Alex Morono (born August 16, 1990) is an American professional mixed martial artist who currently fights as a welterweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.[4] A professional competitor since 2010, Morono has also fought for Legacy Fighting Championship, where he was the Welterweight Champion.[5]
| Alex Morono | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 16, 1990 Houston, Texas, United States |
| Other names | The Great White |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Weight | 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb) |
| Division | Middleweight Welterweight |
| Reach | 73 in (185 cm) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Fighting out of | Houston, Texas, United States |
| Team | Gracie Barra The Woodlands (2007–present)[1] Fortis MMA (2018–present)[2] |
| Trainer | Sayif Saud[2] |
| Rank | 2nd degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Vinícius "Draculino" Magalhães[3] Black belt in Taekwondo[4] |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 35 |
| Wins | 24 |
| By knockout | 6 |
| By submission | 7 |
| By decision | 10 |
| By disqualification | 1 |
| Losses | 10 |
| By knockout | 3 |
| By decision | 7 |
| No contests | 1 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Background
Morono was born and raised in Houston, Texas, alongside three brothers.[6] Alex's parents bought him a membership to LA Boxing gym where he began training in 2007, eventually noticing a jiu-jitsu class in the premises. He went on to join the class and was instantly hooked to the discipline.[6] Morono also holds a professional kickboxing record of 1–0. Morono also cited The Matrix as inspiration for getting into MMA.[citation needed]
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
In 2010, Morono began competing in Legacy Fighting Championship amateur series, amassing a record of 3–0–1.[7]
Later that same year, Morono made his professional MMA debut, winning 21 seconds into the first round by armbar.[7]
On December 4, 2015, Morono won the Legacy Fighting Championship Welterweight Championship with a first-round guillotine choke over Derrick Krantz.[8]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Morono stepped in on just over a week's notice to face Kyle Noke replacing an injured Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 195.[5] Morono was awarded a split decision victory.[9]
Morono was expected to face James Moontasri on October 15, 2016 at UFC Fight Night 97.[10] However, the promotion announced on October 6 that they had cancelled the event entirely.[11][12] In turn, the pairing was quickly rescheduled and eventually took place on December 17, 2016 at UFC on Fox 22.[13] Morono won the fight by unanimous decision.[14]
Morono was expected to face Sheldon Westcott on February 4, 2017 at UFC Fight Night 104.[15] However, Westcott pulled out of the fight in early January and was replaced by Niko Price.[16] He lost the fight via knockout at the end of the second round;[17] however this was later overturned to a no contest after Price tested positive for marijuana.[18]
Morono faced Keita Nakamura on September 23, 2017 at UFC Fight Night: Saint Preux vs. Okami.[19] He lost the fight by split decision.[20]
Morono faced Joshua Burkman on February 18, 2018 at UFC Fight Night 126.[21] He won the fight via a guillotine choke submission in the first round.[22]
Morono faced Jordan Mein on July 28, 2018 at UFC on Fox 30.[23] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[24] After the loss, Morono decided to change camps, joining Fortis MMA.[2]
Morono faced Song Kenan on November 24, 2018 at UFC Fight Night 141.[25] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[26] The win also earned him the Fight of the Night bonus.[27]
Morono faced Zak Ottow on March 9, 2019 at UFC on ESPN+ 4.[28] He won the fight via verbal submission due to elbow strikes in the first round.[29]
Morono faced Max Griffin on October 12, 2019 at UFC on ESPN+ 19.[30] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[31]
Morono was scheduled to face Dhiego Lima on February 8, 2020 at UFC 247.[32] However on January 22, 2020, Lima was forced to withdraw from the bout due to a neck injury,[33] and he was replaced by Khaos Williams.[34] He lost the fight via knockout in round one.[35]
Morono faced Rhys McKee on November 14, 2020 at UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos Anjos.[36] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[37]
As the first fight of his new multi-fight contract, Morono faced Anthony Pettis at UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Neal on December 19, 2020.[38][39] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[40]
Morono faced Donald Cerrone, replacing Diego Sanchez on May 8, 2021 at UFC on ESPN 24.[41] He won the fight via technical knockout late in the first round.[42] This fight earned him the Performance of the Night award.[43]
Morono faced David Zawada, replacing Sergey Khandozhko, on September 4, 2021 at UFC Fight Night 191.[44] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[45]
Morono faced Mickey Gall on December 4, 2021 at UFC on ESPN 31.[46] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[47]
Morono faced Matthew Semelsberger on July 30, 2022 at UFC 277.[48] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[49]
Morono faced Santiago Ponzinibbio at UFC 282 on Saturday, December 10, 2022, replacing an injured Robbie Lawler.[50] He lost the fight via technical knockout.[51]
Morono faced Tim Means on May 13, 2023, at UFC on ABC 4.[52] He won the fight via a guillotine choke submission in the second round.[53]
Morono faced Joaquin Buckley on October 7, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 229.[54] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[55]
Morono faced Court McGee on April 6, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 240.[56] He won the bout by unanimous decision.[57]
Morono faced Niko Price in a rematch on June 1, 2024, at UFC 302.[58] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[59]
Personal life
Morono and his wife Janice co-own the Gracie Barra The Woodlands gym.[60]
Championships and achievements
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Fight of the Night (one time) vs. Kenan Song[27]
- Performance of the Night (one time) vs. Donald Cerrone[43]
- Legacy Fighting Championship
- LFC Welterweight Championship (one time)
Mixed martial arts record
| 35 matches | 24 wins | 10 losses |
| By knockout | 6 | 3 |
| By submission | 7 | 0 |
| By decision | 10 | 7 |
| By disqualification | 1 | 0 |
| No contests | 1 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 24–10 (1) | Niko Price | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 302 | June 1, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Newark, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 24–9 (1) | Court McGee | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Curtis 2 | April 6, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 23–9 (1) | Joaquin Buckley | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Dawson vs. Green | October 7, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 23–8 (1) | Tim Means | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC on ABC: Rozenstruik vs. Almeida | May 13, 2023 | 2 | 2:09 | Charlotte, North Carolina, United States | |
| Loss | 22–8 (1) | Santiago Ponzinibbio | TKO (punches) | UFC 282 | December 10, 2022 | 3 | 2:29 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Catchweight (180 lb) bout. |
| Win | 22–7 (1) | Matthew Semelsberger | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 277 | July 30, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Dallas, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 21–7 (1) | Mickey Gall | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Font vs. Aldo | December 4, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 20–7 (1) | David Zawada | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Till | September 4, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 19–7 (1) | Donald Cerrone | TKO (punches) | UFC on ESPN: Rodriguez vs. Waterson | May 8, 2021 | 1 | 4:40 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Loss | 18–7 (1) | Anthony Pettis | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Neal | December 19, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 18–6 (1) | Rhys McKee | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos Anjos | November 14, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 17–6 (1) | Khaos Williams | KO (punches) | UFC 247 | February 8, 2020 | 1 | 0:27 | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 17–5 (1) | Max Griffin | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Joanna vs. Waterson | October 12, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Tampa, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 16–5 (1) | Zak Ottow | TKO (submission to elbows) | UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. dos Santos | March 9, 2019 | 1 | 3:34 | Wichita, Kansas, United States | |
| Win | 15–5 (1) | Song Kenan | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Ngannou 2 | November 24, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Beijing, China | Fight of the Night. |
| Loss | 14–5 (1) | Jordan Mein | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fox: Alvarez vs. Poirier 2 | July 28, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Calgary, Alberta, Canada | |
| Win | 14–4 (1) | Josh Burkman | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Medeiros | February 18, 2018 | 1 | 2:12 | Austin, Texas, United States | |
| Loss | 13–4 (1) | Keita Nakamura | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Saint Preux vs. Okami | September 23, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Saitama, Japan | |
| NC | 13–3 (1) | Niko Price | NC (overturned) | UFC Fight Night: Bermudez vs. The Korean Zombie | February 4, 2017 | 2 | 5:00 | Houston, Texas, United States | Originally a KO (punch) win for Price; overturned after he tested positive for marijuana. |
| Win | 13–3 | James Moontasri | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fox: VanZant vs. Waterson | December 17, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Sacramento, California, United States | |
| Win | 12–3 | Kyle Noke | Decision (split) | UFC 195 | January 2, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 11–3 | Derrick Krantz | Submission (guillotine choke) | Legacy FC 49 | December 4, 2015 | 1 | 4:29 | Bossier City, Louisiana, United States | Won the LFC Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 10–3 | Valdir Araújo | KO (punch) | Legacy FC 44 | August 28, 2015 | 3 | 2:18 | Houston, Texas, United States | Return to Welterweight. |
| Win | 9–3 | Marcus Andrusia | TKO (punches and elbows) | Legacy FC 42 | June 26, 2015 | 1 | 3:18 | Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States | Catchweight (180 lb) bout. |
| Win | 8–3 | Rashid Abdullah | Submission (triangle choke) | Fury Fighting 4 | February 13, 2015 | 1 | 1:36 | Humble, Texas, United States | Catchweight (175 lb) bout. |
| Win | 7–3 | Larry Hopkins | TKO (punches) | Fury Fighting 2 | October 24, 2014 | 1 | 0:44 | Humble, Texas, United States | Middleweight debut. |
| Loss | 6–3 | Diego Henrique da Silva | TKO (punches) | Legacy FC 31 | June 13, 2014 | 1 | 1:55 | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 6–2 | Rashid Abdullah | DQ (biting) | Texas City Throwdown 1 | March 14, 2014 | 3 | 0:10 | Texas City, Texas, United States | |
| Loss | 5–2 | Rob Wood | Decision (split) | Fury Fighting 1 | November 1, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Humble, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 5–1 | Brandon Farran | Submission (armbar) | Legacy FC 18 | March 1, 2013 | 1 | 1:16 | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 4–1 | Rashon Lewis | TKO (punches) | Legacy FC 10 | February 24, 2012 | 1 | 4:02 | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 3–1 | Evert Gutierrez | Decision (unanimous) | Legacy FC 8 | September 16, 2011 | 3 | 3:00 | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| Loss | 2–1 | Jeff Rexroad | Decision (split) | Legacy FC 6 | April 9, 2011 | 3 | 3:00 | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Mark Garcia | Submission (armbar) | Legacy FC 5 | January 29, 2011 | 1 | 0:41 | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Jose Castro | Submission (armbar) | Triple A Promotions: Border Fight Fest 1 | December 2, 2010 | 1 | 0:21 | Laredo, Texas, United States |