Morales Knocks Out Burns: Meteoric Rise of the Ecuadorian in UFC Welterweight

Michael Morales Imposes His Power in the Welterweight Division, Knocking Out Gilbert Burns

In a stellar event that shook the sports world, the promising undefeated fighter Michael Morales proved his worth by knocking out Gilbert Burns in the first round. The fight, which took place in Las Vegas, marked a milestone in Morales’ career and solidified his position in the welterweight division.

Morales (18-0) stopped Burns (22-9) with strikes at 3 minutes and 39 seconds of the first round in the welterweight main event at UFC Fight Night held at the Apex. Morales repeatedly punished Burns with the uppercut, culminating in a series of strikes along the cage that sealed the victory.

With this victory, Morales, 25, has a 6-0 record in the UFC, with four knockouts to his name.

“Every fight is tough, but I was very nervous in the locker room,” Morales commented through an interpreter. “They told me: ‘Trust yourself, trust what you can do, trust your potential.’ We worked hard and made it possible. My mother and my grandmother told me to hit hard and the rest would be easy.”

Michael Morales

This victory represents a significant achievement for Morales, who entered the fight as number 12 in the UFC welterweight rankings. Burns, ranked at number 8, is a high-caliber opponent, and this fight marked the first time that Morales, born in Ecuador and trained in Mexico, faced an opponent of his level. Furthermore, it was his first appearance in a UFC main event.

From the start, Morales showed great confidence. He connected with an early right hand and, moments later, hurt Burns with an uppercut. Burns attempted a takedown, achieving one to buy time, but Morales got up quickly and finally landed the final sequence of blows next to the cage.

Burns, 38, has suffered four consecutive losses, but his opponents have been elite. His last three losses were against former champion Belal Muhammad, current champion Jack Della Maddalena, and number one contender Sean Brady. Morales was looking to prove he could compete at the same level as these fighters, and he did so convincingly.

Morales dedicated the victory to his mother, who was present at the event. His last two victories have been by knockout in the first round. In August, he knocked out veteran Neil Magny, taking home the “Performance of the Night” award.