Michael Morales is ready to fight for the title, but he’s not forcing the issue.
Earlier this month, Morales picked up the biggest win of his career, knocking out Sean Brady in the first round at UFC 322.
The win vaulted Morales into the Top 5 of the UFC welterweight rankings and put him on the cusp of a title shot against new champion Islam Makhachev. In fact, he’s already been assured by the UFC that he’s on the short list for Makhachev’s first defense.
“They already told me that I was a candidate to fight for the belt, but next year,” Morales told Death Row MMA with Jorge Masvidal. “I think it will be around July or June, depending on when he wants to fight, Makhachev.”
For his part, Makhachev seems open to facing Morales, though he’s noted he’d prefer to face former champion Kamaru Usman. But whoever he faces, Morales seems to believe the former lightweight champion could have his hands full.
“Makhachev is good,” Morales said. “He has great wrestling, but everyone saw him fight. His thing is shooting, taking you down to the ground, and controlling you on the ground. … Makhachev, obviously, has his strengths. Nobody can deny that he has very good wrestling, but at welterweight, the new era is long. Guys are big, long, and young.”
Perhaps none more so than Morales, who admitted he’ll likely have to move up to middleweight eventually, though his goal is to win the welterweight title first. However, Morales has plenty of competition right now. Shavkat Rakhmonov, Ian Machado Garry, Kamaru Usman, and even Carlos Prates are all in the mix at 170 pounds right now, and with the title picture so packed, Morales is fine with fighting again before challenging for the belt, if he has to.
“Carlos Prates has power,” Morales said. “He knows where to touch you when he lands a punch. We saw that he can also last three rounds straight, even if you wrestle him. So, I think he’s moving fast, too, and he also wants to be champion.
“But first we go. I want to secure what’s mine, and then whoever comes, comes. [But] if I have to fight Prates before the belt, I’ll do it. No problem. Because in this game, it’s everyone against everyone. It’s the only thing that can be done. Nobody’s going to back down.”
TOP STORIES
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Fraud. Ethyn Ewing defends Malcolm Wellmaker from ‘ridiculous’ criticism that he got ‘fraud checked.’
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VIDEO STEW
Good Guy/Bad Guy.
Some forgotten UFC gems.
Aljamain Sterling talks UFC Qatar.
Stipe Miocic tries becoming a barber.
Check out Gable Steveson’s MMA fight from Sunday night.
FLAVOR IN YOUR EAR
Fighter vs. Writer.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Khamzat Chimaev takes down Jon Jones.
Let’s not get out over our skis. The guy was 2-1.
Book it.
Fight announcement?
This. Is. SPARTA.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Dakota Ditcheva (15-0) vs. Denise Kielholtz (8-5); PFL, Feb. 7.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Yeah, man, just book Morales vs. Prates. That fight is a certified banger, and there’s no need to rush Morales into a title fight. Shavkat vs. Islam, Morales vs. Prates, Garry vs. Usman. Clean and simple.
EXIT POLL
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