Michael Morales: In Mexico we are trying to get more Ecuadorians to join the UFC | Other Sports | sports

The new generation of fighters that is signing the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) through the Dana White’s Contender Series program – in its fifth season – promises a lot. On Tuesdays of each week the platform streaming UFC Fight Pass shows in episodes new mixed martial arts (MMA) prospects who arrive in Las Vegas with the aspiration to get a contract. In its past four seasons, the series has featured some of the UFC’s top talent, including athletes like Sean O’Malley, Ignacio Bahamondes, Omar Morales, Tracy Cortez, and Antonina Shevchenko. On September 21, a 22-year-old boy, born in Pasaje, El Oro province, stole the applause of the company’s boss, Dana White, after beating Kazakh Nikolay Veretennikov and won one of the contracts to be part of , since 2022, from the staff of the franchise whose flag bearer of Ecuador is Marlon Chito Vera. Although the first fighter of Ecuadorian blood to participate in the UFC was Rudyard Moncayo, in 1995 in the UFC 6 function: Clash of Titans, welterweight Michael Morales Hurtado, star of this interview, on January 22 will become the third tricolor representative to climb the famous Octagon. In the coming weeks, the organization could make Morales’s first fight official at the UFC 270 evening.

Behind Rudyard Moncayo came ‘Chito’ Vera, Carla Esparza and Michael Morales

Dana White predicts a promising future for him in the UFC if he keeps “his head in order” and if he knows how to deal with fame. Have you already thought about how you are going to stay current in the company?

That is going to stay the same. I have a good mother who is always scolding me, lecturing me when I am badly raised, so to speak. If she is not there, there are my brothers, who are just like her. We have a good influence on Mom, who has instilled in us a lot of respect for people. So, I don’t think any of that is going to happen. I myself believe it and I feel it: it will not be like that; As much as I planned it to be a fight, to enter this great league, I also plan for my whole life to do so.

White also said he sees “signs of possible greatness” in you at just 22 years old and a 12-0 record. Where do you plan to be when you are 27 years old?

My plan was not to do this in 2022, I had it planned for five years from now. My goal was to enter 2026 or 2027. I achieved it by 2022 with a good record. Still, the idea is to stay there. Likewise, since I entered young, they can also take me out the other year. The point is to stay. We do not know what will happen in the future.

And what did you say to him after he was announced as a contract winner?

I told him that I was very happy, very happy, to have achieved all this for my country. The interpreter told me that he assured me that they will be working hard in Mexico, thanks to Brandon Moreno (UFC flyweight champion). Good things may happen very soon.

How many fights does the contract you received at UFC Apex initially include?

I understand that three fights with an option to negotiate again. The president (White) likes that the fighters are very explosive in the cage, that they give action to the public. Depending on his taste, I can have a contract for three or four fights, but if he doesn’t like it, he can withdraw you in two or three at the most.

You jump to the Contender Series from the Entram Gym, in Tijuana, where a legion of Ecuadorians train. Who do you think will be the next to bid for a UFC contract?

We try, together with Professor Raúl Arvizu and all Entram Gym, that those who enter are more Ecuadorian. For 2022 they already have five more planned, of which Andrés Luna Martinetti is selected. We will see how it goes now or in the following events to see if they put it next year. He is training super strong with his brother (Adrián). Cesar, Aaron, all the boys are training really hard and now they are much more motivated. My goal is also that if one enters, we all enter this great league. I will continue training with them in Tijuana.

We know that he also went through hard times in Tijuana, including food. Did you ever consider returning to Ecuador?

In those difficult moments my relatives were always there, my cousin Krysthel Chuchuca (actress), a friend who lives in Chile. Yes, there were moments that I was missing something, but my family was always aware of me, especially my mother, my teachers in Ecuador. There were times when I had to adjust when eating to take care of resources.

Are you excited because in your division there are fighters of the caliber of Kamaru Usman (current champion), Colby Covington, Gilbert Burns, Jorge Masvidal or Vicente Luque?

I think about fighting, and whoever I get will be there forever. I am focused on keeping training all the time. If God allows me to face one of them, (I am) going to win and continue training; sure, (I say) with all the respect in the world because they are the elite of the UFC. Let’s keep climbing …

What does it mean to you that the Ecuadorian flag is displayed at a UFC event?

It makes me super happy to have my flag there in the octagon, to see it on the big screen. At the time they were interviewing me, my whole family was watching me, it was an immense joy. When I got back to the hotel until 05:00 I couldn’t sleep because I was looking at the ceiling and I was wondering: ‘did I really win?’ I did not believe it. I was very happy.

What will be the first thing you say to Chito Vera when they are in the United States?

Thank you for your words for my fight and that now I will try to focus fully and try to keep fighting. (D)