With losses to Demetrious Johnson and John Dodson in his recent fights, John Moraga needed a victory Friday night to stay relevant in the UFC's flyweight division.
He seemed to know it, too. Moraga showed urgency and poise and finished Justin Scoggins at UFC Fight Night 50 at Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut, winning via guillotine choke in the second round.
In the opening round, Moraga used the American Top Team fighter's aggression against him, rolling with Scoggins' double-leg shots and turning them into guilotine attempts.
He wasn't able to finish Scoggins in the first round, but that changed in the second. Moraga once again took a Scoggins double and went for the guillotine. This time, he pivoted his hips, sunk it in deep, and got the tapout for his seventh career submission.
"I'm feeling good man, I'm happy with the win," said Moraga (15-3). "Nobody's going to stand up with me. Hit me, I'm going to take that. Try to take me down and hurt me and I'm going to find my way to win. He was letting me get under his neck too easy. I knew if I moved my hips in the right position I'll get it."
The Arizona native made it clear when he'd like to fight next: UFC on FOX comes to his hometown of Phoenix on Dec. 13.
"I fight hard, I rep hard for my hometown," Moraga said. "They're coming in three months and I want to fight in my hometown."
Scoggins (9-2) has now dropped two in a row.
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