Two bantamweight top contenders face off Friday when Marlon Moraes takes on Jimmie Rivera in Utica, New York, in the main event of UFC Fight Night 131.
For many years Moraes was one of the best fighters to never step inside the Octagon. Just last summer Moraes signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship and has since made his case as one of the best bantamweights in the world while proving elite fighters outside of the UFC can compete with the best. While he dropped his debut in a close fight with Raphael Assuncao, he has won his last two bouts against Jon Dodson and Aljamain Sterling.