Marlon Moraes has traveled a difficult road to reach the point where he currently stands on the MMA landscape.

The reigning bantamweight king of World Series of Fighting emerged from humble beginnings in his native Brazil, and after two decades of competition, he has carved out his place as one of the best 135-pound fighters in the world. Moraes' roots have taught him to appreciate the journey, but his run of success inside the cage has him very much looking forward to what the future holds.

"Getting respect for my skills has been hard because I'm not fighting in the UFC, but now people are starting to see what I can do and it's great," Moraes said. "When you do what you love, do it well, and get recognized for it; that is a very good thing.

"It's like when you go to a normal day of work at a normal job then after that day your boss comes up to you and says you did a good job. For me, the fans and the media are my bosses, and when they say I did a good job it means a lot to me. "

Moraes' next chapter will come when he puts his bantamweight title on the line against Josenaldo Silva at WSOF 34 on New Year's Eve in New York City. And while the incoming challenger has every ounce of Moraes' attention, the excitement of fighting in a city he once only knew through films certainly adds to the experience.

"I used to see New York in the movies I would watch, and I honestly never thought it would be a city I would see with my own two eyes," Moraes said. "Now to be fighting there is something I never thought would be possible. That makes it so special to me. It's a dream come true."


Photo: World Series of Fighting

In addition to his upcoming bout at Madison Square Garden, Moraes recently made headlines by re-upping his contract with World Series of Fighting. Many in the MMA realm assumed the 28-year-old would try his hand in the free-agent market, but Moraes quickly closed that door by re-signing with the promotion that helped establish his name.

Fast forward two months and the once calm MMA landscape has become tumultuous. Fighters unions such as the Mixed Martial Arts Athletes Association are going after the UFC for better pay, and the shift serves as further proof to Moraes the correct decision was made.

"A lot of fighters aren't being paid very well, and this is something that is getting a lot of attention," Moraes said. "I signed another contract with WSOF, because I don't have this problem. They treat me very well. But then people say, 'Oh man you're making so much money,' but they don't understand how hard it is to train and fight someone who is just as prepared as you are to fight.

"This is not something I want for my son. I want to give my family the best life possible, and I'm in a rough sport where you have to fight hard and fight well to get paid right. I think all fighters deserve to be paid fairly. It's very important."

As the sport he loves ramps up around him to close out the year, Moraes will be looking to put another impressive stamp on his resume. The bantamweight champion will step into the cage against a hungry competitor in Silva and will get to do what he does best in one of the most iconic cities in the world.

"Silva is a big name in Brazil and is one of the best up-and-coming fighters in MMA," Moraes said. "WSOF signed him before any other promotion could, and they are giving him a big opportunity to fight for the title. I think he's good for the position he's in now and is dangerous everywhere."

Although Moraes is rarely to be found without a smile on his face, the situation at hand has him happier than ever.

"[WSOF] have given me a great opportunity to perform on a big stage like New York City," Moraes said. "I get to fight at Madison Square Garden, man. I'm very happy and I get to go out there and perform. I get to do what I've been doing for 20 years of my life and that's compete in martial arts. On December 31, you guys are going to see the best Marlon yet. I promise."