{"id":421192,"date":"2026-01-18T12:38:07","date_gmt":"2026-01-18T12:38:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/421192\/"},"modified":"2026-01-18T12:38:07","modified_gmt":"2026-01-18T12:38:07","slug":"islam-makhachev-and-michael-morales-go-back-and-forth-bring-up-old-losses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/421192\/","title":{"rendered":"Islam Makhachev And Michael Morales Go Back And Forth, Bring Up Old Losses"},"content":{"rendered":"

Islam Makhachev<\/a> recently took a sharp dig at Michael Morales while referring to Morales\u2019 2017 submission loss.<\/p>\n

For context, record-keeping website Tapology had messed with Morales\u2019 undefeated record earlier this month. The page added one loss and one win from the start of his career to the professional MMA bout list. Among these two bouts, one was Morales\u2019 submission loss to Ricardo Centeno in the quarterfinal of the second season of the Ecuadorian league Ultima Pelea in 2017.<\/p>\n

However, Tapology later reverted Michael Morales\u2019 pro-MMA record to a clean 19-0 as both the win and the loss from the Ultima Pelea league are now officially recognized as exhibition bouts.<\/p>\n

Update on the “Ultima Pelea” league in Ecuador and its impact on Michael Morales MMA record. We will reverse & classify these as exhibition. We look forward to many colorful replies on social media about how stupid we are. Thank you in advance. But above all we want to be fair\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2014 Tapology (@tapology) January 7, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Recently, while referring to Morales\u2019 2017 loss, Islam Makhachev took a dig at the 26-year-old. The Russian fighter told Match TV that Morales \u201cneeds to be choked out again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMorales was not undefeated a few days ago, but today he\u2019s undefeated again. I don\u2019t know how they removed it. I saw the cage fight\u2014he got choked out, and then they announced it was an exhibition match. Well then, he needs to be choked out again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Check out Islam Makhachev\u2019s comments below:<\/p>\n

Islam Makhachev reacts to Michael Morales getting choked out. \ud83d\udca5<\/p>\n

\u201cMorales was not undefeated a few days ago, but today he\u2019s undefeated again. I don\u2019t know how they removed it.<\/p>\n

I saw the cage fight\u2014he got choked out, and then they announced it was an exhibition match. Well then,\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/cL0eA1T6bz<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 MMA Pros Pick (@MMA_PROS_PICK_) January 17, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Michael Morales fires back at Islam Makhachev<\/p>\n

Michael Morales was quick to respond to Islam Makhachev\u2019s above comments. In response, Morales referred to Makhachev\u2019s sole loss in MMA, which was a knockout loss<\/a> to Adriano Martins in 2015. The undefeated Ecuadorian fighter quipped:<\/p>\n

\u201cMakhachev\u2019s already been knocked out once, time to knock him out again.\u201d [Translated from Spanish]<\/p>\n

Check out Michael Morales\u2019 comments below:<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udd25\ud83e\udd4a Cruce picante entre Makhachev y Michael Morales<\/p>\n

Islam Makhachev ironiz\u00f3 sobre la pol\u00e9mica del r\u00e9cord de Morales:<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udde3\ufe0f \u201cHace unos d\u00edas no estaba invicto y hoy s\u00ed. Lo vi ser estrangulado y luego dijeron que fue exhibici\u00f3n\u2026 habr\u00e1 que estrangularlo otra vez\u201d<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcac Respuesta de\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/ndYndYCgXY<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Ecuador Comunicaci\u00f3n \u2747\ufe0f Al d\u00eda en Deportes (@EcuRadioDeporte) January 17, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Morales and Makhachev were rumored to fight each other in January. However, both sides declined the bout. The newly minted 170-pound champion did not want to fight because he believed he had less time to prepare, having just fought in November. Morales, on the other hand, chose to go on a vacation and rest.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udea8 Michael Morales says he may fight JDM next and that a January fight with Islam was discussed but declined by both<\/p>\n

“UFC told me about a possible fight against Jack for March or April. I think they also proposed a fight with Makhachev for January, and he didn’t want to accept\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/RPwDu5qeNn<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) January 9, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Makhachev is expected to make the first defense of his welterweight title after Ramadan 2026, and Morales is interested in fighting the Russian phenom. However, in the meantime, he\u2019s itching to get back in the octagon <\/a>and has set his crosshairs on Jack Della Maddalena.<\/p>\n