Michael Morales is not one to ask the UFC for specific names or call out opponents. However, there is one person he’d really like to fight.
The rising UFC welterweight prospect is eager to face Ian Machado Garry, a fellow undefeated fighter, ideally in his next bout, but certainly at some point in his career. Morales (16-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) is not a fan of Garry, which is the main reason why he’d like to face him.
“Ian Garry, Ian Garry,” Morales told MMA Junkie in Spanish when asked who he’d like to fight next. “If I get the opportunity to fight him, I’ll welcome that. He’s someone I want to fight. If I get the opportunity to fight him, that would be great. I really dislike that guy. There’s nothing I like about him, but it’s not whatever I like or dislike, it’s whatever the UFC wants for me next.
“So if I get the chance to fight him, then thank you very much, but if it’s not him, I also welcome it. Whoever is next can get it.”
The 24-year-old says the reason he wants to fight Garry is that there are things he doesn’t like about him personally, plus that Garry has mentioned his name in the past as a potential fight.
“He said something like I’m coming up the rankings, but I’m coming up too fast and the fight against Max Griffin shouldn’t have happened or something like that,” Morales said. “I forget what site was the interview from, but said something along those lines. He’s saying I should be fighting more experienced fighters, but he’s been almost knocked out in every single one of his fights, so I don’t think he can give his opinion on that.”
Morales is undefeated in his fighting career and 4-0 since joining the UFC in 2021 after winning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series. Most recently, the Ecuadorian fighter outpointed veteran Jake Matthews in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 232 earlier this month. He hopes to return at UFC 299 in March to fight alongside countryman Marlon Vera, who will be challenging Sean O’Malley for the bantamweight title.
Garry has six wins under the UFC banner with his most recent being a unanimous decision win over Neil Magny in August. He returns to the cage on Dec. 16 at UFC 296 against top contender Vicente Luque.
