Introduction
Vince Morales (born November 12, 1990) is an American mixed martial artist who competed in the Featherweight division most recently for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional mixed martial artist since 2015, Morales has also competed in Bellator.
Background
Morales grew up in Ontario, Oregon and started wrestling while attending Ontario High School. Despite going winless in wrestling in his freshman year and halfway through the sophomore year, he ended up becoming a state champion in his senior year. Morales attended Boise State University for a spell but dropped out due to family issues.
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Morales made his MMA debut at featherweight against Joseph Cleveland on May 15, 2015, at FSF - Front Street Fights 5. He won the fight via submission with a rear-naked choke in the first round.
Following his MMA debut, Morales mainly fought within the Idaho regional MMA circuit, competing within organizations such as King of the Cage and Front Street Fights, wherein he held the organization's featherweight title.
Bellator MMA
Morales made his Bellator debut at featherweight on May 20, 2016, against Hamilton Ash at Bellator 155. He won the fight via knockout with punches in the third round.
Morales faced Justin Hugo at bantamweight on September 21, 2018, at Bellator 205. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Dana White's Contender Series
Morales faced Domingo Pilarte on July 17, 2018, at Dana White's Contender Series 13. He lost the fight via technical submission via rear-naked choke.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Replacing injured Frankie Saenz on short notice, Morales made his UFC debut at bantamweight on November 24, 2018, against Song Yadong at UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Ngannou 2. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Morales then faced Aiemann Zahabi on May 4, 2019, at UFC Fight Night: Iaquinta vs. Cowboy. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Morales next faced Benito Lopez on July 13, 2019, at UFC Fight Night: de Randamie vs. Ladd. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Morales then returned to featherweight and faced Chris Gutiérrez on May 30, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Woodley vs. Burns. He lost the fight via TKO with leg kicks in the second round. Three months after his loss to Gutiérrez, he suffered a torn Achilles tendon which required two surgeries.
Morales returned to bantamweight and faced Drako Rodriguez at UFC 265 on August 7, 2021. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Morales faced Louis Smolka on December 4, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 31. He won the fight via knockout out in round one.
Morales, as a replacement for Liudvik Sholinian, was scheduled to face Nathaniel Wood on March 19, 2022, at UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Aspinall. In turn, just days before the event, Morales withdrew due to illness, and the pair will be rescheduled for future event.
Morales faced Jonathan Martinez on May 21, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 206. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Morales was scheduled to face José Johnson on November 19, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 215, but Johnson pulled out for undisclosed reasons, and he was replaced by Miles Johns on November 19, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 215. Morales lost the fight via unanimous decision.
It was announced in mid-January that UFC released Morales.
Post UFC career
Morales faced Teruto Ishihara on May 3, 2023, at XMMA 6: Bash at the Beach. He won the bout in the third round, choking out Ishihara via anaconda choke.
Morales faced Yuki Motoya on December 31, 2023 at Rizin 45, winning the bout via unanimous decision.
Morales faced reigning UFL Bantamweight champion Hunter Azure for his title at United Fight League 5 on August 30, 2024. He would win the fight via submission in the third round after submitting Azure with a Peruvian necktie thus becoming the new UFL Bantamweight Champion.
Return to UFC
On short notice and replacing Felipe Lima, Morales made his return to the UFC and faced Taylor Lapilus on September 28, 2024 at UFC Fight Night 243. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.
Personal life
Morales is the cousin of fellow UFC bantamweight fighter Ricky Simón.
Championships and accomplishments
- Front Street Fights
- FSF Featherweight Championship (One time)
- United Fight League
- UFL Bantamweight Championship (One time, current)
Mixed martial arts record
| 24 matches | 16 wins | 8 losses |
| By knockout | 7 | 1 |
| By submission | 5 | 2 |
| By decision | 4 | 5 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 16–8 | Taylor Lapilus | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Saint Denis | September 28, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Paris, France | |
| Win | 16–7 | Hunter Azure | Submission (Peruvian necktie) | United Fight League 5 | August 30, 2024 | 3 | 4:06 | Chandler, Arizona, United States | Won the UFL Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 15–7 | Luis Guerrero | Submission (brabo choke) | Tuff-N-Uff 137 | May 24, 2024 | 2 | 4:09 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 14–7 | Yuki Motoya | Decision (unanimous) | Rizin 45 | December 31, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Saitama, Japan | |
| Win | 13–7 | Joe Penafiel | TKO (punches) | Front Street Fights 26 | July 28, 2023 | 2 | 2:19 | Boise, Idaho, United States | Catchweight (144 lb) bout. |
| Win | 12–7 | Teruto Ishihara | Technical Submission (anaconda choke) | XMMA 6 | May 3, 2023 | 3 | 1:17 | Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States | Catchweight (140 lb) bout. |
| Loss | 11–7 | Miles Johns | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Nzechukwu vs. Cuțelaba | November 19, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 11–6 | Jonathan Martinez | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Vieira | May 21, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 11–5 | Louis Smolka | KO (punches) | UFC on ESPN: Font vs. Aldo | December 4, 2021 | 1 | 2:02 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 10–5 | Drako Rodriguez | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 265 | August 7, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| Loss | 9–5 | Chris Gutiérrez | TKO (leg kicks) | UFC on ESPN: Woodley vs. Burns | May 30, 2020 | 2 | 4:27 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Featherweight bout. |
| Loss | 9–4 | Benito Lopez | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: de Randamie vs. Ladd | July 13, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Sacramento, California, United States | |
| Win | 9–3 | Aiemann Zahabi | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Iaquinta vs. Cowboy | May 4, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | |
| Loss | 8–3 | Song Yadong | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Ngannou 2 | November 24, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Beijing, China | |
| Win | 8–2 | Justin Hugo | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 205 | September 21, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Boise, Idaho, United States | |
| Loss | 7–2 | Domingo Pilarte | Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) | Dana White's Contender Series 13 | July 17, 2018 | 2 | 1:52 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 7–1 | Brandon Hempleman | TKO (punches) | Front Street Fights 15 | January 19, 2018 | 2 | 2:38 | Boise, Idaho, United States | Bantamweight debut. |
| Win | 6–1 | Rowdy Akers | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | KOTC: Quick Draw | June 17, 2017 | 1 | 1:58 | Fort Hall, Idaho, United States | Catchweight (140 lb) bout. |
| Win | 5–1 | Andrew Cruz | KO (punches) | Front Street Fights 10 | December 9, 2016 | 3 | 3:07 | Boise, Idaho, United States | Won the FSF Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 4–1 | Hamilton Ash | KO (punches) | Bellator 155 | May 20, 2016 | 3 | 2:32 | Boise, Idaho, United States | |
| Win | 3–1 | Patrick Trey Smith | TKO (punches) | Front Street Fights 8 | February 13, 2016 | 1 | 4:15 | Boise, Idaho, United States | |
| Loss | 2–1 | Josh Wick | Submission (armbar) | Front Street Fights 6 | September 11, 2015 | 2 | 3:26 | Boise, Idaho, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Jeremie Montgomery | TKO (punches) | SFL 41: America 5 | July 11, 2015 | 1 | 2:28 | Tacoma, Washington, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Joseph Cleveland | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Front Street Fights 5 | May 15, 2015 | 1 | 1:51 | Boise, Idaho, United States | Featherweight debut. |