With Gabriel Gonzaga and Geronimo dos Santos off UFC 153, this welterweight fight between Sergio Moraes (6-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) and Renee Forte (7-1 MMA, UFC debut) has been elevated from the Facebook prelims to the FX prelims. You can catch the FX prelims live from 8 PM ET/5 PM PT before the PPV kicks off at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT.
Moraes nearly became the TUF: Brazil champion despite losing earlier in the show, so now his focus is getting a first UFC win. Not much is known about the newcomer Forte beyond his TUF: Brazil stint. Neither guy is ranked in the SB Nation MMA Consensus Rankings and surely won’t be anywhere near it after this fight.
How do these two stack up?
Moraes: 30 years old | 6’2″ | 75″ reach
Forte: Unknown age | 5’10” | Unknown reach
What have these two done recently?
Moraes: L – Cezar Ferreira (UD) | W – Etoube Manuelo (SUB)| L – Brett Cooper (KO)
Forte: W – Renan Santos (TKO) | L – Mario Sartori (KO) | W – Anderson Melo (KO)
How did these two get here?
Moraes is a BJJ specialist with 5 of his 6 career wins by way of submission. He showed off his skills on TUF: Brazil with submission wins over Thiago Rela and Delson Heleno before Daniel Sarafian almost took his head off with a flying knee KO in the semifinals. An injury to Sarafian meant Moraes would fight Cezar Mutante in the final, and in a wild fight Moraes came up short after being outstruck, but he surprisingly caught Mutante with his own punches on more than a few occasions.
Forte competed on TUF: Brazil for Team Wanderlei, but his run ended in the quarterfinals against Daniel Sarafian via submission. He hasn’t fought since then but he’s returning to his natural welterweight for this one. Forte was originally offered a spot on the UFC 147 prelims against Moraes until Sarafian’s injury left Renee without an opponent. He was promised a future UFC fight, and this is it.
Why should you care?
Other than this being a battle of TUF: Brazil guys, you got me. Moraes’ last fight was pretty entertaining but that’s mostly on his sloppy striking.
More Bloody Elbow coverage of UFC 153:
UFC 153: Silva vs. Bonnar fight card – Mookie Alexander
UFC 153 betting lines – Tim Burke
UFC 153 Bloody Elbow staff picks and predictions – Tim Burke
Minotauro Nogueira vs. Dave Herman Dissection – Dallas Winston
Glover Teixeira vs. Fabio Maldonado Dissection – Dallas Winston
Jon Fitch vs. Erick Silva Dissection – Dallas Winston
Phil Davis vs. Wagner Prado Dissection – Dallas Winston
Demian Maia vs. Rick Story Dissection – Dallas Winston
FX prelim card previews – Fraser Coffeen
Video: UFC 153 weigh-in results
Silva vs. Bonnar through the Cobb vs. Holmes lens – Brent Brookhouse
Can Bonnar make his name against Silva? – Fraser Coffeen
Erick Silva discusses Jon Fitch – Tim Burke
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