“I know where I came from” - Adriano Moraes says fame and fortune didn’t make him forget his roots
Brazilian fighter Adriano Moraes has had a lot of success in his martial arts career but said it has neither changed the way he views life in general nor made him forget where he came from.
The former ONE flyweight MMA world champion shared this in an interview with Party Starter Radio earlier this year, relaying that while one can easily be drowned by fame and fortune, he makes a concerted effort not to allow them get into his head.
Adriano Moraes said:
"When you're a world champion, you have your money, and you have your team, but [sometimes] everything around you gets worse. I think that kind of blessing sometimes can take you out. And I don't want that. That's why I want to stay as positive, humble guy. I know where I came from, so I think everything that I achieve in my life, every blessing, I always just grow."
Check out what he had to say below:
Adriano Moraes did not have it easy while growing up in Brazil. Together with his adoptive mother, he worked his way up and made something out of himself through martial arts.
His journey has led him to ONE Championship, his home for the last decade and where he has been one of the top and respected fighters.
Adriano Moraes looks to vie for ONE flyweight MMA world title again with win at ONE 169
Adriano Moraes looks to make another run at the flyweight MMA world title with a victory in his return to ONE Championship action next month in Thailand.
'Mikinho' is featured in a showdown with fellow flyweight contender Danny Kingad at ONE 169: Malykhin vs. 'Reug Reug' on Nov. 8, happening at the Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok and airing live and for free in U.S. primetime to North American fans with an active Amazon Prime Video subscription.
The Brazilian star, 36, is using the contest as a springboard to earn a possible shot at the currently vacant ONE flyweight MMA world title, which he used to hold.
Adriano Moraes was last in action in May 2023 in the United States, where he challenged but lost to American rival Demetrious Johnson in the final of their trilogy flyweight title fight. 'Mighty Mouse' recently retired, opening up the belt for all-comers.
Meanwhile, just like Moraes, Kingad is out to make a run at the flyweight gold with a win at ONE 169. The No. 3 contender in the division is coming off a lost in his last fight back in January.
ONE 169 will also see Moraes and Kingad meet for the second time after their first encounter in November 2017, where the former won by submission.