Michael Morales says DWCS 40 contract a win for all Latin American fighters

LAS VEGAS – Born in Ecuador and fighting out of Mexico, Michael Morales is happy to carry the banner for all Latin American fighters.

Morales (12-0) earned a UFC contract when he put it on Nikolay Veretennikov at Dana White’s Contender Series 40 on Tuesday, receiving high praise from Dana White, who said he sees the potential of greatness in the unbeaten prospect.

“It’s not just I’m celebrating, my country is celebrating, and all those in Mexico as well have taken me in,” Morales told MMA Junkie and other reporters in attendance at the UFC Apex following Tuesday’s Dana White’s Contender Series 40 event. “Just very happy, extremely happy having an opportunity like this.”

He continued, “I’m extremely happy and extremely thankful to hear that (White’s praise). It means a lot not just for our country, but for Mexico as well, and I know that the work that we’ve been putting in is gonna pay off not just for myself, for Ecuador, for Mexico, but for Latin American fighters as well. I think a lot of them have the potential to get to this point and we’re gonna continue to work and you’re gonna see more of us going forward.”

To see the full interview with Morales, check out the video above.