Verdict's Sleeper Fight of the Week: Price vs. Morono
This month’s pay-per-view card is loaded from top to bottom with fantastic matchups. Every fighter on the card is looking to make their name on the biggest stage and score a highlight victory. While the main card is excellent, there are several underrated matchups on the prelims, especially Price vs. Morono.
This fight takes place in the Welterweight (170 lbs.) division.
Niko Price has a professional record of 15-7-0 and has won one of his last five bouts with one no-contest. He has UFC victories over Tim Means, Alex Oliveira, and Randy Brown.
Alex Morono has a professional record of 24-9-0 and has won three of his last five outings. He has UFC victories over Donald Cerrone, Matthew Semelsberger, and Court McGee.
Price is a gritty scrapper, always willing to exchange in the pocket, and is comfortable anywhere the fight goes. He’s constantly looking to close the distance, regularly blitzing in with wide hooks and looping shots. He fights behind his jab and uses his striking to set up his grappling, striking into the clinch before pursuing takedowns. Training at Roufusport, Price has heavy top control and will constantly work on the ground, never accepting a position. He’s very tough to control and has a dangerous guard, continually throwing submissions off his back to escape danger. He has only seen the judge’s scorecards three times in his career and always pushes a heavy pace.
Morono is exceptionally well-rounded, holding black belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Taekwondo. He keeps his guard high and remains technical throughout, always fighting behind his jab and throwing in combination. He has excellent footwork and head movement, often just getting out of the way of strikes and regularly ducking his head to slip and counter. Morono has solid cardio and always pushes a heavy pace, having landed 90 or more significant strikes in a fight six times in the UFC. Training at Fortis MMA, he won’t often initiate grappling exchanges but has a slick submission game and is dangerous on the mat. He's very dangerous early, with eleven of his twelve career finishes coming in round one.
This is a fight you definitely won’t want to miss.
