| Michael Morales | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Morales in 2025 | |
| Born | Michael Jonathan Morales Hurtado[1] (1999-06-24)June 24, 1999 (age 26) Pasaje, El Oro, Ecuador |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight | 170 lb (77 kg) |
| Division | Welterweight |
| Reach | 79 in (201 cm)[2] |
| Style | Wrestling |
| Fighting out of | Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico |
| Team | Xtreme Fitness Machala Entram Gym |
| Years active | 2017–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 19 |
| Wins | 19 |
| By knockout | 14 |
| By submission | 1 |
| By decision | 4 |
| Losses | 0 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record fromSherdog | |
Michael Jonathan Morales Hurtado (born June 24, 1999) is an Ecuadorian professionalmixed martial artist. He currently competes in theWelterweight division of theUltimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of November 25, 2025, he is #4 in theUFC welterweight rankings.[3]
Michael Morales was born in 1999 inPasaje,El Oro, Ecuador. He is the son of judokas, a discipline he has been practicing since he was five years old, with his mother was his first coach. His mother, international judo referee Katty Hurtado, is a third dan judo black belt who retired from competition when she was 42.[4] At the age of 10, he switched fromjudo towrestling, where he won several youth tournaments. At the age of 14, his father took him to Víctor Vallejo's academy in Machala, where he began to practicemixed martial arts.[5] After doing MMA as an amateur, he made his professional MMA debut at age 16.[4]
While fully focusing on MMA, he juggled a job at a naval boat factory.[5]
In 2021, he began his journey through Mexico, arriving inTijuana to train atEntram Gym.[6] On March 29, 2021, he signed a contract withUltimate Warrior Challenge Mexico (UWC).[7]
On September 21, 2021, Morales faced Nikolay Veretennikov for a UFC contract on Dana White's Contender Series: Season 5, Week 4. Morales earned the contract by defeating Veretennikov via unanimous decision.[8]
Morales made his UFC debut againstTrevin Giles on January 22, 2022, atUFC 270.[9] He won the fight via TKO in the first round.[10]
Morales was scheduled to faceRamiz Brahimaj atUFC 277 on July 30, 2022.[11] However, Brahimaj was forced to withdraw from the event in mid-July due to an undisclosed injury[12] and was replaced by Adam Fugitt.[13] Morales won the fight via TKO in the third round.[14]
Morales was scheduled to faceRinat Fakhretdinov on December 17, 2022, atUFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Strickland.[15] However, Morales withdrew due to a toe fracture.[16]
Morales facedMax Griffin on July 1, 2023, atUFC on ESPN 48.[17] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[18]
Morales facedJake Matthews on November 18, 2023, atUFC Fight Night 232.[19] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[20]
Morales facedNeil Magny on August 24, 2024 atUFC on ESPN 62.[21] He won the fight by technical knockout in the first round.[22] This fight earned him aPerformance of the Night award.[23]
Morales was scheduled to face formerUFC Welterweight title challengerGilbert Burns on April 12, 2025, atUFC 314.[24] However, the bout was moved to May 10, 2025 atUFC 315 for unknown reasons.[25] In turn, the bout against Burns was moved to serve as the main event on May 17, 2025 atUFC Fight Night 256.[26] Morales won the fight by technical knockout in the first round.[27] This fight earned him anotherPerformance of the Night award.[28]
Morales facedSean Brady on November 15, 2025 atUFC 322.[29] He won via technical knockout in the first round.[30] This fight earned him anotherPerformance of the Night award.[31]
| 19 matches | 19 wins | 0 losses |
| By knockout | 14 | 0 |
| By submission | 1 | 0 |
| By decision | 4 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 19–0 | Sean Brady | TKO (punches) | UFC 322 | November 15, 2025 | 1 | 3:27 | New York City, New York, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 18–0 | Gilbert Burns | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Morales | May 17, 2025 | 1 | 3:39 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 17–0 | Neil Magny | TKO (punches) | UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs. Borralho | August 24, 2024 | 1 | 4:39 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 16–0 | Jake Matthews | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Craig | November 18, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 15–0 | Max Griffin | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Strickland vs. Magomedov | July 1, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 14–0 | Adam Fugitt | TKO (punches) | UFC 277 | July 30, 2022 | 3 | 1:09 | Dallas, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 13–0 | Trevin Giles | TKO (punches) | UFC 270 | January 22, 2022 | 1 | 4:06 | Anaheim, California, United States | |
| Win | 12–0 | Nikolay Veretennikov | Decision (unanimous) | Dana White's Contender Series 40 | September 21, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 11–0 | Miguel Arizmendi | TKO (punches) | UWC Mexico 26 | April 30, 2021 | 2 | 4:02 | Tijuana, Mexico | |
| Win | 10–0 | Ricardo Centeno | KO (punches) | Extreme MMA 17 | October 3, 2020 | 1 | 4:15 | Quito, Ecuador | Won the vacant Extreme MMA Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 9–0 | Daniel Luigy Bastidas | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Extreme MMA 16 | August 1, 2020 | 1 | 2:01 | Guayaquil, Ecuador | |
| Win | 8–0 | Mario Navarrete | TKO (punches) | Barbarian's 5 | February 12, 2020 | 2 | 2:45 | Machala, Ecuador | |
| Win | 7–0 | Gregoris Cisneros | Submission (triangle choke) | Barbarian's 4 | December 14, 2019 | 1 | 1:58 | Cuenca, Ecuador | |
| Win | 6–0 | Erick Zambrano | TKO (punches) | Pasaje Combat 1 | November 8, 2019 | 1 | 1:55 | Pasaje, Ecuador | |
| Win | 5–0 | Mathias Salazar | TKO (punches) | Manaba Top Team 2 | September 6, 2019 | 1 | 1:40 | El Guabo, Ecuador | |
| Win | 4–0 | Óscar Ravello | TKO (corner stoppage) | Fusion FC 39 | July 17, 2019 | 2 | 5:00 | Lima, Peru | |
| Win | 3–0 | Leonardo Blasco | Decision (unanimous) | Troncal FC 2 | December 8, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | La Troncal, Ecuador | |
| Win | 2–0 | Álvaro Vacacela Guerrero | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Oro FC 5 | March 24, 2018 | 1 | 5:00 | Santa Rosa, Ecuador | Won the OFC Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 1–0 | Álvaro Vacacela Guerrero | TKO (punches) | Oro FC 4 | August 19, 2017 | 2 | 3:15 | Pasaje, Ecuador | Welterweight debut. |
Updated to 18 November 2025 |
