Vince Morales-Cedar Herald Index

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.

Background

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

Vince Morales

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.

Vince Morales

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.

Vince Morales

Bellator MMA

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

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

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.

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. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Post UFC career

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