Marlon Moraes To TJ Dillashaw: Defend Or Vacate The Belt
T.J. Dillashaw who successfully defended the title at UFC 227 after knocking out Cody Garbrandt in the first round earlier this month. Now the 135-pound division’s worthy contenders who are in line for a title shot like former champion Dominick Cruz and a Former World Series of Fighting bantamweight champion, Marlon Moraes.
Aside from those call outs, Dillashaw may end up facing a newly crowned flyweight champion Henry Cejudo, who made history after defeating UFC’s most dominant champion Demetrious Johnson via split decision. After the historic win, Cejudo calls for bantamweight fight with Dillashaw.
Moraes who believes he is next in line for a title shot, amassed a three-fight winning streak in his UFC run, with just one blemish in his Octagon debut against fellow Brazilian Raphael Assuncao. (Via MMAMania)
“Yes man, 100-percent,” said Marlon on a recent interview on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show. “But the situation now is kind of getting crazy becasue Dillashaw and Duane Ludwig, they are calling the shots now. They want to match me up with Dominick Cruz, other guys. Why, man? Stop matching me up and just fight me.”
Moraes said he finishes fights and thinks to be an overall more appealing fighter for the fans to watch. ‘Magic’ also believes he has done enough work to deserve a title shot than anyone else. His lone loss in UFC shouldn’t prevent him from getting as he has defeated the dangerous contenders than his fellow Brazilian.
‘Magic’ said he has no issue facing former bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz or a rematch against Assuncao, but also mention that if Dillashaw plans to move down and fight for flyweight, then he needs to relinquish the belt.
“I feel like he (Cruz) had a long layoff. I agree with him, he is one of the best ever. But we got to see how he is now. Make a comeback, fight somebody else to see where he’s at,” he said.
“If T.J. goes down and vacates the belt, I would be more than welcome to that opportunity. It’s going to be an honor for me to fight such a great fighter like Dominick Cruz. I saw last week he said guys don’t talk about him, but I always talk about him. He is one of the best and I always look up to him,” he added. “The day I have to fight him, I am going to be down for it. I have no idea what UFC wants, but I am going to be down and I won’t say no. I just think I deserve the chance and I deserve to fight this guy. If he wants to be the best he has to fights the best and I think I’m at the top now,” he said.
“I’m waiting man, I am waiting for the opportunity. They know I’m down for fights and I want to fight. I want to work and I want to fight for the title. Let’ see if they can put all that together. I think so, especially now that T.J. wants to do anything but not defend the belt. I want to fight, Dominick said he wants to fight. If he (Dillashaw) don’t want to fight, vacate and let us fight.”
After their respective wins at UFC 227, Dillashaw and Cejudo getting back and forth on social media and making media rounds, that speculate a super fight between them. If this becomes real, then who do you think Moraes should face next?
