A former UFC fighter is transitioning to a life of public service after retiring from mixed martial arts.
Marlon Moraes, known as “Magic,” joined the Coral Springs Police Department in Florida as a police officer in May 2024. This move comes after his retirement from MMA in June 2023, following a first-round knockout loss to Gabriel Braga at PFL 4.
Now working the night shift patrolling the streets of South Florida, Moraes shared with CBS News that his primary motivation for becoming a police officer is straightforward: to assist and serve his community.
“Every time I go to work, I want to help someone,” Moraes stated. “When the call comes, I want to be the one.”
Ryan Gallagher, deputy chief of the Coral Springs Police Department, spoke highly of Moraes, emphasizing his professionalism and dedication to serving the public.
“I found a professional, compassionate, charismatic individual who wants to serve the community,” Gallagher remarked.
Marlon Moraes’ UFC Career Highlights
Marlon Moraes was active in the UFC from June 2017 to March 2022. After a split decision loss in his UFC debut against Raphael Assuncao at UFC 212, Moraes achieved a notable four-fight winning streak. His victories included impressive performances against Aljamain Sterling and John Dodson, which earned him a shot at the bantamweight title.
However, the 38-year-old Brazilian’s championship aspirations were cut short when he was defeated by Henry Cejudo via third-round knockout at UFC 238 in June 2019. Later that year, Moraes secured what would become the final win of his professional fighting career against UFC Hall of Famer Jose Aldo.
Following his victory over Aldo, Moraes experienced a challenging period, losing his subsequent seven fights by knockout across both the UFC and PFL. He retired with an overall MMA record of 23 wins, 13 losses, and 1 draw, including a 5-6 record within the UFC.