Report – Shane Burgos vs. Marlon Moraes targeted for PFL event in November
An eye-catching featherweight matchup between former UFC contenders, Shane Burgos, and one-time bantamweight title challenger, Marlon Moraes, is currently in the works to take place at the PFL’s (Professional Fighters League) final tournament event of this year in November. At the time of publication, an official location, venue, or date for the event has yet to be determined by the organization.
Expected to make his first outing under the PFL banner since fighting out his contract with the UFC back in July in his native New York, Burgos confirmed following his majority decision win over Charles Jourdain that he would be moving to the PFL after the organization offered him a lucrative contract.
As for Moraes, the Nova Friburgo veteran called time on his professional mixed martial arts career back in April of this year following a knockout loss to recent headliner, Song Yadong the month prior.
In recent weeks, the Brazilian, who held the bantamweight title under the WSOF banner, has been linked with a retirement snapping move to the PFL. And ESPN MMA reporter, Brett Okamoto has reported Moraes is expected to fight Burgos this November in the pair’s respective bows with the organization.
“Marlon Moraes (@MMARLONMORAES) has officially decided to a return with the PFL … and in addition to that, PFL is setting up a fight between he and Shane Burgos (@HurricaneShaneB) on its tournament finals card later this year, per sources.”
Riding a two-fight winning run into his expected PFL debut, prior to his UFC on ABC win against Jourdain, Burgos, a native of The Bronx – managed to defeat Billy Quarantillo on the main card of UFC 268 back in November of last year at Madison Square Garden.
During his Octagon stint, the featherweight fan favorite landed other notable wins over the likes of Charles Rosa, Kurt Holobaugh, Cub Swanson, and Makwan Amirkhani.
In the midst of a heavy losing skid which includes five knockout losses in his last six professional mixed martial arts outings, Moraes competed for vacant bantamweight gold against former two-weight champion, Henry Cejudo back in 2019.
Moraes holds UFC wins over the recently retired former champion, Jose Aldo, as well as Raphael Assuncao, Jimmie Rivera, John Dodson, and a KO win against current bantamweight best, Aljamain Sterling.
Senior writer for FightBook MMA. An aspiring mixed martial arts reporter based in Ireland. Producer of news articles, interviews, opinion features, and exclusive features such as, ‘The Fallout’, ‘The Breakdown, and, ‘This Week In MMA’.
