Michael Morales can cause problems for Islam Makhachev, says UFC veteran

Michael Morales has made it to the UFC welterweight title discussion, but could that mean bad news for Islam Makhachev?

UFC 322 was a memorable night, and one of the most impressive performances was courtesy of Morales. The undefeated star scored a first-round TKO finish over Sean Brady, who was one of the top contenders in the 170-pound weight class entering the fight.

Later on that night, Makhachev chased UFC gold in a second weight class. He took on Jack Della Maddalena for the UFC Welterweight Championship. Makhachev showcased his grappling dominance throughout the title bout to earn a unanimous decision victory.

MMAJunkie got a chance to speak to UFC fighter and analyst Michael Chiesa, who weighed on why he can see Morales being a serious threat to Makhachev.

“The size difference alone and the fact that he has good understanding of wrestling and grappling, I think that he could give Islam a lot of problems,” Chiesa said. “He could force Islam into a stand up fight. That’s a very hard fight. That’s a fight where it’s like – you have to get the takedown. … If Morales can force him into a stand up fight, I just don’t see it. With the composure that he’s exhibiting in these last two fights, being able to pick his shots, set his feet? That’d be a really hard night at the office for Islam.”

Morales has a perfect pro MMA record of 19-0 with 14 knockouts. He’s now stopped the likes of Brady, Gilbert Burns, and Neil Magny. Morales recently took to social media to modify Makhachev’s signature line.

“Two, three years in Tijuana and you’ll learn how to knock someone out,” Morales wrote in Spanish.

Makhachev’s pro MMA record stands at 27-1 with the lone defeat taking place a decade ago. He had already cemented his legacy as one of the greatest lightweights in the sport’s history. Makhachev then scooped up the welterweight gold one-sided fashion.

At this time, UFC CEO Dana White has been non-committal on what the plan is for Makhachev’s next fight. The newly minted UFC Welterweight Champion has expressed interest in a clash with Kamaru Usman. He also hasn’t been opposed to facing other contenders.