Joseph Morales
Bopo
USA
Rolls through Matt Schnell
Morales defeated Matt Schnell via submission (guillotine choke) at 2:54 of Round 1 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
Returning for his second official stint with the UFC following his victory in The Ultimate Fighter flyweight finale in August, Morales looks like a completely different fighter from the guy that was released back in 2018. He's clearly more confident and has more ways to win a fight, as he showed here against Schnell. He was aided by his opponent making a foolish mistake and essentially rolling into the choke which ended the fight, but Morales and his training group at Team Alpha Male in Sacramento have long been known for their stellar guillotines. Morales should try to get back in the Octagon as soon as possible considering he absorbed zero damage in this fight.
Returning for his second official stint with the UFC following his victory in The Ultimate Fighter flyweight finale in August, Morales looks like a completely different fighter from the guy that was released back in 2018. He's clearly more confident and has more ways to win a fight, as he showed here against Schnell. He was aided by his opponent making a foolish mistake and essentially rolling into the choke which ended the fight, but Morales and his training group at Team Alpha Male in Sacramento have long been known for their stellar guillotines. Morales should try to get back in the Octagon as soon as possible considering he absorbed zero damage in this fight.
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Next fight booked
Morales will fight Matt Schnell at UFC Vegas 111 on Nov. 8, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Morales' return to UFC after a six-year absence resulted in a win over Alibi Idiris in August, and he'll aim to finish 2025 2-0 with a win over Schnell, who has won just one of his last four fights.
Morales' return to UFC after a six-year absence resulted in a win over Alibi Idiris in August, and he'll aim to finish 2025 2-0 with a win over Schnell, who has won just one of his last four fights.
Wins TUF Flyweight Final in Chicago
Morales defeated Alibi Idiris via submission (triangle choke) at 3:04 of Round 2 at UFC 319 on Saturday in Chicago, Illinois.
ANALYSIS
Morales was little more than an afterthought for this bout after sneaking through to the flyweight final via split decision. Still, "Bopo" brought his veteran presence on this night, marching his young opponent down and wilting him with body shots. Idiris was finally able to reverse Morales on the ground, but that led to his undoing, as the 30-year-old locked up the choke soon after. Morales' wrestling and BJJ prowess will make him fun to watch at times, but he may struggle against some of the better athletes at this level. Morales improved to 13-2 in professional MMA as a result of the victory.
Morales was little more than an afterthought for this bout after sneaking through to the flyweight final via split decision. Still, "Bopo" brought his veteran presence on this night, marching his young opponent down and wilting him with body shots. Idiris was finally able to reverse Morales on the ground, but that led to his undoing, as the 30-year-old locked up the choke soon after. Morales' wrestling and BJJ prowess will make him fun to watch at times, but he may struggle against some of the better athletes at this level. Morales improved to 13-2 in professional MMA as a result of the victory.
Back in UFC at TUF Final
Morales will take on Alibi Idiris in the TUF Flyweight Final at UFC 319 on Saturday.
ANALYSIS
Morales ends up the only representative of Team Sonnen in Saturday's TUF Finals, getting there with a narrow split decision over Imanol Rodriguez in the semifiinal matchup. That fight could have gone either way, but Morales banked the first two frames in the eyes of two of three judges, likely due to his wrestling. Morales does have some UFC experience, but he was cut as part of the flyweight cull following back-to-back-losses in 2018, including one to future champion Deiveson Figueiredo. He now draws Idiris -- an undefeated prospect out of Kazakhstan -- for the chance to become The Ultimate Fighter.
Morales ends up the only representative of Team Sonnen in Saturday's TUF Finals, getting there with a narrow split decision over Imanol Rodriguez in the semifiinal matchup. That fight could have gone either way, but Morales banked the first two frames in the eyes of two of three judges, likely due to his wrestling. Morales does have some UFC experience, but he was cut as part of the flyweight cull following back-to-back-losses in 2018, including one to future champion Deiveson Figueiredo. He now draws Idiris -- an undefeated prospect out of Kazakhstan -- for the chance to become The Ultimate Fighter.
Parts ways with UFC
Morales was released by UFC on Tuesday, Aaron Bronsteter of TSN.ca reports.
ANALYSIS
Morales is one of three recent fighters to be let go by the promotion from the flyweight division. Wilson Reis and Eric Shelton were also cut loose. Morales had lost two straight bouts prior to his release.
Morales is one of three recent fighters to be let go by the promotion from the flyweight division. Wilson Reis and Eric Shelton were also cut loose. Morales had lost two straight bouts prior to his release.
Losing streak hits two after setback in Denver
Morales lost to Eric Shelton via split decision (27-30, 29-28, 27-30) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Denver.
ANALYSIS
Morales looked poor and he didn't fight as well as the 'split decision' term would lead you to believe. He managed to land just 28 total strikes over the course of the 15-minute bout and his takedown defense was non existent. The Team Alpha Male product has now lost back-to-back fights after emerging victorious in his UFC debut in August 2017.
Morales looked poor and he didn't fight as well as the 'split decision' term would lead you to believe. He managed to land just 28 total strikes over the course of the 15-minute bout and his takedown defense was non existent. The Team Alpha Male product has now lost back-to-back fights after emerging victorious in his UFC debut in August 2017.