Latest news with #EntramGym
Yahoo
25-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
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." This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Michael Morales' coach targets November return vs. Edwards, Buckley
USA Today
25-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Michael Morales' coach targets November return vs. Leon Edwards, Joaquin Buckley
Raul Arvizu lays out what he wants next for his pupil Michael Morales. 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."
USA Today
08-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Coach Raul Arvizu: UFC contender Michael Morales still far from prime
Watch out welterweights. Yes, Michael Morales is unbeaten and already in the UFC official rankings, but he's yet to scratch the surface of his potential. Raul Arvizu, head-coach at Entram Gym in Tijuana and coach of Morales (17-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC), thinks his pupil is not even halfway in his MMA development, and that's why he sees him with plenty of potential of one day wearing UFC gold. From Ecuador but fighting out of Mexico, Morales has cemented himself as one of the most promising fighters today in the UFC. Arvizu thinks more is to come. 'To this day, I'm telling you, Michael is about 40 percent of what he can be, maybe 45, 48 percent of what he can be,' Arvizu told Hablemos MMA in Spanish. 'He can improve a lot more in his striking, his jiu-jitsu. I want him to have a level of Mexican boxing that's professional, and get him to black belt in jiu-jitsu. I want him to have those tools. He's just 25, and I think we're two to three years away from his prime.' Arvizu trained and got Brandon Moreno to win the UFC flyweight title, fighting out of his gym in Mexico several years ago. He's also gotten many other fighters to the UFC, and is very used to seeing what it takes to compete at the highest levels. Yet, despite all his years of experience, Arvizu assures he's never seen anyone as physically gifted as Morales. 'I've never trained anybody like him, never,' Arvizu said. 'Sometimes I train someone and I ask them to do a handstand and they can't. Michael gets on his hands, walks around, does flips – he's extremely athletic. I've never trained anyone like him. I've trained Mexicans that are tough and hit hard and are strong, but Michael is something else. It's incredible to witness. 'I can say I'm a great coach, but the truth is that working with Michael just makes you look good. I usually don't choose fighters based on their athletic ability, more on their work ethic, but it's good to have someone like that.' Morales has been linked to fight former UFC title challenger Gilbert Burns at UFC 314 in Miami, but the promotion has yet to make the bout official. As of now, Arvizu is happy with the where Morales is at in his development. He thinks there's way more room for growth, but already sees him good enough to start competing with the top 10 of the UFC welterweight division. 'Michael is very complete,' Arvizu said. 'He has heavy hands, good wrestling. His jiu-jitsu hasn't really been shown, but it's not bad at all. I try to get my fighters as complete as possible. That's what I like to do. … Michael is so athletic that you teach him something for one or two months, and he has it for life.'
