UFC Fight Night: Morales vs. Burns Preview

Published by Paul Browne on May 15, 2025

UFC Vegas 106: Rising Stars, Redemption Arcs, and High-Stakes Clashes Set for Las Vegas

The UFC Apex in Las Vegas will once again be the battleground this Saturday night, as UFC Vegas 106 delivers a stacked main card featuring surging contenders and veteran warriors. Headlined by a pivotal welterweight clash, the event could shake up multiple divisions. Here’s a breakdown of the key matchups fans can expect:

Main Event: Michael Morales vs. Gilbert Burns

Unbeaten Ecuadorian standout Michael Morales (17-0, 5-0 UFC) steps into the spotlight for the biggest test of his career, taking on former title challenger Gilbert Burns (22-8, 15-8 UFC). Morales has looked unstoppable since joining the UFC in 2022, and with a win over the eighth-ranked Burns, he could position himself firmly in the welterweight title conversation—joining names like Joaquin Buckley and Ian Machado Garry as rising threats at 170 pounds.

Burns, meanwhile, is searching for a much-needed bounce-back after enduring the roughest stretch of his UFC career. He enters the bout on a three-fight losing streak, having dropped bouts to Belal Muhammad, Jack Della Maddalena, and Sean Brady.

Co-Main Event: Paul Craig vs. Rodolfo Bellato

Paul Craig (17-9-1, 9-9-1 UFC) returns to the light heavyweight division after a tough spell at 185 pounds. Despite starting strong at middleweight with a submission win over Andre Muniz, the Scottish veteran lost his next three outings. Now back at 205 pounds, where he holds a submission victory over current champ Magomed Ankalaev, Craig looks to make a statement.

This weekend, he’ll try to tie Glover Teixeira’s record for most submission wins in UFC light heavyweight history (7) when he takes on Rodolfo Bellato (12-2-1, 1-0-1 UFC). The Brazilian prospect last fought to a majority draw with Jimmy Crute in February and hopes to secure his first definitive UFC win.

Sodiq Yusuff vs. Mairon Santos

Featherweight veteran Sodiq Yusuff (13-4, 6-3 UFC) makes his lightweight debut on Saturday in a pivotal matchup against Mairon Santos (15-1, 2-0 UFC), a promising alum of The Ultimate Fighter Season 32. After suffering losses to Edson Barboza and Diego Lopes, Yusuff aims to revive his momentum in a new division.

Santos, representing Xtreme Couture, has impressed early in his UFC run. He scored a knockout win over Kaan Ofli in his debut last August, followed by a decision victory over Francis Marshall at UFC 313. A win over Yusuff would further establish him as a rising threat at 155 pounds.

Nursulton Ruziboev vs. Dustin Stoltzfus

Explosive finisher Nursulton Ruziboev (35-9-2, 3-1 UFC) returns to action against seasoned competitor Dustin Stoltzfus (16-6, 3-5 UFC). Ruziboev has built a reputation as a thrilling fighter to watch, with three stoppage victories in his UFC career. His only setback came via decision against Joaquin Buckley, but he remains a dangerous presence in the division.

Stoltzfus looks to derail the Uzbek striker’s rise and get his own UFC career back on track in what promises to be a high-action matchup.

Main Card Opener: Melquizael Costa vs. Julian Erosa

Kicking off the main card, Melquizael Costa (23-7, 4-2 UFC) continues his relentless 2025 campaign with his third fight of the year, this time taking on fan-favorite Julian Erosa (30-11, 9-7 UFC). Costa has already earned victories over Andre Fili and Christian Rodriguez this year and aims to keep that momentum going.

Erosa is also returning on short notice after his brutal finish of Darren Elkins at UFC 314. Since rejoining the UFC in 2020, “Juicy J” has posted a solid 8-3 record and remains a dangerous and unpredictable opponent for anyone in the division.