A thrilling five-round welterweight clash between veteran fighter and former title challenger Gilbert Burns and rising 170-pounder Michael Morales headlined UFC Vegas 106. The contest turned out to be a short-lived affair.
Morales entered the fight undefeated with an impressive 17-0 record. On the other hand, Burns had lost three fights in a row before UFC Vegas 106, including one to former welterweight champion Belal Muhammad.
UFC Vegas 106: Gilbert Burns vs. Michael Morales Recap and Highlights
Round 1
Burns landed a brutal leg kick to open the fight. Morales responded with a leg kick of his own. Both welterweights managed to land shots on each other’s heads.
“Durinho” threw a head kick, but Morales blocked it. Morales landed a heavy right hand on Burns. The Brazilian responded by landing a two-punch combo. Morales threw a leg kick and connected with several heavy blows seconds later.
Burns went for a takedown and scored it, but Morales got back up on his feet quickly. Morales landed a clean right hand and then started to throw a barrage of punches, which resulted in the referee stepping in and stopping the fight.
Michael Morales destroys Gilbert Burns in round 1! #UFCVegas106 pic.twitter.com/oOqxatf1oP
— TakeruCigarra (@TakeruCigarra)
UFC Vegas 106: Gilbert Burns vs. Michael Morales Result
The fight came to an end in the first round as Morales scored a TKO victory. The event marked the first time Burns suffered a first-round knockout loss at welterweight.
Morales extended his undefeated professional MMA record to 18-0. With six straight wins in the UFC, he is now riding the third-longest active winning streak in the promotion’s 170-pound division.
After the incredible knockout win, Morales spoke to Michael Bisping for his UFC Vegas 106 post-fight Octagon interview. During his time on the mic, the Ecuadorian shared that he was nervous for the fight back in the locker room. Morales then proceeded to dedicate the victory to his mother, who was present in the crowd at the UFC APEX Facility.
“This was tough work, hard work… I was really, really nervous back there in the locker room,” shared Morales. “This is to my mom, she’s right there… Mom, this victory is to you.”
In addition to Burns, Morales has defeated the likes of Neil Magny, Max Griffin, and Jake Matthews during his short stint in the UFC. He is currently ranked at the 12th spot in the UFC welterweight rankings. The 25-year-old has a good chance of entering the top 10 when the UFC rankings get updated next week.
38-year-old Burns, on the other hand, has now lost four fights in a row. Considering his age and the recent record, the road to another title shot seems far away for “Durinho.”