Latest news with #MichaelMorales
Yahoo
5 days ago
- 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
15-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
After quick UFC Nashville submission win, Jake Matthews wants to hang out in top 15
Jake Matthews met the media Saturday after his first-round submission win over Chidi Njokuani at UFC on ESPN 70. Matthews (22-7 MMA, 15-7 UFC) made ultra-quick work of Njokuani (25-11 MMA, 5-4 UFC) and needed just 69 seconds to force his tap from a rear-naked choke on the prelims at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. After two decision wins in a row, Matthews said he was glad to get back to a finish. And while his post-fight interview backstage with only mentioned a desire to get a matchup in the welterweight top 15, when pressed for a callout in the cage, he kind of, sort of brought of a former title challenger. "My coach would hate it if I didn't call out Gilbert Burns," Matthews told Daniel Cormier in the cage in his post-fight interview. "I took Michael Morales to a hard decision. None of these top 15 guys can stand with Michael Morales. I stood with him. I deserve to be in there with those boys, so if we can organize a top 15 (fight), I'll be there." Burns has lost four straight fights to former champion Belal Muhammad, current champ Jack Della Maddalena, Sean Brady and, just two months ago, Morales – who finished Burns in the first round. That goes to the root of Matthews' callout, since his loss to Morales was a decision. Check out Matthews' post-fight interview in the video below.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mateusz Gamrot wants to 'ruin' Ludovit Klein's record takedown defense statistic
Michael Morales serious about title run after quick finish of Gilbert Burns UFC Fight Night 256 winner Michael Morales talks to MMA Junkie and other reporters post-fight after his first-round TKO of Gilbert Burns in Las Vegas. 18:32 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
USA Today
21-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, May 20: Michael Morales surges
MMA Junkie Staff USA TODAY Sports UFC Fight Night 256 is in the books with a welterweight contender making his impact felt. In the main event, Michael Morales announced his official arrival into the conversation of the division's elite when he made quick work of former title challenger Gilbert Burns and won by first-round TKO at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Check out the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Spinning Back Clique LIVE (noon ET): Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira for vacant UFC belt
Check out this week's "Spinning Back Clique," MMA Junkie's weekly live show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts. This week's panel of Brian "Goze" Garcia, Mike Bohn and Matthew Wells will join host Danny Segura live at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) to discuss and debate the following topics: Michael Morales shook up the UFC's welterweight division this past Saturday. In his first promotional main event at UFC Fight Night 256, the Ecuadorian star viciously put away former UFC title challenger Gilbert Burns in the first round of their contest. It was a big win that caught the attention of many. We discuss Morales' breakthrough performance, what's next for his promising career, plus other key results from the card. Finally, the UFC International Fight Week card – UFC 317 – has a main and co-main event. UFC CEO Dana White announced two title fights for the card: Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira for the vacant UFC lightweight title, and Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Kara-France for the flyweight belt. Were these the right fights to make? Who will leave with 12 pounds of gold? We react to these big announcements. UFC 317 wasn't the only upcoming card that got some big fights added to it. Dricus Du Plessis is set to defend his title at UFC 319 against Khamzat Chimaev; Amir Albazi and Tatsuro Taira have been pit against each other for an August showdown; Patchy Mix debuts against Mario Bautista at UFC 316. We discuss and break down these big bookings. Lastly, UFC on ESPN 68 goes down this Saturday in Las Vegas. In the main event, top women's flyweight contenders Erin Blanchfield and Maycee Barber throw down. Could this fight be a title eliminator? Who will win? We discuss. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Spinning Back Clique: Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira
