Michael Morales made a strong statement to the welterweight division by decisively defeating Gilbert Burns with a brutal first-round stoppage in the main event of UFC Vegas 106.
In this latest performance, the 25-year-old transitioned from a promising prospect to a true contender, overwhelming Burns from their initial encounter to the end. The fight concluded after Morales landed a powerful right hand that badly hurt the seasoned Brazilian fighter, sending him to the ground.
Burns attempted a last-ditch effort for survival by grabbing a leg, but this proved only a momentary respite. Morales quickly escaped and resumed his relentless attack. When Burns fell to the canvas for the second time, referee Herb Dean stopped the bout, with the official time being just 3:39 of the first round.
This win improves Morales`s professional record to 18-0, including an unblemished 6-0 mark within the UFC.
Following the victory, Morales commented, “This was tough work, hard work, always. Honestly, every fight feels tough to me, and I always get nervous. I was extremely nervous in the locker rooms before the fight. But they told me to trust myself, trust my abilities, trust my potential. We put in the work, and we made it happen.”
He added, “My mom told me this, my grandma told me this. My mom is right here, and she told me, ‘Put that heavy hand to work, and the rest will be history.’ This win is for my mom. She’s here.”
It was a truly impressive performance by Morales, marking a significant step up in competition as he headlined his first main event on Saturday.
Utilizing his notable size and reach advantage, Morales aimed to control the distance from the outset, keeping Burns at the end of his strikes by exploding forward and quickly retreating.
Around the midpoint of the first round, Morales unleashed a flurry of punches, attempting to overwhelm Burns. Burns responded by immediately diving for a leg to secure a brief takedown, but the Ecuadorian welterweight swiftly escaped to return to his feet.
From that point, Morales truly began unleashing his punches with apparent confidence, as Burns was visibly struggling to withstand the onslaught. After Burns was first dropped, he attempted to use his grappling to slow the pace, but Morales was having absolutely none of it.
The moment Morales broke free from Burns`s hold, he initiated a barrage of strikes that effectively neutralized his opponent, sending him collapsing to the canvas once more. Morales displayed a clear killer instinct in finishing Burns within the opening round.
This victory undeniably propels Morales significantly up the welterweight rankings, and he appears ready for any challenge the division presents next.
Morales stated, “I knew the entire welterweight division would be paying attention to me. They’re going to come at me like sharks, everyone trying to take my head off. But I’ll tell you, I’m always ready. Ready to go, whoever they want me to fight. As long as I’m healthy and prepared, I’ll be ready for them.”
Regarding Burns, the 38-year-old veteran now faces his fourth consecutive loss. This recent defeat is likely particularly difficult, as it came against a rising prospect rather than a proven top contender like those he lost to in his previous three bouts: current champion Jack Della Maddalena, Belal Muhammad, and Sean Brady.
