Now on a two-fight win streak, Alex Morono has a big name in mind moving forward after finishing Zak Ottow at UFC Wichita.
Wichita, Kansas — Alex Morono lived out a dream at UFC Wichita on Saturday night. Picking up a finish of Zak Ottow that amounted to a TKO (technically Ottow submitted to strikes), he accomplished his life’s goal to this point in MMA: earning a stoppage in the UFC. He said as much in the octagon post-fight, and reiterated the importance of the finish again back stage at the Intrust Bank Arena.
Speaking to reporters including Cageside Press, Morono said that “to get a TKO or a knockout has been just my goal in life ever since I signed with the UFC, and I finally got that tonight. I’ve been close in the past, but never got it.”
“This was a lot of closure and full circles coming together. It was awesome.”
A lot of Morono’s approach to the finish comes from the fact that “I was a fan before I was ever a fighter.”
“Being a fan is what made me a fighter,” he explained Saturday following the win. “And just seeing the knockouts was always the coolest thing by far. I always tell my guys a knockout is a gold, a submission is a silver and a decision is a bronze, and we strive for the gold medals. I finally got my gold medal tonight, so I was happy for that.”
Gold medal accomplished. So what comes next for Morono, who is now 4-2 (1NC) in the UFC, and on a two-fight win streak? Well, there’s a certain name he has in mind.
He wants to get back in “just as soon as possible,” he said, “but UFC 235, my favorite fight of that night was Diego Sanchez beating up Mickey Gall. Diego Sanchez, the last true OG in the UFC. And getting wins.”
That’s quite the call out, and Morono clearly meant it in the most respectful way possible. “He says he gets power from thunderstorms. I couldn’t think of anything that cool. If I could share the octagon with him, as a fighter and as a fan, that would be the coolest thing. He’s like the one true guy everyone knows. If I could get a fight with Diego Sanchez, that would be awesome. And if not, I just can’t wait to see him fight again.”
