Michael Morales' coach targets November return vs. Leon Edwards, Joaquin Buckley
Raul Arvizu has a clear idea in mind for the next career step of one of his brightest students.
A big name and a November return are what Arvizu is looking to push for Michael Morales – a rising, undefeated welterweight contender. Morales' run through the UFC has been impressive, and Arvizu thinks they can take it a step further before the year's end. The head coach of Entram Gym in Tijuana has several names of interest, including a former champion.
"I feel like there's a lot of contenders right now, and I think Michael just entered into those contender talks," Arvizu told Hablemos MMA in Spanish. "A few of them are booked already, and we're also a fight or two away from fighters like the Belals, but I like Geoff Neal and Leon Edwards. Those are the fights I like for Michael.
"Because of Michael's age, we're very patient, we're in no rush. We want him to fight, and keep improving. Sometimes in the UFC, these prospects get moved quickly, and we know those stories. A guy wins three or four fights, gets a top guy, and then they go back down. I don't want that for Michael, but it is true we're in a position where there are not many options. We can't turn down fights, so we'll fight whoever the UFC wants us to fight."
Leon Edwards, a former UFC welterweight champion, last fought in March when he was submitted by Sean Brady. He's yet to be booked for a second fight this 2025. Meanwhile, Geoff Neal is scheduled to take on Brazil's Carlos Prates at UFC 319 next month.
With Neal looking like a tougher option, schedule-wise, there is a third name that Arvizu sees as appropriate.
"The other option, which is very feasible, is Buckley," Arvizu said. "I think it's going to be Buckley or Edwards. I also told Michael to stay ready and to be smart because a high-profile fight can fall through, and we can get subbed in. But I want Edwards or Buckley to tell you the truth."
After handling personal and business matters, and also taking a break to visit his home country of Ecuador, Morales returned to Tijuana last week and resumed his training. Arvizu expected to see a rusty version of Morales, common among fighters coming off a break, but instead saw the opposite.
"He trained all last week and did sparring, and I was very surprised with what I saw," Arvizu said. "What happens often is that you go through a camp, you fight, you rest and when you come back, then you see the improvements. That's what happened this time. Certain things that we trained that he didn't do against Burns, he was doing them in sparring now without me telling him. So he's training and we want a fight for November. I have certain ideas that I like, and I'm trying to get them through to the people above. As you know, we don't call the shots, we can only give our opinion and wait to see what the UFC says."
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