ONE Championship flyweight title outcome image

ONE Championship makes its long-awaited US debut this weekend. So, we’ve turned to the promotion’s Australian athletes for their main event predictions.

ONE Fight Night 10 is headlined by the trilogy showdown between ONE Flyweight World Champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson and former divisional king Adriano Moraes, capping off one of the most closely contested series in MMA history.

The Johnson-Moraes rivalry is locked at one win apiece heading into the third instalment at the sold-out 1stBank Center in Colorado and, incredibly, both fights were decided by flying-knee knockouts.

Here is who ONE’s Aussie representatives are picking to take the honours on Saturday, May 6.

John Wayne Parr

Muay Thai legend John Wayne Parr is siding with the flyweight GOAT in Johnson.

The Boonchu Gym spearhead was riddled with guilt when making his choice but, ultimately, ONE Flyweight World Champion Johnson was too hard to go past.

“It’s a great fight. I have to go with Demetrious. It’s so hard to pick. They’;re both so awesome and they’re both such nice guys. It’s hard picking one because I like them both so much. You feel dirty having to pick one or the other,” Parr said.

“But yeah, Demetrious. He’s just next-level world class, and he’s got the runs on the board. Yeah, I’m going to go with Demetrious.”

Reece McLaren

Parr’s star pupil Reece McLaren will have a particularly close eye on the action, as he could potentially face the winner if he is successful against former flyweight king Kairat Akhmetov at the same event.

Leaning slightly toward Johnson, “Lighting” pointed to Moraes’ weigh-in difficulties as a potential reason for his demise in the second showdown. That said, McLaren thinks the Brazilian needs to knock “Mighty Mouse” out if he is to reclaim the belt in the trilogy.

“Yeah. It’ll be interesting. I think what happened with Moraes last time was that he had that weight cut early, I think then his fitness went. I think he’ll have that under control now,” he said.

“DJ is DJ. He does what he does. If he gets caught again, then definitely it’s Moraes [who will win].

But if [Johnson] gets in underneath and wears out Moraes as he did in that last one, then it will go DJ’s way.

“It will ultimately come down to Moraes being able to capitalise on his reach and not letting DJ get inside.”

Danial Williams

Perth’s Danial Williams is fresh off a main event of his own against Superlek Kiatmoo9 at ONE Fight Night 8 in March.

“Mini T” also leans toward Johnson, pointing to the 36-year-old’s recent revelations that he may retire after the trilogy as the extra motivation needed to tip the scale in his favour.

“I’m not confident in my decision, but I’m picking ‘DJ’ by decision. This could be his last hurrah and I feel that he will put it all into this fight, but it won’t be easy because Adriano is coming off a loss,” he said.

“It could go either way, I won’t be surprised whoever wins.”

Isi Fitikefu

Tongan-Australian welterweight Isi Fitikefu was more resolute in his prediction.

Fresh off a dominant submission win over Valmir Da Silva last month, “Doxz” believes that Johnson will flip the script this time and claim a tap-out win of his own.

“Demetrious Johnson all the way. I reckon third-round submission. He’s knocked [Moraes] out already, so I reckon he’s going to go for the submission,” he said.

Martin Nguyen ONE Championship
(ONE Championship)

Martin Nguyen

Former two-division ONE World Champion Martin Nguyen would not be drawn into the debate.

“The Situ-Asian” could not pick between the pair, owing to the even nature of the matchup and his relationship with both men.

“Man, I love both guys. I just don’t know, either. You really don’t know now. Because now it’s one to one,” he said.

“I like both guys, and I’ve talked to both guys, and I follow both guys and they’re both very nice guys toward me. So yeah, I’m going to sit on the fence on this one.”

Diandra Martin ONE Championship
(ONE Championship)

Diandra Martin

Diandra Martin also played a straight bat when pressed for a pick.

Martin was on hand for the second showdown at ONE Fight Night 1 in August, following her win on the same card over Amber Kitchen.

The Canberra native will once again share the event with Johnson and Moraes, this time against

American star Jackie Buntan. With the memories of the highly competitive contest she saw in

Singapore fresh in her mind, Martin could not pick which way the trilogy would go.

“I was there live for the second fight, and it was just back and forth. To be honest, it could go either way,” she said.

“I’m going to sit on the fence for this one. I’m sitting on the fence for this one.”

 

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