Vince Morales at Syndicate MMA Credit score: Alex Behunin/Cageside Press
On February fifteenth, Vince Morales stepped into the cage towards upstart prospect Elijah Smith. An in depth backwards and forwards battle was left within the arms of the judges. Some excessive spots for Morales made him really feel like he was within the good place to select up his first win since returning to the UFC. Nonetheless, the judges simply didn’t see it that method.
“It felt like when the fight ended, the way it ended and the position we ended, I was like, that third round is kind of up for grabs. All I know is I was pushing and I think I had that choke locked in. I’m like, maybe they see that and I win that round and win the fight,” Morales defined. “I remember Coach Wood pulling out his phone to record them announcing the decision. And I’m like, okay, cool. We got it. We got it.”
Whereas not taking something away from Smith, who he famous fought a superb combat, he did blame his tendancy to bleed as one of many causes for the judges’ selections. Whatever the purpose, Morales resolved to get proper again at it and get booked as quickly as attainable.
“My initial thought right after, cause I went and spoke with one of my managers. I was like, dude, I don’t know why I can’t get right on these decisions, but that’s not sitting well with me. And the sooner I can get back in there, the sooner I’m going to feel better,” he mentioned. “[My manager] said, well stay ready. As those stitches were out, I was right back to the, right back on the grind.”
The decision got here not that far down the highway with a provide and never a lot time to arrange. The UFC wished him to combat this weekend in Mexico Metropolis towards Raul Rosas Jr. – simply six weeks after his final combat. Not solely was the timing proper for him, however the scenario was one he couldn’t flip down.
“I owe it to myself to put my best foot forward and really try to make the most I can out of the opportunity to go fight somebody with that kind of hype and in an area like Mexico city with a giant crowd,” Morales mentioned. “I’m just trying to do everything I can to really enjoy every moment and make the most of it and make sure these guys know that like I’m here to stay.”
You possibly can catch his combat with Rosas Jr. as a part of the UFC Mexico fundamental card. That portion of the cardboard begins this Saturday at 7pm EST on ESPN+ and ESPN2.
