Ex-title challengers John Moraga, Wilson Reis meet at UFC on FOX 29 in Arizona

The UFC’s spring return to Arizona in April keeps growing with the addition of a flyweight fight between a pair of former title challengers.

John Moraga (18-6 MMA, 7-5 UFC) is set to take on Wilson Reis (22-8 MMA, 6-4 UFC) at UFC on FOX 29 in April, UFC officials recently announced. Moraga is No. 9 in the most recent USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA flyweight rankings; Reis is right behind him at No. 10.

UFC on FOX 29 will take place April 14 at Gila River Arena in Glendale, Ariz., near Phoenix. The main card will air on FOX following prelims expected for FS1 and UFC Fight Pass.

It’s been four and a half years since Moraga fought champ Demetrious Johnson for the flyweight title. He was submitted with an armbar in the fifth round. The Arizona native went 3-1 after that, but then suffered through a three-fight skid.

In consecutive fights, he dropped decisions to Joseph Benavidez, Matheus Nicolau and Sergio Pettis. But he rebounded this past June with a decision over Ashkan Mokhtarian, then picked up a huge win when he upset the previously unbeaten Magomed Bibulatov, a 6-1 favorite, with a first-round knockout at UFC 216. He picked up a $50,000 bonus check in the process.

Wilson Reis

Reis challenged Johnson for the flyweight belt this past April in the UFC on FOX 24 main event. Like Moraga, “Mighty Mouse” stopped him with an armbar. He earned his title shot by virtue of five wins in six fights since dropping to 125 pounds. But after his loss to Johnson, his attempt at a rebound didn’t go his way, either – he was knocked out by fellow former title challenger and Olympic wrestling gold medalist Henry Cejudo in the second round at UFC 215 in September.

With the addition, UFC on FOX 29 now includes:

• Justin Gaethje vs. Dustin Poirier
• Matt Brown vs. Carlos Condit
• Arjan Bhullar vs. Adam Wieczorek
• John Moraga vs. Wilson Reis

For more on UFC on FOX 29, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.