Draft:Michael Morales (fighter)

Michael Morales Hurtado (born June 24, 1994) is an Ecuadorian professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Background
Michael Morales was born in 1999, in Pasaje, El Oro, Ecuador. Son of judokas, a discipline he has been practicing since he was 5 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.

Early career
While fully focusing on MMA, he juggled a job at a naval boat factory.

In 2021, he begins his journey through Mexico, arriving in Tijuana to train at Entram Gym. On March 29, 2021, he signs a contract with Ultimate Warrior Challenge (UWC).

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.

Ultimate Fighting Championship
Morales made his UFC debut on January 22, 2022, at UFC 270. Facing Trevin Giles. He won the fight by TKO in the first round.

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

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

Morales faced Max Griffin on July 1, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 48. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

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

Background
Michael Morales was born in 1999, in Pasaje, Ecuador. Son of judokas, a discipline that he has practiced since he was 5 years old, where his mother was his first coach. At the age of 10 he changed judo for wrestling where he won several youth tournaments. At the age of 14, his father took him to the Víctor Vallejo academy in Machala, where he began to practice mixed martial arts.

Early career
While focusing heavily on MMA, he juggled a job at a naval boat factory. He began fighting in local circuits, winning his first two fights by TKO against Álvaro Vacacela Guerrero, in his third fight he won by unanimous decision against the Venezuelan Leonardo Blasco.

In 2019 he competes in the Peruvian promoter Fusion Fighting Championship against the local Óscar Ravello, he wins the fight by TKO (Doctor Stoppage) in the second round. In September 2019, he competed again in Ecuador in the MTT promoter, where he defeated his compatriot Mathias Salazar by TKO in the first round. In November he defeated Erick Zambrano by TKO in the first round. Shortly after, he signed with the promoter Barbarians Fighting League, and in December he played his fourth fight of the year against Gregory Cisneros, winning by submission with a triangle in the first round. In his first fight of 2020, he defeats Mario Navarrete by TKO in the second round. He became part of the Extreme MMA promoter and in his first fight he beat Colombian Daniel Luigy Bastidas after two minutes by TKO (Doctor Stoppage). In October 2020, he beat Ricardo Centeno by KO in the first round.

Ultimate Warrior Challenge
In February 2021 he begins his trip through Mexico, he arrives in Tijuana to train at Entram Gym. On March 29, 2021, he signs a contract with Ultimate Warrior Challenge (UWC), the oldest and most important MMA promoter in Mexico. Just over a month after signing with the UWC, on April 30, 2021, he defeated the Mexican Miguel Arizmendi by TKO in the second round at the UWC Mexico 36 event.

Dana White's Contender Series
Michael manages to reach the Dana White's Contender Series thanks to his performance at UWC 36, 6 months after his arrival in Mexico, on September 21 he debuted at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas against Kazakh Nikolay Veretennikov, winning the fight by unanimous decision, thus obtaining his contract with the UFC.

Ultimate Fighting Championship
On January 22, 2022, Morales made his UFC debut on the UFC 270 against Trevin Giles. He won the bout via TKO in the first round.

On July 30, 2022, at UFC 277, Morales faced Adam Fugitt. He won the fight via TKO in the third round.

Morales was scheduled to face Rinat Fakhretdinov on December 17 at UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Strickland. However, Morales pulled out due to a fractured toe and was replaced by Bryan Battle.

Morales faced Max Griffin on July 1, 2023 at UFC Fight Night 225. He won the bout via unanimous decision.