Alex Morono hopes to rebook Dhiego Lima matchup after UFC 247

HOUSTON – Alex Morono hopes he can still fight Dhiego Lima after their planned UFC 247 matchup fell through.

Morono (17-5 MMA, 6-2 UFC) specifically asked for the fight with Lima (15-7 MMA, 4-5 UFC) and got his wish, but then it fell apart due to an injury. He now meets Kalinn Williams (9-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) in a welterweight prelim bout, but more or less hopes it’s something to keep him busy before going back to his original booking.

“I like that Lima matchup,” Morono told MMA Junkie at UFC 247 media day. “We did so much ground work and I got pretty bored watching tape. There’s a lot of tape and we watched all of it and we don’t want it to be for nothing.”

Morono has plenty of UFC experience under him and will be welcoming a promotional newcomer in Williams. He definitely has more to lose in this scenario, but Morono is excited to perform.

“Mentally, I always prepare for a third-round knockout or submission, that way if it goes past the first I’m not disheartened,” Morono said. “He will shoot in a lot so I expect a lot of grappling. Best-case scenario he stands and trades, and if that’s the case, it’s the same game plan I’ve had for the last 13 years and that’s to score a knockout.”

UFC 247 takes place Saturday at Toyota Center. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+