Details of how ONE Championship has paid flyweight champion Adriano Moraes over the last few years have been revealed in a new lawsuit filed by his former managers Alex Davis and Samir Nadaf.
MMAFighting reported on Tuesday that the pair of MMA managers filed suit in Manaus, Brazil against Moraes (19-3) this past November. Claiming breach of contract and were pursuing $100,000 in “damages” following the termination of their contract by the Brazilian talent.
In the court documents, Davis and Nadaf allege the two-time ONE flyweight champ did not pay them the agreed-upon percentages from his fight purses and sponsorship deals. The report states that the managers are seeking $35,527 for breach of contract, and another $113,000 in other missed payments.
Adriano Moraes could put $100,000 in ‘damages’ in lawsuit filed by his former managers
The suit alleges that “Mikinho” was contractually obligated to fork over 10% of his fight purses and 20% of his income from sponsorships and other sources. The management duo claims Moraes only paid 5% of his bout purses over his last two fights. The court documents also include bout contracts and screenshots of conversations finalizing a new pact with the promotion.
For his April landmark win over UFC great Demetrious Johnson, the 32-year-old fought under an agreement where he was paid $50,000 to fight, and another $50,000 in the event of victory. The suit also alleges Moraes has been paid a $5,000 stipend since Nov. of 2017, and the managers claim that $46,000 — or 20% of the stipends — should have gone to them over that time since the income is viewed as sponsorship money.
ONE Championship was paying their flyweight star $5,000 monthly stipends since 2017
The lawsuit also includes a screenshot of a July 4 conversation between Davis and ONE senior vice-president Matt Hume as they finalized details for a new four-fight and two-year contract between Moraes and the promotion. The new deal is set to pay the champion a $250,000 flat fee for his bouts as a titlist, and a $100,000 to show, $100,000 to win agreement for bouts as a non-champion. Along with a per fight pay bump, Moraes’ monthly stipends from ONE doubled up to $10,000.
Moraes declined to comment for the MMAFighting story and ONE Championship had not yet responded to the outlet. However, Davis did offer a brief statement regarding the lawsuit.
“As a professional rule, I don’t make comments about contracts, money and etc publicly,” Davis said via text message. “I seek the justice when I’m in need about any situation, and I’ll wait and humbly agree to its decision.”
Moraes has won six of his last seven fights and is viewed as the greatest competitor in ONE Championship flyweight history. No date or opponent has been set for his return to action in 2022.
What are your thoughts on how much ONE has been paying one of their top stars since 2017?