Michael Morales has always known combat. Always smiling and having a positive aura, he learnt the art of fighting from his parents. He has been fighting professionally since he was 18, and the undefeated 25-year-old garnered 5 wins in a row, earning his contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in no time. Morales had 11 fights under his belt before fighting at the UFC APEX for his Dana White’s Contender Series bout. “Ever since I started fighting, I was facing veterans of the sport, people who were older than me,” Morales said to UFC. “I’ve been working hard because I know that everyone wants to rip my head off, so I know I have a target on my back. I’m training harder because of that.”

The welterweight star with 17-0-0 and #12 in the rankings is from the small town of Pasaje, located in the province of El Oro, Ecuador. The proud Ecuadorian is another amazing fighter representing his home country, other than Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera.  Born on June 24, 1999, the 25-year-old comes from a family that is rooted in combat sports. His parents were both judokas, and Morales followed their path. He began training in judo at age five and ten, he had switched to wrestling. His mother,  Katty Hurtado, is a third-degree judo black belt back in Ecuador. Naturally he was also a fighter by blood and Morales did not disappoint when he came into the UFC and racked up back-to-back wins, his last one coming against Neil Magny.

Morlaes started things off with a spinning back elbow after the two were on the fence and sent Magny stumbling down the canvas. He maintained control and started pouring the shots to get the advantage. He won via KO/TKO in Round 1 and was naturally awarded a bonus for his amazing victory. It was his first bonus in the UFC, and all proceeds were redirected immediately to El Oro, Ecuador.

While speaking to Yahoo Sports, he said, “We’re remodeling my grandparents’ house in Ecuador, where everybody’s going to be living eventually. The whole family’s going to move in there. My grandparents, my mom, and my brothers are all going to live there — even my kids are going to live there. So, with the money, we’ve been able to make some significant changes there.”

Now that he has achieved a huge goal, he is looking at the next path where he is taking on #8 Gilbert Burns. It will be Morales’s fourth straight fight at the UFC Apex, but the first time he’s been the main event. “I’m very happy, and I’m not going to waste this main event,” Morales further said. “I wasn’t surprised. We’re talking about Gilbert Burns. We’re talking about an experienced fighter, and now we have to just make the most out of the opportunity.”

However will this fight against Gilbert Burns be an easy one to win like his previous ones? Or will this become his Achilles heel?

Gilbert Burns vs Michael Morales: Is it lucrative for Burns?

For Morales this fight is a leap to the top but for his opponent, who is at #8, does this sound lucrative? During a conversation with Hablemos MMA’s Danny Segura, ‘Durinho’ said that the undefeated welterweight prospect deserved to be in the top 10 and revealed that even though Morales is 25 years old, he has an undefeated record which deserves the spotlight. In fact Burns said that the young fighter reminded him of his own younger self.

Burns said, “I was like Michael Morales years ago. I was making noise and making my way to the top, and Damian Maia, Gunnar Nelson gave me the opportunity. I feel like I have to do the same. It’s a test. If I go and win, I knock him off, and he can have another opportunity in the future. But he needs an opportunity, and who am I to say no?”

Since the 22-8-0 star has been in the combat realm for 13 years, he knows what the newbies need to get into the spotlight. It’s almost as if he is passing the torch to the younger generation. However, he, too, is in the fight business to compete with the best and refuses to be picky. On top of that, Burns is running on a 3-fight losing streak, with his last bouts being losses against Sean Brady, Jack Della Maddalena, and Belal Muhammad. Burns has to come out of this slump.

While speaking to Kevin Iole, he said, “People ask me why I took this fight against Morales, but I don’t see it that way. I’m coming off two losses, I have to give someone the opportunity.” So maybe Burns is planning to hit two birds with one stone—get Morales the spotlight he needs and come out of the losing rut himself.

Do you think he will win this fight? Or will Morales form a new legacy? What is your prediction? Share it below!