Vince Morales

Vince Morales (born November 12, 1990) is an American mixed martial artist who competed in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional 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.

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.

Morales faced promotional newcomer Elijah Smith on February 15, 2025 at UFC Fight Night 251. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Morales faced Raul Rosas Jr. on March 29, 2025 at UFC on ESPN 64. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Morales faced Colby Thicknesse on May 2, 2026 at UFC Fight Night 275. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

On May 29, 2026, it was reported that Morales was once again removed from the UFC roster.

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 Loss

Colby Thicknesse Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Della Maddalena vs. Prates

Perth, Australia Loss

Raul Rosas Jr. Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Moreno vs. Erceg

Mexico City, Mexico Loss

Elijah Smith Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Rodrigues

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Taylor Lapilus Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Saint Denis

Paris, France Win

Hunter Azure Submission (Peruvian necktie) United Fight League 5

Chandler, Arizona, United States Win

Luis Guerrero Submission (brabo choke) Tuff-N-Uff 137

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Yuki Motoya Decision (unanimous) Rizin 45

Saitama, Japan Win

Joe Penafiel TKO (punches) Front Street Fights 26

Boise, Idaho, United States Win

Teruto Ishihara Technical Submission (anaconda choke) XMMA 6

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States Loss

Miles Johns Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Nzechukwu vs. Cuțelaba

|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Jonathan Martinez Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Vieira

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Louis Smolka KO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Font vs. Aldo

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Drako Rodriguez Decision (unanimous) UFC 265

Houston, Texas, United States Loss

Chris Gutiérrez TKO (leg kicks) UFC on ESPN: Woodley vs. Burns

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Benito Lopez Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: de Randamie vs. Ladd

Sacramento, California, United States Win

Aiemann Zahabi Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Iaquinta vs. Cowboy

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Loss

Song Yadong Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Ngannou 2

Beijing, China Win

Justin Hugo Decision (unanimous) Bellator 205

Boise, Idaho, United States Loss

Domingo Pilarte Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) Dana White's Contender Series 13

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Brandon Hempleman TKO (punches) Front Street Fights 15

Boise, Idaho, United States Win

Rowdy Akers Submission (arm-triangle choke) KOTC: Quick Draw

Fort Hall, Idaho, United States Win

Andrew Cruz KO (punches) Front Street Fights 10

Boise, Idaho, United States Win

Hamilton Ash KO (punches) Bellator 155

Boise, Idaho, United States Win

Patrick Trey Smith TKO (punches) Front Street Fights 8

Boise, Idaho, United States Loss

Josh Wick Submission (armbar) Front Street Fights 6

Boise, Idaho, United States Win

Jeremie Montgomery TKO (punches) Super Fight League 41

Tacoma, Washington, United States Win

Joseph Cleveland Submission (rear-naked choke) Front Street Fights 5

Boise, Idaho, United States