Joseph Morales

Joseph Morales vs. Matt Schnell
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Morales (-270); Schnell (+220)

Round 1
The year is 2025 and it will be ending in less than two months, and the promotion has the matchmaking wherewithal to jam a pair of very unranked .500 fighters together and plop it on the co-main event slot intentionally. Schnell (17-9, 1 NC; 7-7, 1 NC UFC) has established himself as a “live by the sword, die by the sword” competitor with way more stoppages on his win-loss ledger than decisions. “Bopo” Morales (13-2, 2-2 UFC) is looking to make the most of his second stint with the promotion, having won his return in August by submission to capture the trophy of Season 33 of “The Ultimate Fighter.” Taking charge of the cage for this no-nonsense flyweight affair where the winner may not get a number next to their name on Monday is referee Keith Peterson. Gloves are touched.
Schnell moves to the center of the cage, keeping his hands outstretched and measuring with a body kick. Schnell trades hands with his opponent, and Morales clips him with punches and a high kick. “Bopo” crashes forward behind a right hand, and Schnell trips him up and puts him on the ground. Morales quickly reverses him by tripping out the ankle, and he races over to climb into side control just 75 seconds into the round. Morales maintains heavy, tight chest and shoulder pressure, grinding on Schnell’s face with his elbow and otherwise keeping him from scrambling. Schnell throws his legs up high for a possible reversal, and Morales counters by going two-on-one to control Schnell’s left arm. Morales fights out of a triangle choke and hooks up a crucifix position from the back.
Schnell explodes to turn over and claim top position, and “Bopo” answers him flawlessly.
Schnell puts himself in the worst possible place when pursuing a counter takedown, placing his neck practically into the jaws of a guillotine choke setup from the Team Alpha Male fighter. Morales tightens his grip without having to adjust much, and Schnell promptly surrenders.
Commentator Paul Felder promptly questions the strategy of Schnell on the broadcast, raising other questions that came up last week during the infamous Dulgarian vs. Del Valle match. We won’t touch on those here, and will instead note that a member of TAM landed one of their vaunted guillotines, the first in how long? It is the third sub in a row for Morales, and his second back-to-back in the UFC cage.

The Official Result
Joseph Morales def. Matt Schnell R1 2:54 via Submission (Guillotine Choke)

Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Joseph Morales

Round 1
Figueiredo tries a spinning kick, defends a takedown attempt and hustles Morales against the fence. The Brazilian trips up Morales and plants him on the floor about a foot away from the fence, setting up on top in half guard. Morales shifts and puts Figueiredo in butterfly guard, so "Deus da Guerra" stands over his prone opponent. Figueiredo dodges a few upkicks and drops hammerfists on Morales, who's now stacked up against the fence. Referee Eduardo Herdy twice warns Morales for grabbing the fence as he kicks upward. Figueiredo comes down to Morales' closed guard, where the pace slows as the Team Alpha Male fighter wraps up tight. Referee Herdy orders the fighters back to their feet with 50 seconds on the clock. Morales steps into the pocket with his hands low and gets decked with a stiff jab to the grill. Figueiredo follows him to the floor and tries a one-armed guillotine, but Morales survives -- and dodges a few heavy hammerfists -- to hear the horn.

Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Figueiredo
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Figueiredo
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Figueiredo

Round 2
Figueiredo flashes a jab in Morales' face, then quickly slides out of the pocket to make Morales whiff on the counter. Superman punch lands for Figueiredo, followed by a body shot that puts Morales on his back foot. Figueiredo drops for a takedown attempt, appears to get stuffed, but overpowers Morales and drives him to the floor with his second effort. Morales puts Figueiredo in guard as they fight at the base of the fence, now begins shifting and pulling on Figueiredo's head, hunting for a triangle or armbar. Figueiredo lands a hard elbow from the top, opening a cut underneath Morales' righr eye. Morales once again grabs the fence and has his hand slapped away by the ref. Back up jumps Morales, and the flyweights resume striking with two minutes left in the round. Figueiredo shifts to southpaw stance and puts a hard kick across Morales' midsection. Morales throws a low kick and gets countered with a right hand over the top, and Figueiredo follows with a lead uppercut a few seconds later.
Morales gets backed up to the fence, where Figueiredo floors him with a beautiful right hook-left uppercut combo. Four or five follow-up punches on the ground later, referee Herdy steps in to stop the fight.

The Official Result
Deiveson Figueiredo def. Joseph Morales via TKO (Punches) R2 4:34