Gilbert Burns will provide a stiff test for unbeaten rising prospect Michael Morales in the next UFC Fight Night, set for the Apex Facility in Las Vegas on the morning of Sunday, 18 May 2025.
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Gilbert Burns vs Michael Morales on Saturday 🔥 pic.twitter.com/xzSj9SnqN3
Burns (22-8) comes into the fight on the back of three straight losses at the hands of Belal Muhammad, Jack Della Maddalena and Sean Brady in the past two years, but is still ranked eighth in the division.
The 38-year-old ‘Durinho’ admits that his opponent is “high level” but insists that he “can’t afford to lose” if he is to keep alive his dream of challenging for the welterweight title again.
“I think the guy’s very good,” Burns said. “High-level, crazy finishes… He’s very tough. But as Money Moicano says, ‘I can’t afford to lose, it’s three [losses] already.’
“The injury against Belal, and then the knockout against [Jack Della Maddalena], and then the last one [against Sean Brady] for me was a hard one to swallow. Now, I’m gonna do everything in my power to perform.”
Morales (17-0) first came to prominence in Season 5 of ‘Dana White’s Contender Series’ in 2021 and has beaten Trevin Giles, Adam Fugitt, Max Griffin, Jake Matthews and Neil Magny since his official UFC debut in early 2022.
AMBITIOUS MORALES
The 25-year-old Ecuadorian has stated that he wants to become the welterweight champion within the next two years.
“I’ve always said by 27, I want to be a champion,” he explained. “You never know. Listen, at 25, Here I am. I never thought I was going to come in the UFC that early, and here I was at 21. Maybe top five, top 10 at the end of the year, and let’s see what happens.”
The rest of the main card features Paul Craig v Rodolfo Bellato in the light heavyweight division; Nigerian-American Sodiq Yussuf takes on fellow lightweight Mairon Santos; Dustin Stoltzfus faces Nursulton Ruziboev in the middleweight division; a featherweight fight pits Julian Erosa against Melquizael Costa; and Gabriel Green takes on Matheus Camilo in a lightweight match.
UFC Fight Night: Burns v Morales – Main card
- Main event: Welterweight: Gilbert Burns v Michael Morales
- Light heavyweight: Paul Craig v Rodolfo Bellato
- Lightweight: Sodiq Yussuf v Mairon Santos
- Middleweight: Dustin Stoltzfus v Nursulton Ruziboev
- Featherweight: Julian Erosa v Melquizael Costa
- Lightweight: Gabriel Green v Matheus Camilo