UFC contender Michael Morales still far from prime

Be careful welterweights. Sure, Michael Morales is unbeaten and already within the UFC official rankings, however he’s but to scratch the floor of his potential.

Raul Arvizu, head-coach at Entram Fitness center in Tijuana and coach of Morales (17-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC), thinks his pupil shouldn’t be even midway in his MMA growth, and that’s why he sees him with loads of potential of at some point carrying UFC gold. From Ecuador however preventing out of Mexico, Morales has cemented himself as one of the crucial promising fighters immediately within the UFC. Arvizu thinks extra is to come back.

“To at the present time, I’m telling you, Michael is about 40 p.c of what he could be, perhaps 45, 48 p.c of what he could be,” Arvizu instructed Hablemos MMA in Spanish. “He can enhance much more in his placing, his jiu-jitsu. I would like him to have a stage of Mexican boxing that’s skilled, and get him to black belt in jiu-jitsu. I would like him to have these instruments. He’s simply 25, and I feel we’re two to 3 years away from his prime.”

Arvizu educated and bought Brandon Moreno to win the UFC flyweight title, preventing out of his fitness center in Mexico a number of years in the past. He’s additionally gotten many different fighters to the UFC, and may be very used to seeing what it takes to compete on the highest ranges. But, regardless of all his years of expertise, Arvizu assures he’s by no means seen anybody as bodily gifted as Morales.

“I’ve by no means educated anyone like him, by no means,” Arvizu stated. “Typically I prepare somebody and I ask them to do a handstand they usually can’t. Michael will get on his palms, walks round, does flips – he’s extraordinarily athletic. I’ve by no means educated anybody like him. I’ve educated Mexicans which are powerful and hit onerous and are robust, however Michael is one thing else. It’s unbelievable to witness.

“I can say I’m an awesome coach, however the fact is that working with Michael simply makes you look good. I normally don’t select fighters primarily based on their athletic means, extra on their work ethic, but it surely’s good to have somebody like that.”

Morales has been linked to combat former UFC title challenger Gilbert Burns at UFC 314 in Miami, however the promotion has but to make the bout official.

As of now, Arvizu is proud of the the place Morales is at in his growth. He thinks there’s far more room for development, however already sees him ok to begin competing with the highest 10 of the UFC welterweight division.

“Michael may be very full,” Arvizu stated. “He has heavy palms, good wrestling. His jiu-jitsu hasn’t actually been proven, but it surely’s not unhealthy in any respect. I attempt to get my fighters as full as attainable. That’s what I love to do. … Michael is so athletic that you just educate him one thing for one or two months, and he has it for all times.”