Michael Morales continued to back his potential by maintaining his undefeated streak with a third victory in the UFC following a unanimous decision victory over Max Griffin.
The young Ecuadorian prospect made it clear before the fight that he was only interested in the conflict inside the Octagon rather than the verbal exchanges outside it.
“I train to fight, not to talk,” Morales told the media in the post-fight press conference.
“I don’t know why he said those things or what was going through his mind, but I’m very happy with what I said, felt and showed in the cage.”
The reticent nature of Morales’ approach to the UFC has worked up to this point as he moves to 3-0 inside the Octagon and 15-0-0 overall.
Morales’ refusal to engage in the playground antics before his fight is indicative of his determination to perfect his craft and continue his surge through the welterweight division. Despite a unanimous decision victory, Morales is aware of the improvements he can make to his game.
“I think it was just the discipline,” Morales said when asked about the adversity of the fight. “I stayed attentive to his strikes and focused on all the work that I was doing.”
“I feel like I could’ve done better. I feel like I could’ve given more, but everything still worked out, thank God.”
His attitude and willingness to constantly refresh his game displays all the hallmarks of a fighter destined for greatness. Having overcome his toughest challenge in the form of a 37-year-old Max Griffin, the next phase of Morales’ tenure in the UFC will show where the Ecuadoran phenom is really at.
His next fight against a ranked fighter could induct him into the top 15 and introduce yet another beast to the already stacked welterweight division.
