American bantamweight Vince Morales is back in the UFC, and is planning to continue his impressive run of form as he embarks on his second stint on the sport’s biggest stage.
Morales takes on local favourite Taylor Lapilus at UFC Paris this weekend in a bout that gives him a second bite of the cherry after going 4-5 in the Octagon during his first run with the UFC.
Morales earned his second shot in the UFC after capturing the United Fight League bantamweight title against fellow former UFC vet Hunter Azure.
And, chatting to RG.org about his path back to the big stage, he recalled how his title fight came into being, and how it all panned out on fight night.
“I know going into this fight, I kind of been offered him before but for whatever reason it didn’t materialise,” he said.
“Last year, I think he was getting on TUF or something, I can’t remember exactly, but I know his name has come across before and it’s a fight I kind of had my eye on. I think he is tough, and he was coming off a big win himself, he was the champ. They hit me up to be the anchor and represent team Vegas and fight for the title over in Phoenix for this one.
“I felt great going into it, I really liked the matchup. I thought he was a really good opponent to test myself because he’s been doing his thing too. He’s good in all the same areas that I am, really, but I kind of felt that I was better, but if I wasn’t better, I could do more.”
Morales took the victory over Azure via third-round Peruvian necktie submission to capture the title and put himself back on the UFC matchmakers’ radar.
The call duly came, and Morales now finds himself in Paris riding a five-fight win streak that includes three submission finishes. It’s a chance to prove that he can deliver on the big stage again, and he’s relishing the chance to continue his comeback story.
“I think it sells itself a little bit in terms of the story,” he said.
“I may have needed the release to really come through the other side. You match me up against any of those guys (that I lost to in the UFC) again, I don’t think those fights are going the same way it did. I think I am a handful, I think I am a problem for all these guys. I can’t wait to get in there and prove it again.”
Morales faces a tough assignment in France, against a Frenchman who is in the middle of his own second run in the UFC. Lapilus is 20-4 as a pro, and has lost just once in his last eight outings.
But, buoyed by his recent form, and after hitting such a rare submission technique in his last appearance, Morales returns to the Octagon full of confidence and ready to deliver this weekend in The City of Light.
“Stay tuned, because as long as I’ve been in this, it still feels like I’m barely getting started,” he said.
“And if we are barely getting started doing great things like ‘Vinchuvian Neckties,’ then the sky’s the limit, and I think something special is going to happen in the next few years.”
