Michael Morales (fighter)

Last updated
Michael Morales
BornMichael Jonathan Morales Hurtado [1]
(1999-06-24) June 24, 1999 (age 25)
Pasaje, El Oro, Ecuador
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight170 lb (77 kg)
Division Welterweight
Reach79 in (201 cm) [2]
Fighting out of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
TeamXtreme Fitness Machala
Entram Gym
Years active2017–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total17
Wins17
By knockout12
By submission1
By decision4
Losses0
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Michael Jonathan Morales Hurtado (born June 24, 1999) is an Ecuadorian professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of August 27, 2024, he is #12 in the UFC welterweight rankings. [3]

Contents

Background

Michael Morales was born in 1999 in Pasaje, El Oro, Ecuador. He is the son of judokas, a discipline he has been practicing since he was five years old, where his mother was his first coach. At the age of 10, he switched from judo to wrestling, where he won several youth tournaments. At the age of 14, his father took him to Víctor Vallejo's academy in Machala, where he began to practice mixed martial arts. [4]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

While fully focusing on MMA, he juggled a job at a naval boat factory. [4]

In 2021, he began his journey through Mexico, arriving in Tijuana to train at Entram Gym. [5] On March 29, 2021, he signed a contract with Ultimate Warrior Challenge (UWC). [6]

Dana White's Contender Series

On September 21, 2021, Morales faced Nikolay Veretennikov for a UFC contract on Dana White's Contender Series: Season 5, Week 4. Morales earned the contract by defeating Veretennikov via unanimous decision. [7]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Morales made his UFC debut against Trevin Giles on January 22, 2022, at UFC 270. [8] He won the fight via TKO in the first round. [9]

Morales was scheduled to face Ramiz Brahimaj at UFC 277 on July 30, 2022. [10] However, Brahimaj was forced to withdraw from the event in mid-July due to an undisclosed injury [11] and was replaced by Adam Fugitt. [12] Morales won the fight via TKO in the third round. [13]

Morales was scheduled to face Rinat Fakhretdinov on December 17, 2022, at UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Strickland. [14] However, Morales withdrew due to a toe fracture. [15]

Morales faced Max Griffin on July 1, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 48. [16] He won the fight via unanimous decision. [17]

Morales faced Jake Matthews on November 18, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 232. [18] He won the fight via unanimous decision. [19]

Morales faced Neil Magny on August 24, 2024 at UFC on ESPN 62. [20] He won the fight by technical knockout in the first round. [21] This fight earned him a Performance of the Night award. [22]

Morales is scheduled to face former UFC Welterweight title challenger Gilbert Burns on April 12, 2025, at UFC 314. [23]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
17 matches17 wins0 losses
By knockout120
By submission10
By decision40
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Win17–0 Neil Magny TKO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs. Borralho August 24, 202414:39 Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesPerformance of the Night.
Win16–0 Jake Matthews Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Craig November 18, 202335:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win15–0 Max Griffin Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Strickland vs. Magomedov July 1, 202335:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win14–0Adam FugittTKO (punches) UFC 277 July 30, 202231:09 Dallas, Texas, United States
Win13–0 Trevin Giles TKO (punches) UFC 270 January 22, 202214:06 Anaheim, California, United States
Win12–0Nikolay VeretennikovDecision (unanimous) Dana White's Contender Series 40 September 21, 202135:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win11–0Miguel ArizmendiTKO (punches)UWC 26April 30, 202124:02 Tijuana, Mexico
Win10–0Ricardo CentenoKO (punch)EMMA 17October 3, 202014:45 Quito, EcuadorWon the vacant EMMA Welterweight Championship
Win9–0Daniel Luigy BastidasTKO (doctor stoppage)EMMA 16August 1, 202012:01 Guayaquil, Ecuador
Win8–0Mario NavarreteTKO (punches)Barbarian's Fighting League 5February 12, 202022:45 Machala, Ecuador
Win7–0Gregoris CisnerosSubmission (triangle choke)Barbarian's Fighting League 4December 14, 201911:58 Cuenca, Ecuador
Win6–0Erick ZambranoTKO (punches)Pasaje Combat 1November 8, 201911:55 Pasaje, EcuadorReturn to Welterweight.
Win5–0Mathias SalazarTKO (punches)Manaba Top Team 2September 6, 201911:40 El Guabo, Ecuador
Win4–0Óscar RavelloTKO (corner stoppage)FFC 39July 17, 201925:00 Lima, PeruWelterweight bout.
Win3–0Leonardo BlascoDecision (unanimous)TFC 2December 8, 201835:00 La Troncal, EcuadorLightweight debut.
Win2–0Álvaro Vacacela GuerreroTKO (doctor stoppage)OFC 5March 24, 201815:00 Santa Rosa, EcuadorWon the OFC Welterweight Championship.
Win1–0Álvaro Vacacela GuerreroTKO (punches)OFC 4August 19, 201723:15 Pasaje, EcuadorWelterweight debut.

[25]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Pan-Am Championships 2019 - Juniors". FloWrestling. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  2. ↑ "Michael Morales". Tapology.
  3. ↑ "UFC Rankings | UFC.com". www.ufc.com. Retrieved 2024-08-27.
  4. 1 2 "Michael Morales: "Empecé a practicar artes marciales mixtas por curiosidad"". primicias.ec. 2022-02-20.
  5. ↑ "Michael Morales: ¿Quién es la nueva promesa ecuatoriana que hace historia en la UFC?". vistazo.com. 2023-10-20.
  6. ↑ "Michael Morales debutará el 22 de enero en la cartelera estelar de la UFC". primicias.ec. 2022-01-09.
  7. ↑ "Michael Morales gana y consigue el contrato para pelear en la UFC". primicias.ec. 2021-09-21.
  8. ↑ Dorff, Marcel (2021-10-12). "Michael Morales treft Trevin Giles tijdens UFC 270 op 22 januari". MMA DNA. Retrieved 2021-10-12.
  9. ↑ Anderson, Jay (2022-01-22). "UFC 270: Michael Morales Stays Perfect with TKO Finish of Trevin Giles". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-01-23.
  10. ↑ Steve Duncan (2022-05-11). "Michael Morales vs. Ramiz Brahimaj added to UFC 277". mma.uno. Retrieved 2022-07-20.(in Spanish)
  11. ↑ Nolan King (2022-07-18). "UFC 277 hit with multitude of withdrawals. Here's where the card stands less than two weeks away". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-07-18.
  12. ↑ Steve Duncan (2022-07-21). "With Brahimaj injured, Adam Fugitt faces Michael Morales at UFC 277". mma.uno. Retrieved 2022-07-21.(in Spanish)
  13. ↑ "Michael Morales derrota a Adam Fugitt por nocaut y mantiene su invicto". primicias.ec. 2022-07-30.
  14. ↑ Nolan King (2022-10-03). "Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (Sept. 26-Oct. 2)". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
  15. ↑ Danny Segura (2022-11-30). "Unbeaten Michael Morales injured, out of UFC Fight Night 216 vs. Rinat Fakhretdinov". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
  16. ↑ "Fuentes: UFC pacta Morales-Griffin en julio". ESPNdeportes.com (in Spanish). 2023-04-29. Retrieved 2023-06-22.
  17. ↑ "UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs Magomedov Results | Winner Interviews, Highlights And More From Las Vegas". www.ufcespanol.com (in Spanish). 2023-07-01. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  18. ↑ ITN News Desk (2023-09-22). "Michael Morales vs Jake Matthews Reported at UFC November 18". www.itnwwe.com. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  19. ↑ Anderson, Jay (2023-11-19). "Michael Morales Stays Undefeated, Bests Jake Matthews at UFC Vegas 82". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  20. ↑ Danny Segura (2024-07-04). "Michael Morales vs. Neil Magny verbally agreed for UFC's Aug. 24 Fight Night". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  21. ↑ Jay Anderson (2024-08-24). "UFC Vegas 96: Michael Morales Stays Perfect, Smashes Neil Magny". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  22. 1 2 Chris Taylor (2024-08-24). "UFC Vegas 96 Bonus Report: Michael Morales one of four fighters to take home $50k". bjpenn.com. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
  23. ↑ "Report - Gilbert Burns Books Return Fight Against Unbeaten KO Star At UFC 314 In Miami". www.lowkickmma.com. 2025-01-09. Retrieved 2025-01-10.
  24. ↑ Thomas Gerbasi (December 20, 2022). "The Newcomers - 2022 UFC.com Awards". Ultimate Fighting Championship .
  25. ↑ Sherdog.com. "Michael Morales". Sherdog. Retrieved 2022-11-20.
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