UFC bantamweight Vince Morales is ready for his next bout inside the octagon.

Fully healed up from his most recent fight at UFC Ottawa in May, a dominant decision victory over Aeimann Zahabi, Morales (9-3, 1-1 UFC) has been idly waiting by his phone for the UFC to call.

“I’m trying to get back in there immediately,” Morales told MMA Junkie Radio (go to the 4:00 mark in the video above). “I feel great. I’m already back to fight life. We don’t really do fight camps. We’re always in fight camps. We’re always in shape. We’re always trying to learn new things and get better.”

The soft-spoken Oregonian has been training at the UFC Performance Institute since moving to Las Vegas earlier this year. In due time, the 28-year-old bantamweight says he’ll be training and instructing at a new gym his head coach UFC veteran Tony Fryklund is opening.

“Coach Tony’s the man,” Morales said. “Literally every training session we’ve ever had, I always learn something new. It’s been a solid three, I think we’re going on four years now working together. I’m super grateful and I know he’s excited to be able to share that with more people. So I can’t wait for this gym to get up and running.”

As for when he’d like to get back in action, Morales isn’t particular—as long as it’s sometime sooner rather than later. One card that did spike his interest was UFC Sacramento in July, which already features his cousin Ricky Simon in the co-main event.

“I’d like to get on the Sacramento card with Ricky Simon and [Urijah] Faber on there,” Morales said. “I’d love to be that card.”

Morales, 28, says he feels he’s in an awkward middle position in the 135-pound division. Stuck between being a contender and someone trying to still build his skills, Morales says it’s all about proving himself to the fans.

“In my mind, as the fighters we are, we’re always looking at the top guys,” Morales said. “So that whole last card with the three or four bantamweight fights on that card. I was looking at all of those guys like trying to figure out which one of them could be next. But I know they’re higher up the rankings and I’ve got to prove my worth and doing my thing. Really anybody in front of me, I’m ready for it.

“To the fans and stuff, I know I’ve got to prove it. I’ve got to get my UFC cred [up]. I want to prove my worth. I know once I am up there, I’m going to be a handful for a lot of these guys.”

Is there a specific name Morales has in mind for his next challenge? When pressed on the issue, Morales reviewed the roster and came up with a name.

“[Brad] Katona would be a good one,” Morales said. “I think that would be a fun fight.”

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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