Full 11-bout lineup for UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Morales announced
The UFC is heading back to the Apex in a big way.
The UFC is heading back to the Apex in a big way.
Gilbert Burns will face Michael Morales at welterweight in the main event of an 11-bout Fight Night card on May 17, the promotion announced Thursday.
A light heavyweight bout between Paul Craig and Rodolfo Bellato will be the co-main event.
Burns (22-8) will be fighting for the first time in 2025. The eighth-ranked contender is looking to get back into the win column after losing his last three fights. Burns had won nine of his previous 11 bouts at 170 pounds.
Morales (17-0) is set to make his UFC main card debut. After finishing Neil Magny, Jake Matthews and Max Griffin, the Mexican fighter now faces his highest-ranked opponent. A win for No. 12 Morales would vault him into the top 10.
In the co-main, Craig (17-9-1) is looking for his first win since July 2023. A submission specialist, Craig owns victories over current No. 10-ranked Nikita Krylov and champion Magomed Ankalaev.
Bellato (12-2-1) is set to fight for the third time in the UFC after competing on Dana White’s Contender Series. The 29-year-old is known to be a finisher, with 11 of his 12 wins coming before the final bell.
Also on the card:
Julien Erosa vs. Melquizael Costa at featherweight
Sodiq Yusuff vs. Mairon Santos at lightweight
Jared Gordon vs. Thiago Moises at lightweight
Gabe Green vs. Matheus Camilo at lightweight
Dustin Stoltzfus vs. Nursulton Ruziboev at middleweight
No. 14 Luana Pinheiro vs. No. 15 Tecia Pennington at strawweight
Elise Reed vs. Denise Gomes at strawweight
HyunSung Park vs. Carlos Hernandez at flyweight
Luana Santos vs. Tainara Lisboa at bantamweight
