UFC Fight Night Burns vs Morales: Fight card, time, telecast, live streaming info & more

Gilbert Burns will try to end his three-fight skid this week

There is nothing better than homemade cuisine. Sure, going to other places and trying the local cuisine can be enjoyable and introduce you to some new favorites, but at some point, throughout all that globetrotting, everyone craves familiar surroundings and one of their favorite meals, consumed in the comfort of their own home.

Saturday night brings the UFC equivalent of a home-cooked comfort meal: a 12-fight show from the UFC APEX, capped by a thrilling welterweight clash between Gilbert Burns and Michael Morales.

UFC Fight Night Burns vs Morales: Main card

• Gilbert Burns vs Michael Morales
• Paul Craig vs Rodolfo Bellato
• Sodiq Yusuff vs Mairon Santos
• Dustin Stoltzfus vs Nursulton Ruziboev
• Julian Erosa vs Melquizael Costa

UFC Fight Night Burns vs Morales: Preliminary card

• Gabriel Green vs Matheus Camilo
• Jared Gordon vs Thiago Moisés
• Luana Santos vs Tainara Lisboa
• Elise Reed vs Denise Gomes
• Park Hyun-sung vs Carlos Hernandez
• Tecia Pennington vs Luana Pinheiro
• Yadier Del Valle vs Connor Matthews

Gilbert Burns vs Michael Morales

Former title challenger Gilbert Burns looks to snap a three-fight skid when he headlines Saturday night’s UFC event against undefeated rising star Michael Morales.

🇧🇷 Gilbert Burns vs Michael Morales 🇪🇨Who you got?! #UFCVegas106 pic.twitter.com/mbJHHqQ4S7

— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) May 12, 2025

Returning for the first time since September, Burns is eager to re-establish himself in the welterweight ranks after setbacks against top-tier opponents Belal Muhammad, Jack Della Maddalena, and Sean Brady.

Despite his recent struggles, the 38-year-old Brazilian remains one of the toughest and most respected veterans in the division, an ideal litmus test for any prospect hoping to break into the elite.

Morales, a 17-0 Ecuadorian standout from Dana White’s Contender Series in 2021, has steadily climbed the ranks and enters the bout riding high off a first-round finish of Neil Magny last August.

That performance earned him a Performance of the Night bonus and marked his arrival as a serious threat at 170 pounds. Saturday’s matchup is a true proving ground. Can Morales rise to the occasion, or will Burns prove there’s still plenty left in the tank?

Paul Craig vs Rodolfo Bellato

The co-main event of Saturday’s UFC card features a compelling light heavyweight showdown as Rodolfo Bellato welcomes Scottish veteran Paul Craig back to the 205-pound division.

Bellato, a Dana White’s Contender Series alum, has impressed in his UFC tenure so far and is unbeaten in all but two of his 15 professional fights, both of which came at the hands of Vitor Petrino.

In his most recent outing, Bellato went to war with Jimmy Crute at UFC 312, battling to a gritty majority draw that showcased his resilience and extended his unbeaten streak to five.

🚨: Paul Craig vs. Rodolfo Bellato is officiall for May 17th at the #UFCApex. pic.twitter.com/7nIIBIFinn

— UFCDailyUpdates (@ufcdailyupdates) April 2, 2025

Meanwhile, Paul Craig returns to light heavyweight after a rough stint at middleweight, where he suffered three consecutive losses.

The former Top 10 contender initially made waves in the 205-pound division with a four-fight win streak but has since struggled to regain momentum.

Now, “BearJew” hopes to reset his career in more familiar territory. This matchup serves as a litmus test for Bellato and a potential resurgence moment for Craig.

Sodiq Yusuff vs Mairon Santos

Business picks up in the lightweight division as Sodiq Yusuff makes his divisional debut at 155 pounds against recent Ultimate Fighter winner Mairon Santos. Yusuff, a product of Dana White’s Contender Series, burst onto the UFC scene with an impressive run, winning six of his first seven bouts.

His only early loss came against elite featherweight contender Arnold Allen. However, the Nigerian standout has since hit a rough patch, suffering consecutive defeats to veterans Edson Barboza and Diego Lopes. Now, he looks for a fresh start in a new division.

Mairon Santos, meanwhile, captured attention during Season 32 of The Ultimate Fighter, improving each round before finishing Kaan Ofli in the finals to secure the featherweight tournament crown. In his UFC debut, he edged out Francis Marshall in a closely contested split decision.

This fight is a pivotal one for both men. Yusuff is aiming to reestablish himself as a contender, while Santos has the chance to prove he belongs on this stage by toppling a former ranked opponent in a new division.

Dustin Stoltzfus vs Nursulton Ruziboev

Middleweight fireworks are expected as Dustin Stoltzfus takes on Nursulton Ruziboev in what promises to be an explosive showdown on this weekend’s UFC main card. Both men have earned reputations as finishers, and their aggressive styles all but guarantee action.

Stoltzfus enters the bout with momentum after scoring a blistering first-round knockout over Marc-Andre Barriault last November in Edmonton. The Contender Series alum has alternated wins and losses in his UFC tenure, but he’s made every appearance count; six of his eight Octagon outings have ended inside the distance, making him a consistent source of chaos in the middleweight ranks.

Ruziboev, meanwhile, made an immediate impression with a short-notice knockout of Brunno Ferreira in 2023. He followed that with another stoppage win over Sedriques Dumas before briefly dipping to welterweight, where he suffered a decision loss to Joaquin Buckley. Back at 185 pounds, he looked sharp in his second-round finish of Eric McConico earlier this year.

With both men looking to climb the division ladder and known for their finishing instincts, this is a matchup tailor-made for excitement. Whether it ends in a highlight-reel KO or turns into a gritty war, this could easily steal Fight of the Night honors.

Julian Erosa vs Melquizael Costa

Julian Erosa and Melquizael Costa are set to collide in what promises to be one of the most entertaining bouts of the weekend when they square off at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas. Both featherweights are riding momentum into this clash, having each strung together three consecutive victories and making quick turnarounds for this showdown.

Erosa, 35, has looked revitalized in his third UFC stint. He’s coming off a first-round TKO win over Darren Elkins at UFC 314, just over a month ago, and had previously scored back-to-back first-round submissions over Ricardo Ramos and Christian Rodriguez. With an 8-3 record during this latest run and a reputation for pushing the pace, Erosa has firmly established himself as a dangerous fixture in the featherweight division’s “Second 15.”

Costa, meanwhile, is steadily climbing the ranks. The 28-year-old Brazilian has shown noticeable improvements, collecting wins over Shayilan Nuerdanbieke, Andre Fili, and Rodriguez. His confidence and composure have grown with each outing.

Both men thrive in high-volume, high-risk fights, and neither is likely to take a backward step. With Erosa’s penchant for chaos and Costa’s rising momentum, this featherweight battle could steal the show and produce a potential Fight of the Night contender.

Date, Time and Venue

UFC Fight Night Burns vs Morales is scheduled for Saturday, May 17, live from Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa, with the main card starting at 7:00 PM ET/4:00 PM PT (Saturday), 12 am BST (Sunday) and 4:30 a.m. IST (Sunday) in India. Please note that these timings may vary depending on the duration of the main card fights.

Where to watch UFC Fight Night Burns vs Morales in India?

UFC Fight Night Burns vs Morales will be aired live on Sony Sports Network and SonyLiv in India.

Where to watch around the globe?

To catch all the action of UFC Fight Night Burns vs Morales, tune in to ESPN+.

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