Demetrious
Johnson will get his chance to capture a title belt in another
major promotion when he faces reigning champ Adriano
Moraes in a flyweight title clash at a One Championship event
on Feb. 24.
The Singapore-based promotion recently announced the announced the
pairing in a release. Johnson and Moraes were initially scheduled
to square off on April 10 before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the
cancellation of the bout. A location and venue for the event were
not confirmed.
After besting Yuya
Wakamatsu in his promotional debut, “Mighty Mouse” outpointed
Tatsumitsu
Wada and Danny
Kingad to win the One Championship flyweight grand prix and
secure a title shot. During his UFC tenure, Johnson was regarded as
one of the sport’s top pound-for-pound talents thanks to a 14-bout
unbeaten run from 2012 to 2017 and 11 consecutive title defenses.
He was “traded” to One for Ben Askren
following a split-decision loss to Henry
Cejudo at UFC 227.
Moraes, meanwhile, reclaimed the bantamweight throne with a
five-round unanimous verdict over Geje
Eustaquio in January 2019 after losing the title in a split
decision to Eustaquio in June 2018. Moraes is 9-3 under the One
banner since making his debut with the promotion in 2013.