Makhachev has had a dominant run under the UFC banner. He has suffered just one loss in his professional MMA career in 2015 and has become an active legend in the sport. Not only has Makhachev broken the record for most successful UFC lightweight title defenses, but he is now the reigning welterweight titleholder after dominating Jack Della Maddalena in November 2025.
Despite all the accolades, Morales sees no immovable object. The rising 170-pounder spoke with Danny Segura from MMA Junkie’s ‘Hablemos MMA’, and he made it clear that he won’t be impressed sharing the Octagon with Makhachev.
“I won’t show him much respect,” Morales said. “He’s an athlete just like me. He’s a person just like me. He bleeds just like me. I just see him as a person I want to take the title from. Of course he has his legacy and history, but it’s his, not mine. I do my own thing and I worked hard to get what I have, so I’m not going to give him the respect of, ‘Oh, he’s the champion. I have to give him all the credit.’
“No, I want to be a champion too. I have it in my mind that I am going to work hard to take the title away from someone. That is my dream, and that is my priority. I don’t care who I have to beat. I am not going to glorify anyone. I want to take the title. I don’t care if it is against Makhachev or against someone else. I want to be a champion, and I am preparing very hard to do that. I want to get a knockout. and leave with the belt in my hand.
Morales is coming off the biggest win of his fighting career so far. On the same card that Makhachev captured welterweight gold on, Morales submitted Sean Brady in the opening frame. It was an emphatic victory that put Morales’ name high on the list of potential title challengers.
At this time, Makhachev’s first UFC welterweight championship defense has not yet been announced. Stay with BJPenn.com for the latest updates.
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