Michael Morales is ready to fight for the title, but he\u2019s not forcing the issue.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, Morales picked up the biggest win of his career, knocking out Sean Brady in the first round at UFC 322. The win vaulted Morales into the Top 5 of the UFC welterweight rankings and put him on the cusp of a title shot against new champion Islam Makhachev. In fact, he\u2019s already been assured by the UFC that he\u2019s on the short list for Makhachev\u2019s first defense.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey already told me that I was a candidate to fight for the belt, but next year,\u201d Morales told Death Row MMA with Jorge Masvidal<\/a>. \u201cI think it will be around July or June, depending on when he wants to fight, Makhachev.\u201d<\/p>\n For his part, Makhachev seems open to facing Morales, though he\u2019s noted he\u2019d prefer to face former champion Kamaru Usman. But whoever he faces, Morales seems to believe the former lightweight champion could have his hands full.<\/p>\n \u201cMakhachev is good,\u201d Morales said. \u201cHe has great wrestling, but everyone saw him fight. His thing is shooting, taking you down to the ground, and controlling you on the ground. \u2026 Makhachev, obviously, has his strengths. Nobody can deny that he has very good wrestling, but at welterweight, the new era is long. Guys are big, long, and young.\u201d<\/p>\n Perhaps none more so than Morales, who admitted he\u2019ll likely have to move up to middleweight eventually, though his goal is to win the welterweight title first. However, Morales has plenty of competition right now. Shavkat Rakhmonov, Ian Machado Garry, Kamaru Usman, and even Carlos Prates are all in the mix at 170 pounds right now, and with the title picture so packed, Morales is fine with fighting again before challenging for the belt, if he has to.<\/p>\n \u201cCarlos Prates has power,\u201d Morales said. \u201cHe knows where to touch you when he lands a punch. We saw that he can also last three rounds straight, even if you wrestle him. So, I think he\u2019s moving fast, too, and he also wants to be champion.<\/p>\n \u201cBut first we go. I want to secure what\u2019s mine, and then whoever comes, comes. [But] if I have to fight Prates before the belt, I\u2019ll do it. No problem. Because in this game, it\u2019s everyone against everyone. It\u2019s the only thing that can be done. Nobody\u2019s going to back down.\u201d<\/p>\n Mad. Nate Diaz shoots down Islam Makhachev pound-for-pound No. 1<\/a> talk: \u2018I can\u2019t even remember anything but getting bored.\u2019<\/p>\n Welterweight. Islam Makhachev responds to Ian Machado Garry, says Shavkat Rakhmonov \u2018can\u2019t sit out for a year\u2019<\/a> and get title shot.<\/p>\n Notorious. Conor McGregor breaks silence, claims he\u2019s undergone psychoactive treatment<\/a>: \u2018I was shown what would have been my death.\u2019<\/p>\n Fraud. Ethyn Ewing defends Malcolm Wellmaker from \u2018ridiculous\u2019 criticism that he got \u2018fraud checked.\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n BKFC. Matthew Semelsberger wins BKFC tryouts<\/a> after admitting he didn\u2019t \u2018deserve\u2019 to be in UFC any longer.<\/p>\n Aljamain Sterling talks UFC Qatar.<\/p>\n Stipe Miocic tries becoming a barber.<\/p>\n Check out Gable Steveson\u2019s MMA fight from Sunday night.<\/p>\n SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE<\/p>\n Khamzat Chimaev takes down Jon Jones.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s not get out over our skis. The guy was 2-1.<\/p>\n Dakota Ditcheva (15-0) vs. Denise Kielholtz (8-5); PFL, Feb. 7.<\/p>\n Yeah, man, just book Morales vs. Prates. That fight is a certified banger, and there\u2019s no need to rush Morales into a title fight. Shavkat vs. Islam, Morales vs. Prates, Garry vs. Usman. Clean and simple.<\/p>\n If you find something you\u2019d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @AlexanderKlee<\/a> or @JedKMeshew<\/a> on Twitter and let us know about it. Also, follow MMAFighting on Twitter<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, and like us on Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n