Michael Morales, currently ranked No. 4 in the UFC welterweight division, has faced an unexpected setback concerning his fight record. Morales, who ended last year impressively by knocking out Sean Brady at UFC 322 and hoped to become the next title contender, now sees UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev opting to defend his 170-pound belt against Kamaru Usman instead.
To make matters worse, on Tuesday evening, top MMA statistics website Tapology revealed that Morales’ record had been adjusted from an undefeated 19-0 to 20-1 following a review of his early career bouts. This change stemmed from Morales’s fights on a reality show similar to The Ultimate Fighter when he was 17 and 18 years old. Tapology declared that these matches meet professional MMA standards and included notable competitors, such as Ricardo Centeno, who defeated Morales.
Shortly after the announcement, footage surfaced showing the 18-year-old Morales being submitted with a triangle choke and finished with ground and pound in under 40 seconds by Centeno. Despite this new mark on his record, neither the UFC nor the athletic commission has officially recognized the change, meaning Morales may still officially hold a 19-0 record in UFC records. Morales, 26, responded on Instagram, praising Tapology for uncovering the truth and vowing to fight injustice.
Fan Take: This revelation is significant for fight fans as it impacts Morales’ legacy and marketability, potentially altering how future matchups and title shots are viewed. It also sparks a broader conversation on how early career fights and record accuracy influence rankings and perceptions in the MMA world.
