UFC Fight Night: Morales makes emphatic statement, adds intrigue to welterweight title chase
Michael Morales wanted to make sure that his name was included in all conversations about the collection of ascending talents making headway in the welterweight division at the moment, and did so in emphatic fashion on Saturday, closing out the UFC’s return to Las Vegas with a first-round stoppage win over former title challenger Gilbert Burns. The 25-year-old from Ecuador looked unbothered by the moment or the man standing across from him in his first main event assignment, immediately taking the center of the cage and using his length to keep Burns on the outside. He landed a handful of clean individual shots early, but once he got his range and timing, the Dana White’s Contender Series grad started to open up and really put it on the Top 15 mainstay. Morales hurt Burns with a barrage along the fence, but was keen to take his time, which gave the Brazilian a chance to force a clinch exchange that the unbeaten rising star dealt with expertly. From there, he went on the hunt again, further stinging Burns and forcing the stoppage just under four minutes into the contest. This was a statement effort from a quiet, yet promising talent that has until now been relegated to the second tier of ascending names in the division. No one had dispatched Burns this swiftly since he’d moved to welterweight, including current champ Jack Della Maddalena, former titleholder Belal Muhammad, and top contender Sean Brady. Even impending middleweight title challenger Khamzat Chimaev couldn’t finish Burns, which underscores just how impressive a performance Morales turned in on Saturday evening. He’s now 6-0 in the UFC with consecutive first-round stoppage wins, with a place in the Top 10 waiting for him when the rankings update early next week. There have been a ton of impressive outings in the 170-pound ranks over the last couple months, creating heaps of interesting potential matchups in the second half of the year. Morales deserves mention alongside the likes of Joaquin Buckley, Ian Machado Garry, and Sean Brady as serious contenders that are no more than a couple wins away from meriting a championship opportunity, and after his performance in Las Vegas this weekend, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him paired off with one of those men next time out. COSTA, RUZIBOEV KEEP ROLLING Melquizael Costa and Nursulton Ruziboev each garnered victories earlier this year in Seattle, and Saturday night, the duo doubled up in the win column again. Competing for the third time already this year, Costa earned a unanimous decision win over game veteran Julian Erosa in a bout where he looked outstanding early and was forced to hold on down the stretch. The improving Brazilian featherweight’s striking looked crisp to start, as he wobbled Erosa multiple times, and though he slowed in the final round, he continued to land solid individual shots and prevent the Las Vegas-based veteran from garnering enough momentum to shift the cards in his favour. One fight later, Ruziboev pushed his record to 4-0 in the UFC when competing in the middleweight division with a grimy, bloody win over Dustin Stoltzfus. The Marquez MMA representative got dazed by a clash of heads early and was forced to defend a solid guillotine choke attempt soon after, but once he returned to his feet, Ruziboev was able to consistently get the better of the exchanges. He blew up Stoltzfus’ nose with a nice uppercut early in the second and continued to have the greater success down the stretch to secure the win. Costa is now 3-0 this year and riding a four-fight winning streak overall, while Ruziboev continues to establish himself as a dark horse in the 185-pound weight class. The gruelling nature of their respective clashes this weekend should slow their activity just a little, but be sure to keep an eye on each of these ascending talents whenever they do return later this year. YOUNG BRAZILIANS TO WATCH TUF 32 featherweight winner Mairon Santos moved up to lightweight on Saturday and registered the biggest win of his career, earning a clean sweep of the scorecards against Sodiq Yusuff. The 24-year-old was sharp from the outset, landing the better strikes throughout the first two rounds, including a right high kick that cut Yusuff and a series of stiff jabs that registered clean as well. Though his output slowed over the final five minutes, Santos remained in control of the exchanges, showing quality takedown defence and looking well suited to competing in the 155-pound weight class. Santos debuted earlier this year with a debated decision win over Francis Marshall at 145 pounds, but won handily here. He’s 17-1 overall, has won four straight, and training with the team at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas ensures that he’s going to continue to get outstanding coaching and to work with a wide array of elite training partners as he aims to continue working forward. On the prelims, both Denise Gomes and Luana Santos turned in dominant
Michael Morales wanted to make sure that his name was included in all conversations about the collection of ascending talents making headway in the welterweight division at the moment, and did so in emphatic fashion on Saturday, closing out the UFC’s return to Las Vegas with a first-round stoppage win over former title challenger Gilbert Burns.
The 25-year-old from Ecuador looked unbothered by the moment or the man standing across from him in his first main event assignment, immediately taking the center of the cage and using his length to keep Burns on the outside. He landed a handful of clean individual shots early, but once he got his range and timing, the Dana White’s Contender Series grad started to open up and really put it on the Top 15 mainstay.
Morales hurt Burns with a barrage along the fence, but was keen to take his time, which gave the Brazilian a chance to force a clinch exchange that the unbeaten rising star dealt with expertly. From there, he went on the hunt again, further stinging Burns and forcing the stoppage just under four minutes into the contest.
This was a statement effort from a quiet, yet promising talent that has until now been relegated to the second tier of ascending names in the division. No one had dispatched Burns this swiftly since he’d moved to welterweight, including current champ Jack Della Maddalena, former titleholder Belal Muhammad, and top contender Sean Brady. Even impending middleweight title challenger Khamzat Chimaev couldn’t finish Burns, which underscores just how impressive a performance Morales turned in on Saturday evening.
He’s now 6-0 in the UFC with consecutive first-round stoppage wins, with a place in the Top 10 waiting for him when the rankings update early next week. There have been a ton of impressive outings in the 170-pound ranks over the last couple months, creating heaps of interesting potential matchups in the second half of the year.
Morales deserves mention alongside the likes of Joaquin Buckley, Ian Machado Garry, and Sean Brady as serious contenders that are no more than a couple wins away from meriting a championship opportunity, and after his performance in Las Vegas this weekend, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him paired off with one of those men next time out.
COSTA, RUZIBOEV KEEP ROLLING
Melquizael Costa and Nursulton Ruziboev each garnered victories earlier this year in Seattle, and Saturday night, the duo doubled up in the win column again.
Competing for the third time already this year, Costa earned a unanimous decision win over game veteran Julian Erosa in a bout where he looked outstanding early and was forced to hold on down the stretch. The improving Brazilian featherweight’s striking looked crisp to start, as he wobbled Erosa multiple times, and though he slowed in the final round, he continued to land solid individual shots and prevent the Las Vegas-based veteran from garnering enough momentum to shift the cards in his favour.
One fight later, Ruziboev pushed his record to 4-0 in the UFC when competing in the middleweight division with a grimy, bloody win over Dustin Stoltzfus.
The Marquez MMA representative got dazed by a clash of heads early and was forced to defend a solid guillotine choke attempt soon after, but once he returned to his feet, Ruziboev was able to consistently get the better of the exchanges. He blew up Stoltzfus’ nose with a nice uppercut early in the second and continued to have the greater success down the stretch to secure the win.
Costa is now 3-0 this year and riding a four-fight winning streak overall, while Ruziboev continues to establish himself as a dark horse in the 185-pound weight class. The gruelling nature of their respective clashes this weekend should slow their activity just a little, but be sure to keep an eye on each of these ascending talents whenever they do return later this year.
YOUNG BRAZILIANS TO WATCH
TUF 32 featherweight winner Mairon Santos moved up to lightweight on Saturday and registered the biggest win of his career, earning a clean sweep of the scorecards against Sodiq Yusuff.
The 24-year-old was sharp from the outset, landing the better strikes throughout the first two rounds, including a right high kick that cut Yusuff and a series of stiff jabs that registered clean as well. Though his output slowed over the final five minutes, Santos remained in control of the exchanges, showing quality takedown defence and looking well suited to competing in the 155-pound weight class.
Santos debuted earlier this year with a debated decision win over Francis Marshall at 145 pounds, but won handily here. He’s 17-1 overall, has won four straight, and training with the team at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas ensures that he’s going to continue to get outstanding coaching and to work with a wide array of elite training partners as he aims to continue working forward.
On the prelims, both Denise Gomes and Luana Santos turned in dominant efforts on Saturday’s prelims, with each of the 25-year-old Brazilians collecting second-round stoppage wins.
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Gomes, who earned her spot on the roster with a win on Season 6 of Dana White’s Contender Series, collected her third straight victory by putting away Elise Reed early in the middle frame. She hurt her American counterpart in the early stages of the first as the two exchanged on the feet, then controlled things on the ground for the remainder of the frame, only to drop Reed and secure the finish just 30 seconds after the round began.
In the very next fight, Santos came out and put her grappling acumen on full display against the returning Lisboa. She spent the opening round controlling from top position, but doing little damage as her compatriot did well to create space and recover positions. In the second, however, Santos went from a scarf-hold position to mount, and after hearing the 10-second clackers, she pounced on an Americana, becoming the first female fighter to secure a UFC victory with the shoulder lock.
Gomes should find herself in the rankings when they update next week, as she’s won three straight and five of her last six, with her lone setback coming against divisional stalwart Angela Hill. Santos, who has bounced around between divisions, looked her best here, and could make a quick climb in the 135-pound weight class if she opts to stick around long term.
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Each has already garnered a lot of solid experience inside the Octagon, having far more success than struggle, and as they each continue to round out their skills and keep approaching their athletic primes, we could very well hear much more from them in their respective divisions.
OCTAGON ODDS & ENDS
Great return to action and lightweight debut for Gabe Green to close out Saturday’s prelims. The Californian survived a deep triangle choke attempt from newcomer Matheus Camilo early in the second, working to top position and then the back, where he then sunk in a choke of his own.
Following a handful of frustrating results and a fight cancellation at the 11th hour earlier this year, Jared Gordon closed out the prelims with a much-needed knockout win over Thiago Moises. The lightweight veteran is a perennial tough out and should get an opportunity to fight forward in the talent-rich 155-pound weight class next time out after an emphatic finish of Moises here.
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Add Yadier Del Valle to the growing list of fascinating prospects to come off Season 8 of Dana White’s Contender Series. The 28-year-old Cuban featherweight mauled Connor Matthews in his promotional debut on Saturday, securing the first-round submission win to advance to 9-0 overall.
HyunSung Park made his case to be included in what should be an action-packed second half of the year on Saturday, returning from injury to run through Carlos Hernandez. The South Korean Road to UFC tournament winner battered the body of the Dana White’s Contender Series grad before dragging him to the canvas, climbing on his back, and quickly sinking in the fight-ending choke to move to 10-0 overall.
Good win for Tecia Pennington to kick off the card. The Ultimate Fighter Season 20 alum has the second-most wins in strawweight history and remains a permanent fixture in the rankings, underscoring both her longevity and competitiveness over the course of her lengthy UFC career.
