Michael Morales (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) remained undefeated and earned the biggest win of his career Saturday night at the UFC Apex.
The Ecuadorian welterweight stopped former title challenger Gilbert Burns (22-9 MMA, 15-9 UFC) at 3:39 of the first round in their five-round main event.
Morales entered the bout ranked No. 12 in the division—four spots below Burns—and this victory is expected to propel him into the top 10 when the updated rankings are released in the coming days.
UFC Vegas 106 Bonus Winners
The following fighters picked up an extra $50,000 for their performances on Saturday night.
Performance of the Night: Denise Gomes
In the women's strawweight division, Denise Gomes (11-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC) delivered a commanding second-round TKO victory over Elise Reed (8-5 MMA, 4-5 UFC). Gomes unleashed a barrage of strikes that overwhelmed Reed, prompting the referee to halt the bout at 0:30 of Round 2. This victory marked Gomes' third finish in seven UFC appearances and extended her current winning streak to three .
Performance of the Night: Michael Morales
Undefeated welterweight Michael Morales (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) made a significant statement by defeating former title challenger Gilbert Burns (22-9 MMA, 15-9 UFC) via first-round TKO at 3:39. Morales showcased his striking prowess by dropping Burns twice before securing the stoppage, marking the first time Burns had been finished by strikes since 2018 .
Fight of the Night: Melquizael Costa vs. Julian Erosa
The featherweight bout between Melquizael Costa (24-7 MMA, 5-2 UFC) and Julian Erosa (31-12 MMA, 9-8 UFC) earned the Fight of the Night bonus. Costa secured a unanimous decision victory with scores of 29–28 across all three judges, but Erosa's relentless pressure throughout the fight kept the contest competitive and engaging .
Full UFC Vegas 106 Results
- Michael Morales def. Gilbert Burns via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 3:39
- Mairon Santos def. Sodiq Yusuff via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Nursulton Ruziboev def. Dustin Stoltzfus via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Melquizael Costa def. Julian Erosa via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Gabe Green def. Matheus Camilo via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 3:43
- Jared Gordon def. Thiago Moises via KO (punch) - Round 1, 3:37
- Yadier del Valle def. Connor Matthews via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:54
- Luana Santos def. Tainara Lisboa via submission (Americana) – Round 2, 4:59
- Denise Gomes def. Elise Reed via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 0:30
- Hyun Sung Park def. Carlos Hernandez via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:26
- Tecia Pennington def. Luana Pinheiro via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
