Top Flyweight MMA Contenders Adriano Moraes And Danny Kingad To Rematch At ONE 169: Atlanta

A high-stakes rematch between two of the flyweight MMA division’s perennial standouts is heading to ONE 169: Atlanta on Friday, November 8.

That night, former eight-time ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes will collide with old foe and current #3-ranked contender Danny “The King” Kingad at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.

A veteran of 16 thrilling battles in the world’s largest martial arts organization, Moraes originally captured the flyweight MMA belt in 2014.

The 36-year-old most recently completed his epic World Title trilogy with MMA GOAT Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson, first scoring a stunning knockout victory in April 2021 before losing the gold to “Mighty Mouse” via KO in August 2022.

Then last May at ONE’s blockbuster debut on American soil, the Brazilian suffered a hard-fought decision defeat to Johnson in their highly anticipated third contest.

Moraes is now undoubtedly hungry to put on a show for American fans, defend his #1 spot in the flyweight MMA rankings, and erase any doubts that he’s still an elite talent.

For his part, Kingad knows that a victory over the decorated former titleholder could lead to a coveted shot at gold.

Like Moraes, the Filipino is no stranger to the flyweight MMA division’s top five. Since making his debut in 2015, “The King” has racked up 11 impressive victories to establish himself as one of the most feared contenders.

While he’s gone 2-2 against top competition in his last four bouts, the 28-year-old wushu specialist remains a serious threat to claim the World Title.

Notably, the pair’s clash at ONE 169 will come seven years after their first meeting at ONE: LEGENDS OF THE WORLD, where Kingad challenged then-ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Moraes.

In that fight, “Mikinho” employed his black belt-level grappling to score a sensational first-round submission and retain his crown.

Kingad has since improved by leaps and bounds, and the loss to Moraes remains the only time he’s ever been finished in his 19-fight professional career.

Stay tuned to onefc.com for more news about ONE 169: Atlanta.