Undefeated (?) Welterweight contender Michael Morales technically lost a fight way back in 2o17 while appearing on a reality show competition in his native Ecuador. The footage can be seen below at the 45:05 mark, but given the circumstances, I wouldn’t expect UFC to follow Tapology’s decision in their promotional efforts for the young knockout artist. Another element to consider here is that in many smaller markets/countries, amateur MMA doesn’t exist at all.
If nothing else, this is definitely NOT an Askar Mozharov situation involving intentional deception and a mediocre fighter. Make no mistake, Morales is still one of the best young Welterweights on the planet.
These situations are virtually identical.
🥵 Move over Mackenzie 🫠https://t.co/z2ycWxwCAN
— UPFRONT MMA (@upfrontmma) January 7, 2026
