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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Marlon Moraes this week got a new opponent for next weekend's WSOF 13 main event, as he'll now take on Cody Bollinger after the injury to Josh Hill.
The WSOF Bantamweight Champion won't be putting his title on the line, but he's treating it as a title fight anyway, and won't accept anything less than a victory.
"I don't know how we can make it official, but as far as I'm concerned, this is a title fight," Moraes said in a press release regarding the switch. "Anytime I'm fighting, I'm fighting as a champion, and I'm defending my belt. I don't know how everybody else will see it but, to me, this is my next title fight and, if Cody wins, I'll send him my belt. If I'm going to be a champion, I have to beat everybody I fight."
Penick's Analysis: I love that mindset, and it's a good place for Moraes to get mentally before next week. Sure, the title won't be on the line because they'll be at a catchweight, but as Champion he can't take a loss. It diminishes whatever value the title carries if a champion loses in non-title competition, and if Moraes can't beat Bollinger, then he's not going to feel he deserves that belt. It's the right line of thinking to have coming into the event, and he'll have to come in to win to avoid any undesired situation afterward.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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