Marlon Moraes plans to give everything he has in the 2023 season after “Rough Time” in the UFC.

Ahead of this year’s PFL season, Marlon Moraes sounded positive.

Despite some setbacks recently, the former WSOF champion and UFC title challenger is excited about his first PFL regular season — and plans to give everything he has to the 2023 campaign. his

That’s a far cry from the fighter who announced his retirement earlier this year. Regarding what turned him on, Moraes (23-11-1) gave Cageside Press some insight into the matter in a recent exclusive interview.

“Man, I’ve had quite a difficult life with UFC. I want to start over. I wanted something new and PFL just came in at the right time,” recalls Moraes. [come] Back at MMA, the most important thing is to be happy where you are. and i am happy And I can’t wait to continue competing. This will be my first season. And I’m very excited.”

Moraes is the dominant bantamweight champion in the World Series of Fighting as a precursor to the PFL. That seems to be a factor. “I had a great time with them,” Moraes noted. Then came his UFC run. Which has both highs and lows “I lost 2-3 times in a row. And I had a hard life with UFC and the opportunity came at just the right time. I can’t wait to get back in my smart cage and show these people my work.”

The loss wasn’t necessarily the only factor in what Moraes called a “difficult time” with the UFC, but they certainly made the situation worse.

“I just need a little push. I just want them to know that I am a good fighter and [give me] different treatment But it’s what they want. That’s the way to do business,” explains Moraes. “I am grateful for the opportunity. but in the end They want what’s good for them. at some point I didn’t do what I was supposed to do. i lost the fight And that was their decision. to continue to give me the hardest fight in this division That’s what we do when you’re in the UFC in the top 10.”

Another fighter, Moraes, noted that “Not treated the same way. and I asked for many battles And many fighters refused to fight with me. but it is what it is life goes on That was all in the past. And I’m looking forward to the next challenge.”

The next challenge will come to the featherweight division. Moraes debuted in the PFL late last year. The fight did not go the way he thought. But he remains confident in his fight at 145 — noting that even though the PFL offers a bantamweight division, he still has a bantamweight division. But he still wasn’t sure if he would join.

“I don’t know man. I felt great at 145—I said I don’t know if I’ll get to 35 because now I’m happy at 45. Training gives me more energy. but we never know Maybe if they had 35 [lb weight class]i can try but i’m happy I’m training hard with my 45lb mates and I’m feeling great.”

Right out of the gate this season, Marlon “Magic” Moraes is paired with last year’s champion Brendan Loughnane. It’s definitely the fight that Brazilians can play.

“Brendan is a good fighter. a complete fighter difficult challenge But this is why I’m here. why i compete Because I think I can beat anyone. And I’m fully equipped,” says Moraes. “He’s someone I have my eye on. the way he fights I’ve watched a lot of his fights. And I’m excited about this fight. this challenge This will be the best fight tonight 100%.”

at the beginning of the year It was announced that Jose Aldo, one of Moares’ former opponents, was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame as their fight came in bantamweight (with Moraes winning on scorecard). Magic” still feels that Aldo is the greatest featherweight of all time. Although he ceded it to Alexander Volkanovski.

“Now yeah, I think he’s still the best featherweight of all time. I was the guy where I started the fight and I looked up to him,” Moraes explained. “I was probably 15 or 16 and I went to see his fight near my town. And I saw him fight in Mecca, Mecca, Vale Tudo and I was amazed by his performance. His shot.” ​​Moraes saw Aldo grow from regionally to the WEC and UFC, winning both titles. “In my opinion right now He’s still the best featherweight of all time. I look to Volkanovski as well when you talk about the best moments. We have to remember how good Volaknovski is and what he is doing now.

Aldo is now pursuing a career in boxing. Which, something Moraes believes, might be about MMA legends challenging themselves. and he noted Sometimes it’s hard for fighters to know when to walk away. Which raises questions about his own career. Is this Marlon Moraes’ last race or if all goes well this season? Will we see him back in the PFL in 2024? Even Marlon Moraes was unsure of that answer.

“I don’t know a man. I am looking forward to this season, the season where I will give everything I have. At the end of the year, you will meet with your family. I don’t know if I have many years left,” he admits. “I gave everything I could to this sport. And I’m going to give everything I have in 2023 and at the end of the year we’ll see what we do.”

See our full interview with PFL 1 Featherweight Marlon Moraes above. Lofnan on April 1, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.