UFC Vegas 106, hosted at UFC Apex Centre in Las Vegas, and while the card might not have been stacked with superstars, it turned out to be a night of serious action, breakout performances, and one big disappointment.
The main event kicked off with Gilbert Burns vs. Michael Morales. Michael Morales won the fight by TKO in the first round at 3:39. This fight was highly anticipated, with Morales looking to maintain his undefeated streak and Burns aiming to prove he’s still a top contender in the welterweight division.
From the moment Morales entered the octagon wearing purple shorts, followed by Burns in yellow, the tension was palpable. Both fighters were thoroughly checked before stepping into the cage, but it was Morales who came out firing first, setting the tone for what would be a dominant performance.
As soon as the fight kicked off, Morales took control right away with aggressive and powerful striking. He kept the pressure on Burns, landing strong punches that quickly took a toll on the more experienced fighter. Burns, who is known for his grappling skills, had a hard time getting close or executing his strategy because Morales dominated the stand-up exchanges.
Morales kept up the relentless attack, and the referee stopped the fight at 3:39 in the first round, giving Morales a TKO victory. This win improved Morales’s record to 18-0 and showed he’s a serious contender in the welterweight division. For Burns, it was a tough loss, as he couldn’t recover from the early pressure and now has to think about what’s next
for his career. Burns’ last win came over Neil Magny back in January 2023 and now, the questions about what’s next for him are loud.
Following his defeat, Burns issued a statement on instagram praising his rival and promising to do better moving forward.
“ Thankful for this journey! I’m still super blessed! Of course, it] wasn’t the outcome I was looking forward to, especially for this one. I work extremely hard, who saw, saw, but it’s the fight game and it’s life! Congrats to Michael Morales, wishing you and your team all the success! That’s is it no sad stories! Grateful for this beautiful journey and for all
the lessons! God is good all the time! All honors, praise, and glory are given to him in a win or defeat! ”
In the co-main event of UFC Vegas 106, Sodiq Yusuff faced . Mairon Santos. The bout was initially supposed to feature Paul Craig vs. Rodolfo Bellato but was cancelled last-minute after Bellato wasn’t medically cleared. Despite the last minute replacement, Santos didn’t waste any chance and put on an impressive performance. He came into the octagon confident, and landed some slick shots.
At one point, he was even throwing slaps mid-combo, catching Yusuff off
guard and making it clear he wasn’t just another name on the card. He controlled most of the fight and walked away with a clean unanimous decision. When interviewed post-fight, Santos kept it real, humble, but it was obvious he knew he just made a big impression.
Then came Nursulton Ruziboev vs. Dustin Stoltzfus, and man , though it didn’t last long. Ruziboev is a problem. He clipped Dustin early with a sneaky right hand, followed up with ground and pound. First-round KO and another highlight for Nursulton, who’s quietly building a name for himself in the division.
Earlier on the main card, Julian Erosa vs. Melquizael Costa was one of the more technical matchups of the night. Watching Julian Erosa fight is always exciting because of his heart and grit, but tonight Melquizael Costa really surprised everyone with a smart and precise performance that ended with a second-round submission. In the first round, Erosa showed his usual slick boxing and landed some good combos, but Costa stayed patient, landing calf
kicks and sneaky lefts from his southpaw stance.
In the second round, Costa timed things perfectly, he slipped a jab, took Erosa down easily, and then used solid jiu-jitsu to lock in a choke. Erosa tried to fight it off, but Costa’s grip was too strong and Erosa had to tap. This win puts Costa on the map, showing he’s calm, smart, and knows how to finish. For Erosa, it’s a tough loss, but his heart and determination still make him a fan favorite.
UFC Vegas 106 might’ve been a bit under the radar, but it featured a lot to talk about. Micheal showed he’s a real contender, Santos proved he’s sticking around, Costa impressed with a smart submission over Erosa, and every fighter brought their heart. The division’s heating up, and there’s definitely more action to look forward to next weekend.
