Michael Morales (fighter)

Last updated
Michael Morales
Michael Morales. QUITO, 27 DE MAYO DEL 2025 (cropped).jpg
Morales in 2025
BornMichael Jonathan Morales Hurtado [1]
(1999-06-24) June 24, 1999 (age 26)
Pasaje, El Oro, Ecuador
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight170 lb (77 kg)
Division Welterweight
Reach79 in (201 cm) [2]
Style Wrestling
Fighting out of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
TeamXtreme Fitness Machala
Entram Gym
Years active2017–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total18
Wins18
By knockout13
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 June 24, 2025, he is #7 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, with his mother was his first coach. His mother, international judo referee Katty Hurtado, is a third dan judo black belt who retired from competition when she was 42. [4] 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. [5] After doing MMA as an amateur, he made his professional MMA debut at age 16. [4]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

While fully focusing on MMA, he juggled a job at a naval boat factory. [5]

In 2021, he began his journey through Mexico, arriving in Tijuana to train at Entram Gym. [6] On March 29, 2021, he signed a contract with Ultimate Warrior Challenge Mexico (UWC). [7]

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. [8]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Morales made his UFC debut against Trevin Giles on January 22, 2022, at UFC 270. [9] He won the fight via TKO in the first round. [10]

Morales was scheduled to face Ramiz Brahimaj at UFC 277 on July 30, 2022. [11] However, Brahimaj was forced to withdraw from the event in mid-July due to an undisclosed injury [12] and was replaced by Adam Fugitt. [13] Morales won the fight via TKO in the third round. [14]

Morales was scheduled to face Rinat Fakhretdinov on December 17, 2022, at UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Strickland. [15] However, Morales withdrew due to a toe fracture. [16]

Morales faced Max Griffin on July 1, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 48. [17] He won the fight via unanimous decision. [18]

Morales faced Jake Matthews on November 18, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 232. [19] He won the fight via unanimous decision. [20]

Morales faced Neil Magny on August 24, 2024 at UFC on ESPN 62. [21] He won the fight by technical knockout in the first round. [22] This fight earned him a Performance of the Night award. [23]

Morales was scheduled to face former UFC Welterweight title challenger Gilbert Burns on April 12, 2025, at UFC 314. [24] However, the bout was moved to May 10, 2025 at UFC 315 for unknown reasons. [25] In turn, the bout against Burns was moved to serve as the main event on May 17, 2025 at UFC Fight Night 256. [26] Morales won the fight by technical knockout in the first round. [27] This fight earned him another Performance of the Night award. [28]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
18 matches18 wins0 losses
By knockout130
By submission10
By decision40
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Win18–0 Gilbert Burns TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Morales May 17, 202513:39 Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesPerformance of the Night.
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 Mexico 26April 30, 202124:02 Tijuana, Mexico
Win10–0Ricardo CentenoKO (punches)Extreme MMA 17October 3, 202014:15 Quito, EcuadorWon the vacant EMMA Welterweight Championship.
Win9–0Daniel Luigy BastidasTKO (doctor stoppage)Extreme MMA 16August 1, 202012:01 Guayaquil, Ecuador
Win8–0Mario NavarreteTKO (punches)Barbarian's 5February 12, 202022:45 Machala, Ecuador
Win7–0Gregoris CisnerosSubmission (triangle choke)Barbarian's 4December 14, 201911:58 Cuenca, Ecuador
Win6–0Erick ZambranoTKO (punches)Pasaje Combat 1November 8, 201911:55 Pasaje, Ecuador
Win5–0Mathias SalazarTKO (punches)Manaba Top Team 2September 6, 201911:40 El Guabo, Ecuador
Win4–0Óscar RavelloTKO (corner stoppage)Fusion FC 39July 17, 201925:00 Lima, Peru
Win3–0Leonardo BlascoDecision (unanimous)Troncal FC 2December 8, 201835:00 La Troncal, Ecuador
Win2–0Álvaro Vacacela GuerreroTKO (doctor stoppage)Oro FC 5March 24, 201815:00 Santa Rosa, EcuadorWon the ORO Welterweight Championship.
Win1–0Álvaro Vacacela GuerreroTKO (punches)Oro FC 4August 19, 201723:15 Pasaje, EcuadorWelterweight debut.

[30]

See also

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 2025-06-24.
  4. 1 2 Danny Segura (2022-01-19). "How UFC newcomer Michael Morales' judo black belt parents sparked his MMA career". MMAjunkie.
  5. 1 2 "Michael Morales: "Empecé a practicar artes marciales mixtas por curiosidad"". primicias.ec. 2022-02-20.
  6. ↑ "Michael Morales: ¿Quién es la nueva promesa ecuatoriana que hace historia en la UFC?". vistazo.com. 2023-10-20.
  7. ↑ "Michael Morales debutará el 22 de enero en la cartelera estelar de la UFC". primicias.ec. 2022-01-09.
  8. ↑ "Michael Morales gana y consigue el contrato para pelear en la UFC". primicias.ec. 2021-09-21.
  9. ↑ Dorff, Marcel (2021-10-12). "Michael Morales treft Trevin Giles tijdens UFC 270 op 22 januari". MMA DNA. Retrieved 2021-10-12.
  10. ↑ Anderson, Jay (2022-01-22). "UFC 270: Michael Morales Stays Perfect with TKO Finish of Trevin Giles". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-01-23.
  11. ↑ Steve Duncan (2022-05-11). "Michael Morales vs. Ramiz Brahimaj added to UFC 277". mma.uno. Retrieved 2022-07-20.(in Spanish)
  12. ↑ 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.
  13. ↑ Steve Duncan (2022-07-21). "With Brahimaj injured, Adam Fugitt faces Michael Morales at UFC 277". mma.uno. Retrieved 2022-07-21.(in Spanish)
  14. ↑ "Michael Morales derrota a Adam Fugitt por nocaut y mantiene su invicto". primicias.ec. 2022-07-30.
  15. ↑ 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.
  16. ↑ 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.
  17. ↑ "Fuentes: UFC pacta Morales-Griffin en julio". ESPNdeportes.com (in Spanish). 2023-04-29. Retrieved 2023-06-22.
  18. ↑ "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.
  19. ↑ ITN News Desk (2023-09-22). "Michael Morales vs Jake Matthews Reported at UFC November 18". www.itnwwe.com. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  20. ↑ Anderson, Jay (2023-11-19). "Michael Morales Stays Undefeated, Bests Jake Matthews at UFC Vegas 82". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  21. ↑ 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.
  22. ↑ Jay Anderson (2024-08-24). "UFC Vegas 96: Michael Morales Stays Perfect, Smashes Neil Magny". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  23. 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.
  24. ↑ Ross Markey (2025-01-09). "Report – Gilbert Burns books return fight against unbeaten KO star at UFC 314 in Miami". lowkickmma.com. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
  25. ↑ Nolan King (2025-02-19). "UFC 315 title fights revealed: Belal Muhammad, Valentina Shevchenko set to defend in Montreal". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
  26. ↑ Prince Horton (2025-04-11). "UFC Vegas 106 Adds a High-Stakes Test for Undefeated Prospect – Top 10 Spot in Reach". athlonsports.net. Retrieved 2025-04-11.
  27. ↑ Jay Anderson (2025-05-17). "UFC Vegas 106: Michael Morales Now 18-0 After Wrecking Gilbert Burns". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
  28. 1 2 Dan Hiergesell (2025-05-17). "Bonuses! Michael Morales cleans up with $50K for Burns smashing - UFC Vegas 106". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
  29. ↑ Thomas Gerbasi (December 20, 2022). "The Newcomers - 2022 UFC.com Awards". Ultimate Fighting Championship .
  30. ↑ Sherdog.com. "Michael Morales". Sherdog. Retrieved 2022-11-20.
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