# Alex Morono

Alexander Quincy Morono (born August 16, 1990) is an American professional mixed martial artist and boxer who currently fights in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional since 2010, Morono has also fought for Legacy Fighting Championship, where he was the Welterweight Champion.

## Background

Morono was born and raised in Houston, Texas, alongside three brothers. 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. Morono also holds a professional kickboxing record of 1–0. Morono also cited The Matrix as inspiration for getting into MMA.

## Mixed martial arts career
### Early career

In 2010, Morono began competing in Legacy Fighting Championship amateur series, amassing a record of 3–0–1.
Later that same year, Morono made his professional MMA debut, winning 21 seconds into the first round by armbar.
On December 4, 2015, Morono won the Legacy Fighting Championship Welterweight Championship with a first-round guillotine choke over Derrick Krantz.

### 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. Morono was awarded a split decision victory.
Morono was expected to face James Moontasri on October 15, 2016 at UFC Fight Night 97. However, the promotion announced on October 6 that they had cancelled the event entirely. In turn, the pairing was quickly rescheduled and eventually took place on December 17, 2016 at UFC on Fox 22. Morono won the fight by unanimous decision.
Morono was expected to face Sheldon Westcott on February 4, 2017 at UFC Fight Night 104. However, Westcott pulled out of the fight in early January and was replaced by Niko Price. He lost the fight via knockout at the end of the second round; however this was later overturned to a no contest after Price tested positive for marijuana.
Morono faced Keita Nakamura on September 23, 2017 at UFC Fight Night: Saint Preux vs. Okami. He lost the fight by split decision.
Morono faced Joshua Burkman on February 18, 2018 at UFC Fight Night 126. He won the fight via a guillotine choke submission in the first round.
Morono faced Jordan Mein on July 28, 2018 at UFC on Fox 30. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. After the loss, Morono decided to change camps, joining Fortis MMA.
Morono faced Song Kenan on November 24, 2018 at UFC Fight Night 141. He won the fight via unanimous decision. The win also earned him the Fight of the Night bonus.
Morono faced Zak Ottow on March 9, 2019 at UFC on ESPN+ 4. He won the fight via verbal submission due to elbow strikes in the first round.
Morono faced Max Griffin on October 12, 2019 at UFC on ESPN+ 19. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Morono was scheduled to face Dhiego Lima on February 8, 2020 at UFC 247. However on January 22, 2020, Lima was forced to withdraw from the bout due to a neck injury, and he was replaced by Khaos Williams. He lost the fight via knockout in round one.
Morono faced Rhys McKee on November 14, 2020 at UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos Anjos. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
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. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Morono faced Donald Cerrone, replacing Diego Sanchez on May 8, 2021 at UFC on ESPN 24. He won the fight via technical knockout late in the first round. This fight earned him the Performance of the Night award.
Morono faced David Zawada, replacing Sergey Khandozhko, on September 4, 2021 at UFC Fight Night 191. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Morono faced Mickey Gall on December 4, 2021 at UFC on ESPN 31. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Morono faced Matthew Semelsberger on July 30, 2022 at UFC 277. He won the fight by unanimous decision.
Morono faced Santiago Ponzinibbio at UFC 282 on Saturday, December 10, 2022, replacing an injured Robbie Lawler. He lost the fight via technical knockout.
Morono faced Tim Means on May 13, 2023, at UFC on ABC 4. He won the fight via a guillotine choke submission in the second round.
Morono faced Joaquin Buckley on October 7, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 229. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Morono faced Court McGee on April 6, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 240. He won the bout by unanimous decision.
Morono faced Niko Price in a rematch on June 1, 2024, at UFC 302. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.
Morono faced Daniel Rodriguez on October 12, 2024 at UFC Fight Night 244. He lost the fight by split decision.
Morono faced Carlos Leal Miranda on March 8, 2025, at UFC 313. He lost the fight by technical knockout in the first round.

## Personal life

Morono and his wife Janice co-own the Gracie Barra The Woodlands gym.

## Championships and achievements

* Ultimate Fighting Championship
** Fight of the Night (one time) vs. Kenan Song
** Performance of the Night (one time) vs. Donald Cerrone
* Legacy Fighting Championship
** LFC Welterweight Championship (one time)

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 37 matches | 24 wins | 12 losses |
| By knockout | 6 | 4 |
| By submission | 7 | 0 |
| By decision | 10 | 8 |
| By disqualification | 1 | 0 |
| No contests | 1 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 24–12 (1) | Carlos Leal | TKO (punches) | UFC 313 | March 8, 2025 | 1 | 4:16 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 24–11 (1) | Daniel Rodriguez | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Royval vs. Taira | October 12, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| 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 | |