Vince Morales

Last updated

Vince Morales
Vince Morales.jpg
Born (1990-11-12) November 12, 1990 (age 34)
Caldwell, Idaho, United States
Other namesVandetta
Height5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Weight145 lb (66 kg; 10 st 5 lb)
Division Featherweight
Bantamweight
Reach70 in (178 cm) [1]
Fighting out of Ontario, Oregon, United States
TeamFreak-Jitsu (until 2020) [2]
Syndicate MMA (2020–present) [3]
RankPurple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu [4]
Years active2015–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total24
Wins16
By knockout7
By submission5
By decision4
Losses8
By knockout1
By submission2
By decision5
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Vince Morales (born November 12, 1990) is an American mixed martial artist who competed in the Featherweight division most recently for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional mixed martial artist since 2015, Morales has also competed in Bellator.

Contents

Background

Morales grew up in Ontario, Oregon and started wrestling while attending Ontario High School. [5] Despite going winless in wrestling in his freshman year and halfway through the sophomore year, he ended up becoming a state champion in his senior year. [6] Morales attended Boise State University for a spell but dropped out due to family issues. [5]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Morales made his MMA debut at featherweight against Joseph Cleveland on May 15, 2015, at FSF - Front Street Fights 5. He won the fight via submission with a rear-naked choke in the first round. [7]

Following his MMA debut, Morales mainly fought within the Idaho regional MMA circuit, competing within organizations such as King of the Cage and Front Street Fights, wherein he held the organization's featherweight title. [8]

Bellator MMA

Morales made his Bellator debut at featherweight on May 20, 2016, against Hamilton Ash at Bellator 155. [9] He won the fight via knockout with punches in the third round. [10]

Morales faced Justin Hugo at bantamweight on September 21, 2018, at Bellator 205. [11] He won the fight via unanimous decision. [12]

Dana White's Contender Series

Morales faced Domingo Pilarte on July 17, 2018, at Dana White's Contender Series 13. He lost the fight via technical submission via rear-naked choke. [13]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Replacing injured Frankie Saenz on short notice, Morales made his UFC debut at bantamweight on November 24, 2018, against Song Yadong at UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Ngannou 2. [14] He lost the fight via unanimous decision. [15]

Morales then faced Aiemann Zahabi on May 4, 2019, at UFC Fight Night: Iaquinta vs. Cowboy. [16] He won the fight via unanimous decision. [17]

Morales next faced Benito Lopez on July 13, 2019, at UFC Fight Night: de Randamie vs. Ladd. [18] He lost the fight via unanimous decision. [19]

Morales then returned to featherweight and faced Chris Gutiérrez on May 30, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Woodley vs. Burns. [20] He lost the fight via TKO with leg kicks in the second round. [21] Three months after his loss to Gutiérrez, he suffered a torn Achilles tendon which required two surgeries. [22]

Morales returned to bantamweight and faced Drako Rodriguez at UFC 265 on August 7, 2021. [23] He won the fight via unanimous decision. [24]

Morales faced Louis Smolka on December 4, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 31. [25] He won the fight via knockout out in round one. [26]

Morales, as a replacement for Liudvik Sholinian, was scheduled to face Nathaniel Wood on March 19, 2022, at UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Aspinall. [27] In turn, just days before the event, Morales withdrew due to illness, [28] and the pair will be rescheduled for future event. [29]

Morales faced Jonathan Martinez on May 21, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 206. [30] He lost the fight via unanimous decision. [31]

Morales was scheduled to face José Johnson on November 19, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 215, [32] but Johnson pulled out for undisclosed reasons, [33] and he was replaced by Miles Johns on November 19, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 215. [34] Morales lost the fight via unanimous decision. [35]

It was announced in mid-January that UFC released Morales. [36]

Post UFC career

Morales faced Teruto Ishihara on May 3, 2023, at XMMA 6: Bash at the Beach. [37] [38] He won the bout in the third round, choking out Ishihara via anaconda choke. [39]

Morales faced Yuki Motoya on December 31, 2023 at Rizin 45, winning the bout via unanimous decision. [40]

Morales faced reigning UFL Bantamweight champion Hunter Azure for his title at United Fight League 5 on August 30, 2024. [41] He would win the fight via submission in the third round after submitting Azure with a Peruvian necktie thus becoming the new UFL Bantamweight Champion. [42]

Return to UFC

On short notice and replacing Felipe Lima, Morales made his return to the UFC and faced Taylor Lapilus on September 28, 2024 at UFC Fight Night 243. [43] He lost the fight by unanimous decision. [44]

Morales is scheduled to face promotional newcomer Elijah Smith on February 15, 2025 at UFC Fight Night 251. [45]

Personal life

Morales is the cousin of fellow UFC bantamweight fighter Ricky Simón. [46] [47]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
24 matches16 wins8 losses
By knockout71
By submission52
By decision45
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss16–8 Taylor Lapilus Decision (Unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Saint Denis September 28, 202435:00 Paris, France
Win16–7 Hunter Azure Submission (Peruvian necktie)United Fight League 5August 30, 202434:06 Chandler, Arizona, United StatesWon the UFL Bantamweight Championship.
Win15–7Luis GuerreroSubmission (brabo choke)Tuff-N-Uff 137May 24, 202424:09 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win14–7Yuki MotoyaDecision (unanimous) Rizin 45 December 31, 202335:00 Saitama, Japan
Win13–7Joe PenafielTKO (punches)Front Street Fights 26July 28, 202322:19 Boise, Idaho, United StatesCatchweight (144 lb) bout.
Win12–7 Teruto Ishihara Technical Submission (anaconda choke)XMMA 6May 3, 202331:17 Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United StatesCatchweight (140 lb) bout.
Loss11–7 Miles Johns Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Nzechukwu vs. Cuțelaba November 19, 202235:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss11–6 Jonathan Martinez Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Vieira May 21, 202235:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win11–5 Louis Smolka KO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Font vs. Aldo December 4, 202112:02 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win10–5Drako RodriguezDecision (unanimous) UFC 265 August 7, 202135:00 Houston, Texas, United States
Loss9–5 Chris Gutiérrez TKO (leg kicks) UFC on ESPN: Woodley vs. Burns May 30, 202024:27 Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesFeatherweight bout.
Loss9–4 Benito Lopez Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: de Randamie vs. Ladd July 13, 201935:00 Sacramento, California, United States
Win9–3 Aiemann Zahabi Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Iaquinta vs. Cowboy May 4, 201935:00 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Loss8–3 Song Yadong Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Ngannou 2 November 24, 201835:00 Beijing, China
Win8–2Justin HugoDecision (unanimous) Bellator 205 September 21, 201835:00 Boise, Idaho, United States
Loss7–2 Domingo Pilarte Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) Dana White's Contender Series 13 July 17, 201821:52 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win7–1Brandon HemplemanTKO (punches)Front Street Fights 15January 19, 201822:38 Boise, Idaho, United StatesBantamweight debut.
Win6–1Rowdy AkersSubmission (arm-triangle choke)KOTC: Quick DrawJune 17, 201711:58 Fort Hall, Idaho, United StatesCatchweight (140 lb) bout.
Win5–1Andrew CruzKO (punches)Front Street Fights 10December 9, 201633:07 Boise, Idaho, United StatesWon the FSF Featherweight Championship.
Win4–1Hamilton AshKO (punches) Bellator 155 May 20, 201632:32 Boise, Idaho, United States
Win3–1Patrick Trey SmithTKO (punches)Front Street Fights 8February 13, 201614:15 Boise, Idaho, United States
Loss2–1Josh WickSubmission (armbar)Front Street Fights 6September 11, 201523:26 Boise, Idaho, United States
Win2–0Jeremie MontgomeryTKO (punches) SFL 41: America 5 July 11, 201512:28 Tacoma, Washington, United States
Win1–0Joseph ClevelandSubmission (rear-naked choke)Front Street Fights 5May 15, 201511:51 Boise, Idaho, United StatesFeatherweight debut.

See also

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References

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  3. ↑ James Lynch (July 21, 2021). Vince Morales talks UFC 265, Layoff due to injury & Training at Syndicate MMA – via YouTube.
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  5. 1 2 Jim Norton; Matt Serra (December 7, 2021). "Jamahal Hill and Vince Morales" (Podcast).
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  8. 1 2 Todd Carlson (September 16, 2017). "Todd Carlson discusses Featherweight, Bantamweight for FSF". CenturyLink Arena Boise. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
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  25. ↑ Behunin, Alex (October 6, 2021). "Vince Morales vs. Louis Smolka Set For December 4 UFC Event". Cageside Press. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
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  31. ↑ Anderson, Jay (May 21, 2022). "UFC Vegas 55: Jonathan Martinez Chews Up the Legs of Vince Morales En Route to Decision Win". Cageside Press. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
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  33. ↑ Ricky Calls Out Vince's Big Mouth, Subscriber Giveaway + Recovery Tactics - Just Cuz Ep 13, November 4, 2022, retrieved November 12, 2022
  34. ↑ Poli, John Eric (November 11, 2022). "Miles Johns talks short notice opportunity at UFC Vegas 65" . Retrieved November 12, 2022.
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  36. ↑ Shelton, Cole (January 19, 2023). "UFC parts ways with 11 fighters | BJPenn.com". | BJPenn.com. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
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  41. ↑ "UFL 5 Weigh in Results | MMA UK". August 30, 2024.
  42. ↑ "UFL 5: Phoenix vs. Vegas Full Results". August 31, 2024.
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  44. ↑ Eddie Law (September 28, 2024). "Taylor Lapilus Puts On Striking Clinic, Earns Decision Over Morales". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  45. ↑ Harvey Leonard (December 15, 2024). "UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: Curtis Blaydes Returns Against Promotional Newcomer". mmanews.com. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  46. ↑ Elias Cepeda (July 11, 2019). "Ricky Simón gave up a lot to fight Urijah Faber at UFC Sacramento". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  47. ↑ Nolan King (July 10, 2019). "Family first, fighters second: Cousins Vince Morales, Ricky Simon live out dream at UFC Sacramento". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
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