Marlon Moraes close to finalizing new contract with World Series of Fighting

Marlon Moraes isn't going anywhere.

Moraes, whose World Series of Fighting contract recently expired, is close to finalizing a new contract with the promotion, MMA Fighting confirmed with his manager Ali Abdel-Aziz.

The current plan, according to Abdel-Aziz, is for Moraes to defend his WSOF bantamweight title on Dec. 31 at the Madison Square Garden Theater in New York City. Also targeted for that card, which will air live on NBC, is WSOF lightweight champion Justin Gaethje. Both fighters have yet to find out who they'll be fighting.

The 28-year-old Moraes (17-4-1) has won his last 12 fights in a row and is considered to be one of the best bantamweights in the world. He has not lost a fight since Dec. 2011.