Excitement On Main Card Saturday, May 17

UFC Vegas 106 struggle week continues forward of the ultimate UFC Combat Night time earlier than the promotion recesses subsequent weekend in observance of the Memorial Day vacation inside the USA. Saturday, the UFC returns to Enterprise, NV and the UFC Apex facility for this week’s card.

For those who’re going to be watching UFC Vegas 106 in America, stay protection of the present begins with the undercard fights at 4 pm ET/ 1 pm PT on ESPN+. Fundamental card fights cap the night at 7 pm ET/ 4 pm PT on the subscription-based streamer.

Barring any late postponements or cancellations to the bout order between now and Saturday evening, the ultimate model of the cardboard will function a schedule of 12 MMA fights from the No. 1 promotion on the earth.

UFC Vegas 106 Fundamental Occasion: No. 8 Contender Gilbert Burns vs. No. 12 Contender Michael Morales

On the prime of the invoice this coming weekend is a welterweight affair matching No. 8 contender Gilbert Burns (22-8 MMA, 15-8 UFC) towards No. 12 contender Michael Morales  (17-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC.) This was a struggle that had been initially booked to happen final weekend throughout UFC 315, however in April, promotion officers moved it off of the Montreal occasion to the principle occasion slot right here.

This headlining affair is an marketed most of 5 rounds at 5 minutes per spherical to shut out the present. Gilbert Burns enters the UFC Vegas 106 most important occasion on Saturday evening with a file of 2-3 in his final 5 bouts. He’s on a three-fight shedding streak, nevertheless.

Final trip, Burns dropped a unanimous determination defeat to Sean Brady (18-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) on the similar UFC Apex facility on Sept. 7 of final 12 months. He not too long ago talked about the rationale behind taking the struggle this weekend.

“I used to be like Michael Morales years in the past,” Burns stated in an interview. “I used to be making noise, making my option to the highest and Demian Maia [and] Gunnar Nelson gave me that chance. I really feel like I’ve to do the identical. It’s a take a look at. If I am going and win, I knock him off and he can have one other alternative sooner or later, however he wants a possibility and who am I to say no?”

Will the chance Gilbert Burns provides Michael Morales outcome within the begin of a brand new profitable streak? Tune in Saturday and discover out.

In the meantime, Michael Morales touches down in Nevada this weekend for UFC Vegas 106 having but to lose as an expert within the sport of MMA. Final August, he bested Neil Magny (29-13 MMA, 22-12 UFC) by means of first-round knockout resulting from floor and pound strikes throughout UFC Vegas 96 on the Apex facility.

He’s been on a tear ever since turning professional and a win within the UFC Vegas 106 most important occasion will virtually assuredly give him a spot contained in the top-10 at 170 lbs as early as this coming Monday morning. Solely time will inform if his file will transfer to 18-0 this weekend.

UFC Vegas 106 Co-Fundamental Occasion: Rodolfo Bellato vs. Paul Craig

Instantly beforehand, the co-main occasion of the night occurs at gentle heavyweight. Rodolfo Bellato (12-2-1 MMA, 1-0-1 UFC) squares off towards Paul Craig (17-9-1, 9-9-1 UFC). This struggle is a three-round affair at 5 minutes every.

Bellato comes into the weekend with a 4-0-1 file in his final 5 fights. Again in February, he noticed his struggle versus Jimmy Crute (12-4-2 MMA, 4-4-2 UFC) finish in a majority draw after quarter-hour of motion.

Throughout Wednesday’s media availability, Bellato talked about that he’s wanting to return.

“I discovered so much from that struggle, really,” Rodolfo Bellato advised the press, via his translator, “plenty of errors, plenty of issues that I may look again at. Since I didn’t struggle final 12 months, I wish to stay lively, so I needed to get again in right here as [quickly] as doable, for certain.”

With simply over three months in-between fights, will Rodolfo Bellato’s fast turnaround in UFC Vegas 106 spell a victory or the top of a five-match unbeaten streak?

Throughout the way in which, Paul Craig has posted a mark of 1-4 in his final 5 MMA appearances. In the meanwhile, he’s dropped three fights in a row.

Final November, from Madison Sq. Backyard in New York Metropolis, he dropped a unanimous determination loss by the hands of Bo Nickal (7-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) throughout UFC 309. Craig is reeling going into UFC Vegas 106. To search out the final time that he had a sustained unbeaten streak in MMA, you’d must journey again in time to September of 2019 via March of 2022. Throughout that window, he went 5-0-1 in six bouts.

Can Craig get off the skid at UFC Vegas 106?

UFC Vegas 106: Sodiq Yusuff vs. Mairon Santos

Additionally on the UFC Vegas 106 most important card this coming weekend, you’ll be handled to a light-weight affair pitting Sodiq Yusuff (13-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC) towards Mairon Santos (15-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC.) Yusuff will probably be making the stroll to the well-known Octagon this Saturday having posted a file of 2-3 in his final 5 appearances.

Presently, he’s on a two-fight skid within the aftermath of a two-fight profitable streak. In April of final 12 months, he was on the receiving finish of a first-round knockout from Diego Lopes (26-7 MMA, 5-2 UFC) in the course of the landmark UFC 300 from T-Cellular Area in Las Vegas.

Yusuff has been out of motion for greater than a full 12 months’s time. How a lot ring rust does he have going into this contest?

Within the different nook, Mairon Santos is available in on short-notice, having solely been scheduled to struggle Yusuff final month. He’s gone 4-1 in his final 5 skilled bouts. This previous March, by means of cut up determination, Santos emerged victorious over Francis Marshall (8-3 MMA, 2-3 UFC) in a featherweight contest

Saturday’s struggle occurs at 155 as a result of Santos accepted the struggle on short-notice and he revealed in the course of the media session this week that he wanted to drop 40 lbs simply to get to the featherweight restrict, one thing that would immediate a extra everlasting transfer to light-weight.

“If I can’t be near featherweight, I’d transfer up [to the lightweight division]”, he stated to the media Wednesday. “I wish to be lively. That’s my job, so I wish to work, however after the struggle, we’ll know higher.”

A swap to the 155-lb division regularly stays to be seen. How will Santos fare at light-weight this week?

Last Ideas

Which most important card struggle or fights are you wanting ahead to for UFC Vegas 106? Tell us within the feedback.