Vince_Morales

Vince Morales

Vince Morales

American mixed martial arts fighter

Vince Morales[1] (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.

Quick Facts Born, Other names ...

Background

Morales grew up in Ontario, Oregon and started wrestling while attending Ontario High School.[6] 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.[7] Morales attended Boise State University for a spell but dropped out due to family issues.[6]

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.[8]

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.[9]

Bellator MMA

Morales made his Bellator debut at featherweight on May 20, 2016, against Hamilton Ash at Bellator 155.[10] He won the fight via knockout with punches in the third round.[11]

Morales faced Justin Hugo at bantamweight on September 21, 2018, at Bellator 205.[12] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[13]

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.[14]

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.[15] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[16]

Morales then faced Aiemann Zahabi on May 4, 2019, at UFC Fight Night: Iaquinta vs. Cowboy.[17] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[18]

Morales next faced Benito Lopez on July 13, 2019, at UFC Fight Night: de Randamie vs. Ladd.[19] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[20]

Morales then returned to featherweight and faced Chris Gutiérrez on May 30, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Woodley vs. Burns.[21] He lost the fight via TKO with leg kicks in the second round.[22] Three months after his loss to Gutiérrez, he suffered a torn Achilles tendon which required two surgeries.[23]

Morales returned to bantamweight and faced Drako Rodriguez at UFC 265 on August 7, 2021.[24] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[25]

Morales faced Louis Smolka on December 4, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 31.[26] He won the fight via knockout out in round one.[27]

Morales, as a replacement for Liudvik Sholinian, was scheduled to face Nathaniel Wood on March 19, 2022, at UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Aspinall.[28] In turn, just days before the event, Morales withdrew due to illness,[29] and the pair will be rescheduled for future event.[30]

Morales faced Jonathan Martinez on May 21, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 206.[31] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[32]

Morales was scheduled to face José Johnson on November 19, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 215,[33] but Johnson pulled out for undisclosed reasons,[34] and he was replaced by Miles Johns on November 19, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 215.[35] Morales lost the fight via unanimous decision.[36]

It was announced in mid-January that UFC released Morales.[37]

Post UFC career

Morales faced Teruto Ishihara on May 3, 2023, at XMMA 6: Bash at the Beach.[38][39] He won the bout in the third round, choking out Ishihara via anaconda choke.[40]

Morales faced Yuki Motoya on December 31, 2023 at Rizin 45, winning the bout via unanimous decision.[41]

Personal life

Morales is the cousin of fellow UFC bantamweight fighter Ricky Simón.[42][43]

Championships and accomplishments

  • Front Street Fights
    • FSF Featherweight Championship (One time)[9]

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
22 matches 15 wins 7 losses
By knockout 7 1
By submission 4 2
By decision 4 4
More information Res., Record ...

See also

References

  1. [1]
    Mixed martial arts show results Date: May 30, 2020
  2. [2]
    "Stats | UFC". ufcstats.com. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
  3. [3]
    Mike Heck (December 9, 2021). "We Got Next | A Fired Up Danny Sabatello & Victorious Vince Morales" (Podcast).
  4. [4]
    James Lynch (July 21, 2021). Vince Morales talks UFC 265, Layoff due to injury & Training at Syndicate MMA – via YouTube.
  5. [5]
    "Vince Morales". Ultimate Fighting Championship. November 2018. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
  6. [6]
    Jim Norton; Matt Serra (December 7, 2021). "Jamahal Hill and Vince Morales" (Podcast).
  7. [7]
    Thomas Gerbasi (May 3, 2019). "Morales Believes He's Built The Foundation For Octagon Success". Ultimate Fighting Championship.
  8. [8]
    Myles Painter (2018-10-09). "Setting the Bar featuring Bellator MMA fighters Vince Morales and Jordan Young". MMA UK. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
  9. [9]
    Todd Carlson (2017-09-16). "Todd Carlson discusses Featherweight, Bantamweight for FSF". CenturyLink Arena Boise. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
  10. [10]
    Steve Juon (2016-03-25). "Bellator 155 fight card finalized for 'Carvalho vs Manhoef' on May 20 in Boise". MMA Mania. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
  11. [11]
    Luke Thomas (2016-05-20). "Bellator 155 Results: Carvalho vs. Manhoef". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
  12. [12]
    Steve Juon (2018-08-30). "Latest Bellator 205 fight card, rumors for 'McKee vs Macapa' on Sept. 21 in Boise". MMA Mania. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
  13. [13]
    Bryan Tucker (2018-09-21). "Bellator 205 Results: McKee vs. Macapa". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
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    Eddie Mercado (2018-07-17). "Dana White's Contender Series 13 results: Pilarte among three to earn UFC contract". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
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    Alexander K. Lee (2018-11-23). "Mother's battle with cancer fueled MMA dream for UFC Beijing's Vince Morales". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
  16. [16]
    Jay Anderson (2018-11-24). "UFC Beijing Results: Song Yadong Defeats Vince Morales In Style". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
  17. [17]
    E. Spencer Kyte (2019-04-29). "Zahabi is Ready to be back in the Octagon". UFC. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
  18. [18]
    Davidson Baker (2019-05-04). "UFC Ottawa Results: Vince Morales Narrowly Outpoints Aiemann Zahabi". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
  19. [19]
    Trent Reinsmith (2019-07-11). "UFC Fight Night 155 Preview: The Odds Are Against Team Alpha Male". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
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    Ryan Fortune (2019-07-13). "UFC Sacramento Results: Benito Lopez Survives Knockdown, Edges Out Vince Morales". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
  21. [21]
    Mike Heck (2020-05-21). "Chris Gutierrez vs. Vince Morales targeted for May 30 UFC event". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
  22. [22]
    Jay Anderson (2020-05-30). "UFC Vegas Results: Chris Gutierrez Chops Down Vince Morales, Earns Leg Kick TKO". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
  23. [23]
    Behunin, Alex. "Vince Morales interview". Youtube. Alex Behunin. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  24. [24]
    Behunin, Alex (2021-05-08). "Drako Rodriguez vs. Vince Morales Set For UFC 265". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
  25. [25]
    Behunin, Alex (2021-08-07). "UFC 265 Results: Vince Morales Snaps Skid, Defeats Drako Rodriguez". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
  26. [26]
    Behunin, Alex (2021-10-06). "Vince Morales vs. Louis Smolka Set For December 4 UFC Event". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
  27. [27]
    Anderson, Jay (2021-12-04). "UFC Vegas 44: Vince Morales Stuns Louis Smolka Early". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-12-05.
  28. [28]
    Behunin, Alex (2022-03-05). "Liudvik Sholinian Out, Vince Morales Will Face Nathaniel Wood At UFC London". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  29. [29]
    Nolan King (2022-03-16). "Nathaniel Wood in need of UFC Fight Night 204 opponent after Vince Morales withdraws due to illness". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
  30. [30]
    "UFC London: No replacement for Nathaniel Wood, bout against Vince Morales to be rescheduled". MMA Junkie. 2022-03-17. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
  31. [31]
    Behunin, Alex (2022-04-16). "Vince Morales vs. Jonathan Martinez Set For May 21 UFC Event". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-04-16.
  32. [32]
    Anderson, Jay (2022-05-21). "UFC Vegas 55: Jonathan Martinez Chews Up the Legs of Vince Morales En Route to Decision Win". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
  33. [33]
    Drake Riggs (2022-09-27). "Vince Morales set to take on recent Contender Series winner Jose Johnson at UFC Vegas 65". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  34. [34]
    Ricky Calls Out Vince's Big Mouth, Subscriber Giveaway + Recovery Tactics - Just Cuz Ep 13, retrieved 2022-11-12
  35. [35]
    Poli, John Eric (2022-11-11). "Miles Johns talks short notice opportunity at UFC Vegas 65". Retrieved 2022-11-12.
  36. [36]
    Dewar, Val (2022-11-19). "UFC Vegas 65: Miles Johns Defeats Vince Morales In Uneventful Bout". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-11-19.
  37. [37]
    Shelton, Cole (19 January 2023). "UFC parts ways with 11 fighters | BJPenn.com". | BJPenn.com. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  38. [38]
    "XMMA – The Future of Fighting". Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  39. [39]
    "XMMA 6: Bash at the Beach | MMA Event". Tapology. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  40. [40]
    AlexBehunin (2023-05-04). "Highlights! Ex-UFC Fighters Shine At XMMA 6". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
  41. [41]
    格闘技情報を毎日配信！, eFight 【イーファイト】. "【RIZIN】元谷友貴、"朝倉海のスパー相手"元UFCモラレスに悔しい判定負け". eFight【イーファイト】格闘技情報を毎日配信！ (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-02-19.
  42. [42]
    Elias Cepeda (2019-07-11). "Ricky Simón gave up a lot to fight Urijah Faber at UFC Sacramento". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
  43. [43]
    Nolan King (2019-07-10). "Family first, fighters second: Cousins Vince Morales, Ricky Simon live out dream at UFC Sacramento". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
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