Alex Morgan never pictured himself waiting this long to get back inside the octagon after his defeat to Charles Jourdain.
It was December 7, 2018, at TKO 45 where Morgan was slated to defend his TKO featherweight title for the very first time. Fresh off a TKO victory against T.J. Laramie—marking the second time he'd dropped his rival in the opening round—the bout carried major weight since most observers assumed the victor would land a UFC contract. Unfortunately for the Montreal native from Quebec, the fight ended in a first-round submission loss.
Following the setback, Morgan, then 30, pushed hard to return, yet he struggled to secure a bout throughout 2019. When the pandemic arrived, it effectively halted his career for the entirety of 2020. Now, on July 1 in the headline bout of Mixed Martial Arts Grand Prix 3 staged in France, Morgan (9-4) will finally step back into the cage, taking on the French competitor Alioune Nahaye (10-2). Morgan also shared that competing away from home has lifted a considerable burden of expectations.
"I genuinely didn't realize it would take this long since my previous bout. Nobody anticipated COVID would strike, and I simply couldn't compete. I've been prepared and ready, but circumstances prevented it," Morgan told MMA Empire via phone from France on Monday.
"I had hoped to fight in Canada, but things never materialized for whatever reason. That's why I'm here in France, and it represents a fantastic chance for me. I'm also glad to be on foreign soil because there's absolutely no pressure weighing on me. I don't have to worry about selling tickets, fans expecting me at events, or dealing with the stress that comes with being the hometown fighter."
When the opportunity arose, Morgan eagerly accepted. He readily admitted he doesn't know much about his opponent, who carries a 10-2 record, but he's enthusiastic about demonstrating his abilities and proving how much sharper he's become since his most recent outing.
Morgan believes he'll surpass Nahaye across the board, and he predicts a stoppage outcome.
"I don't know much about my opponent. I reviewed some footage of him, and he's certainly a tough competitor," Morgan remarked.
"He enjoys trading heavy blows, makes a solid opponent and a genuine test, but I believe I possess everything needed to defeat him. I won't try to force anything, but I know I have the weapons to win everywhere. If he wants to wrestle, I'm confident I can submit him. If he prefers to stand and strike, I'm fairly certain I can KO him. I know I can end this fight, and that's exactly what I've been picturing. I've waited two years and traveled all the way to France to pour everything into securing a finish."
Should Morgan pull off a stoppage victory, the future remains uncertain for him.
He's moved past worrying about whether the UFC or Bellator will eventually sign him. Morgan recognizes that opportunity will arrive, and until then, his focus stays entirely on the task ahead.
"I'm not dwelling on what comes next. I used to do that when I was younger, constantly adding pressure by obsessing over when the UFC would call. Right now, I'm locked in on the fight in front of me without looking beyond it," Morgan explained.
"Once I win this one, we'll see. If I receive the call, naturally I'll accept. But I'm not losing sleep over it."
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