Last fight
UFC FIGHT NIGHT
Win
Lapilus vs Morales
Sep. 28, 2024
UFC Spotlight
Stats & Records
7
Wins by Knockout
5
Wins by Submission
5
First Round Finishes
Significant Strikes include all strikes at distance, plus power strikes in the clinch and on the ground.
Striking accuracy
- Sig. Strikes Landed
- 491
- Sig. Strikes Attempted
- 1332
A takedown is awarded when a fighter deliberately grapples an opponent to the ground and establishes an advantageous position for an appreciable amount of time.
Takedown Accuracy
- Takedowns Landed
- Takedowns Attempted
- 10
- Sig. Str. Defense is the percentage of significant strikes attempted against a fighter that do not land.
- Takedown defense is the percentage of takedowns attempted against a fighter that do not land.
- Knockdown Avg. is the average number of knockdowns per 15 Minutes window.
Sig. Str. by target
athlete record
Info
Status
Active
Place of Birth
Caldwell, United States
Trains at
Syndicate MMA
Fighting style
Wrestling
Age
33
Height
67.00
Weight
149.00
Octagon Debut
Nov. 24, 2018
Reach
70.00
Leg reach
36.00
- Pro since 2015
- Seven wins by KO, five by submission (RNC, arm triangle, Anaconda choke, Brabo choke, Peruvian Necktie)
- Five first round finishes
- Won five in a row between UFC appearances, defeating UFC vets Teruro Ishihara and Hunter Azure
UFC Fight Night (9/28/24) Morales lost a three round unanimous decision to Taylor Lapilus
UFC Fight Night (11/19/22) Morales lost a three unanimous decision to Miles Johns
UFC Fight Night (5/21/22) Morales lost a three round unanimous decision to Jonathan Martinez
UFC on ESPN (12/4/21) Morales knocked out Louis Smolka at 2:02 of the first round
UFC 265 (8/7/21) Morales won a three round unanimous decision over Drako Rodriguez
UFC on ESPN (5/30/20) Morales was stopped by Chris Gutierrez via strikes at 4:27 of the second round
UFC Fight Night (7/13/19) Morales lost a three round unanimous decision to Benito Lopez
UFC Fight Night (5/4/19) Morales won a three round unanimous decision over Aiemann Zahabi
UFC Fight Night (11/24/18) Morales lost a three round unanimous decision to Song Yadong
Dana White's Contender Series, Season 2
Week five (7/17/18) Morales was submitted by Domingo Pilarte via rear naked choke at 1:52 of the second round
When and why did you start training for fighting? I started training MMA at 23/24 because I missed the competition aspect of wrestling. You learn a lot of things about yourself from competing, some good, some bad.
Training: Two-A-Days - Morning Jiu-Jitsu and/or strength and conditioning followed by evening striking and/or sparring
What professional titles have you held? I was the Featherweight champion for Front Street Fights back in Boise, ID and just recently won the Bantamweight Championship for United Fight League.
Any accomplishments in amateur combat sports? I was 8-1 as an amateur boxer and as a senior in high school I took first at the state tournament.
Any belts/ ranks in grappling disciplines? Purple belt in BJJ
Any belts/ ranks in striking disciplines? Just a few championship medals and trophies from my amateur boxing days.
What has been your toughest fight to date and why? It's hard to define tough. My third fight in the UFC against Chris Gutierrez was tough in terms of damage and I could only see through one eye. My fight where I won the featherweight championship at Front Street was very tough outside of the cage because my roommate/friend had just recently passed from a car accident, and I had a knee surgery a couple weeks before the fight.
Who is your favorite fighter and why? Frankie Edgar or Jose Aldo. They were just fighters I really looked up to as I was getting started. Frankie being so determined to prove himself and Aldo’s skill set.
Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? I went to Boise State University for one semester where I was studying sports psychology. Family matters led me to dropping out early unfortunately.
What was your job before you started fighting? Before and during the first part of my MMA career I was involved in sales and management.
Origin of nickname: I use my middle name Vandetta as my nickname, so every time, I’m just announced by my full name.
Personal Life/Background: My fiancée and I are getting married in November; we have a bulldog, a cat and a house here in Las Vegas. We rent out the other rooms to other fighters who have moved this way and are looking at furthering their career in Las Vegas. I am one of 13 siblings (including step siblings). We all grew up in the small town of around 10,000 people in Ontario, OR. In my free time away from the gym I train people in MMA and self-defense. I also run an app called React Workouts, which is essentially a virtual boxing/MMA coach. It gives custom call outs during a round at random intervals {combinations, defensive actions, movements, etc).
