Vince Morales (Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images)
Vince Morales had his eyes set on becoming a world champion for the UFC when he was given the opportunity to step up on short notice to take on Song Yadong in his UFC debut. However, while his debut didn’t go as planned he was able to hang in there against one of the division’s best.
His UFC stint didn’t go as planned. He had mixed efforts in his 8-fight career, which ended with a 3-5 record before he was ultimately released from the promotion. Many fighters, after their UFC departure, just give up their dreams of becoming UFC champions, but now Vince Morales has never given up hope as he pushes toward a return to the Octagon, he tells RG in an exclusive interview.
Since his release from the UFC, Morales has won five straight fights, with three of those wins coming by finish. His biggest win, however, was his most recent submission victory over former UFC bantamweight and The Ultimate Fighter Season 31 contestant Hunter Azure.
Morales talks with RG about how this fight materialized and came to be as he captured the United Fight League’s Bantamweight Championship.
He went in there and looked the best version of himself, getting the third-round submission. He was really intrigued by the matchup going into the fight.
“I felt great going into it, I really liked the matchup. I thought he was a really good opponent to test myself because he’s been doing his thing too. He’s good in all the same areas that I am, really, but I kind of felt that I was better, but if I wasn’t better, I could do more.”
This is Morales’ redemption story as not many have been released by the UFC and worked their butts off for the second chance in the UFC.
“I think it sells itself a little bit in terms of the story. I may have needed the release to really come through the other side. You match me up against any of those guys again, I don’t think those fights are going the same way it did. I think I am a handful, I think I am a problem for all these guys. I can’t wait to get in there and prove it again.”
Luckily for Morales, he doesn’t have to wait much longer to prove it to everyone. He is now slated to face off against Taylor Lapilus at UFC Paris this weekend, September 28th.
Lapilus wasn’t originally scheduled to fight this weekend, but because he is from France, the UFC wanted to get him on the fight card to fight in front of his home crowd. This opened the door for Vince Morales to get his second chance to showcase his skills in the world’s largest MMA organization.
Morales has a message to all of his fans as he comes into this next stage of his UFC career,
“Stay tuned, because as long as I’ve been in this, it still feels like I’m barely getting started. And if we are barely getting started doing great things like ‘Vinchuvian Neckties,’ then the sky’s the limit, and I think something special is going to happen in the next few years.”
Garrett Kerman is an American sports writer specializing in MMA, boxing, and betting news. He has established himself as a prominent voice in combat sports journalism, providing expert analysis and breaking news. Kerman has covered major events and conducted interviews with notable figures in the industry, showcasing his extensive knowledge and passion for the sport. His insights are widely sought after by fans and bettors alike.
