Michael Morales (fighter)

Michael Jonathan Morales Hurtado (born June 24, 1999) is an Ecuadorian professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of February 3, 2026, he is #3 in the UFC welterweight rankings.

Michael Morales was born in 1999 in Pasaje, El Oro, Ecuador. He is the son of judokas, a discipline he has been practicing since he was five years old, with his mother as his first coach. His mother, international judo referee Katty Hurtado, is a third dan judo black belt who retired from competition when she was 42. At the age of 10, he switched from judo to wrestling, where he won several youth tournaments. At the age of 14, his father took him to Víctor Vallejo's academy in Machala, where he began to practice mixed martial arts. After doing MMA as an amateur, he made his professional MMA debut at age 16.

While fully focusing on MMA, he juggled a job at a naval boat factory.

In 2021, he began his journey through Mexico, arriving in Tijuana to train at Entram Gym. On March 29, 2021, he signed a contract with Ultimate Warrior Challenge Mexico (UWC).

On September 21, 2021, Morales faced Nikolay Veretennikov for a UFC contract on Dana White's Contender Series: Season 5, Week 4. Morales earned the contract by defeating Veretennikov via unanimous decision.

Morales made his UFC debut against Trevin Giles on January 22, 2022, at UFC 270. He won the fight via TKO in the first round.

Morales was scheduled to face Ramiz Brahimaj at UFC 277 on July 30, 2022. However, Brahimaj was forced to withdraw from the event in mid-July due to an undisclosed injury and was replaced by Adam Fugitt. Morales won the fight via TKO in the third round.

Morales was scheduled to face Rinat Fakhretdinov on December 17, 2022, at UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Strickland. However, Morales withdrew due to a toe fracture.

Morales faced Max Griffin on July 1, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 48. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Morales faced Jake Matthews on November 18, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 232. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Morales faced Neil Magny on August 24, 2024 at UFC on ESPN 62. He won the fight by technical knockout in the first round. This fight earned him a Performance of the Night award.

Morales was scheduled to face former UFC Welterweight title challenger Gilbert Burns on April 12, 2025, at UFC 314. However, the bout was moved to May 10, 2025 at UFC 315 for unknown reasons. In turn, the bout against Burns was moved to serve as the main event on May 17, 2025 at UFC Fight Night 256. Morales won the fight by technical knockout in the first round. This fight earned him another Performance of the Night award.

Morales faced Sean Brady on November 15, 2025 at UFC 322. He won via technical knockout in the first round. This fight earned him another Performance of the Night award.

• Ultimate Fighting Championship
  • Performance of the Night (Three times) vs. Neil Magny, Gilbert Burns and Sean Brady
  • UFC Honors Awards
    • 2025: President's Choice Performance of the Year Nominee vs. Sean Brady
  • UFC.com Awards
    • 2022: Ranked #8 Newcomer of the Year
• Oro Fighting Championship
  • OFC Welterweight Champion (One time)
• Extreme MMA
  • Extreme MMA Welterweight Champion (One time)
• Sportsnaut
  • 2025 UFC Fighter of the Year
• MMA Fighting
  • 2025 First Team MMA All-Star
• Uncrowned
  • 2025 #5 Ranked Male Fighter of the Year
  • 2025 #2 Ranked Breakthrough Fighter of the Year

• List of current UFC fighters

• List of male mixed martial artists

• List of undefeated mixed martial artists

• Michael Morales at UFC

• Professional MMA record for Michael Morales from Sherdog