Originally slated for UFC 315, the welterweight clash between Gilbert Burns and Michael Morales has been moved to headline UFC Vegas 106 at the UFC APEX on May 17th in Las Vegas. This matchup features fighters on contrasting recent paths.
Gilbert Burns, a longtime top contender in the welterweight division, is looking to rebound after experiencing three consecutive losses. Despite this recent slide, the former title challenger has only faced elite competition during this stretch, including defeats to current champion Belal Muhammad, top contender Jack Della Maddalena, and the highly-ranked Sean Brady.
Burns aims to get back into the win column by being the first to defeat Michael Morales, an undefeated prospect boasting a perfect 17-0 professional record, with five of those victories coming inside the UFC octagon.
Morales` most recent performance was a dominant first-round knockout victory over veteran Neil Magny last August, earning him a Performance of the Night bonus.
In the co-main event, light heavyweights will take center stage as Paul Craig returns to the division to face Rodolfo Bellato.
Craig is returning to the 205-pound light heavyweight division where he spent the majority of his career, holding notable wins, including a submission victory over Magomed Ankalaev.
Rodolfo Bellato looks to continue his impressive finishing rate, with 11 stoppages in his 12 professional wins. His UFC appearances include a victory over Ihor Potieria in his debut and a subsequent draw against Jimmy Crute.
Confirmed Bouts for UFC Vegas 106:
- MAIN EVENT: Gilbert Burns vs. Michael Morales
- Paul Craig vs. Rodolfo Bellato
- Julian Erosa vs. Melquizael Costa
- Sodiq Yusuff vs. Mairon Santos
- Jared Gordon vs. Thiago Moises
- Gabe Green vs. Matheus Camilo
- Dustin Stoltzfus vs. Nursulton Ruziboev
- Luana Pinheiro vs. Tecia Pennington
- Elise Reed vs. Denise Gomes
- Hyun Sung Park vs. Carlos Hernandez
- Luana Santos vs. Tainara Lisboa
