Tag: Michael Morales

UFC on ESPN 48: Max Griffin vs. Michael Morales odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 48 odds and lines between Max Griffin vs. Michael Morales with MMA picks, tips and predictions.

In a welterweight bout on the main card, Max Griffin and Michael Morales meet Saturday at UFC on ESPN 48 — also known as UFC Vegas 76 — at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the UFC on ESPN 48: Griffin vs. Morales odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.

The prelims are on ESPN/ESPN+ at 4 p.m. ET, with the main card on ESPN/ESPN+ at 7 p.m. ET.

Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.

Records: Griffin (19-9-0) | Morales (14-0-0)

Griffin has been involved in a pair of split-decision results in his past 2 fights, winning against Tim Means last time out in late October and losing to Neil Magny in late March 2022. He has won 4 of the past 5 fights overall, with his past 3 outings going the distance.

Morales is 2-for-2 since making his debut at UFC 270 in January 2022, and each of the victories has been via KO/TKO. He dropped Trevin Giles at UFC 270 in the 1st round and took care of business against Adam Fugitt at UFC 277 in the 3rd round.

Morales has a 1-inch height advantage and a 3-inch reach advantage. He is also 13 years younger than his counterpart.

Morales also holds a 5.36-to-4.23 significant strikes landed advantage and lands them at a 56.64% clip. He also has a slight takedown average advantage at 1.98-to-1.60, although Griffin is more accurate at 50.0% on takedowns.

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UFC on ESPN 48: Griffin vs. Morales odds

Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7 a.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Griffin +215 (bet $100 to win $215) | Morales -260 (bet $260 to win $100)
  • Over/Under: 2.5 rounds (Over -134 | Under +104)
  • Will the fight go the distance? (Yes -110 | No -116)

UFC on ESPN 48: Griffin vs. Morales picks and predictions

Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)

Morales (-260) will cost you more than 2 1/2 times your potential return, and that’s just too much risk for not enough reward. There is no value in playing such heavy favorites for a singular wager, and including Morales in a multi-fighter parlay also sucks the value out of a parlay ticket.

Let’s look to the method of victory instead. He has managed 11 KO/TKO victories in 14 career professional bouts — all wins — and has 1 victory via submission. Just 2 of his fights have involved the judges for a decision, and that has happened just once since Dec. 2018.

I like MORALES BY KO/TKO (+195) for a chance to nearly double up. In addition, you can play a Method & Round combo. Roll with MORALES BY KO/TKO & ROUND 1 (+500) and MORALES BY KO/TKO & ROUND 2 (+750) in that category. If he wins in Rounds 1 or 2 via knockout, you will obviously lose one of the ends, but you’ll still be well ahead, too.

There is a risk here, as Griffin hasn’t been knocked out since his debut at UFC 202 against Colby Covington in Aug. 2016. But Morales has a 3-inch reach advantage and will be able to use that to his advantage, picking and choosing spots to move in and out, while keeping Griffin at a distance when needed.

Over/Under (O/U)

WILL THE FIGHT GO THE DISTANCE? NO (-116) is the way to go. Morales doesn’t like to leave it up to the judges to decide a winner. While Griffin has ended up going the distance in 3 straight outings, that will not be the case here.

For a better value, I like UNDER 2.5 ROUNDS (+104) at plus money.

Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.

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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and us on Facebook.

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Michael Morales acknowledges Max Griffin’s experience edge but ‘won’t back down’ at UFC on ESPN 47

UFC welterweight Michael Morales won’t let Max Griffin’s experience edge affect how things unfold in Las Vegas at UFC on ESPN 47.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Michael Morales[/autotag] has time on his side, and plans to take full advantage of his position in the UFC as a young, rising welterweight.

On the main card of Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 47, Morales (14-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) steps into the cage to face veteran Max Griffin. The event takes place at the UFC Apex and airs live on ESPN following prelims on ESPN+.

There’s an experience edge in this one for Griffin (19-9 MMA, 7-7 UFC), who will be entering his 15th bout under the UFC banner. On the other hand, the 24-year-old Morales will step into the UFC’s octagon for just the third time.

“I think his experience is his biggest advantage, someone that has seen a lot in the UFC,” Morales said through an interpreter at Wednesday’s media day. “He comes in wanting to win and so am I. I’m not going back down. It’s a great opportunity to have such an experienced fighter for me to continue to improve in the UFC.”

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Despite signing with the UFC at a young age after his appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2021, Morales doesn’t feel pressured to shoot up the rankings quickly, even if successful against Griffin. Instead, his focus is on a steady improvement so he may have a long, successful career.

“I know I have a long way to go, and I never thought that I would be in the UFC at 21 years old,” Morales said. “So I do feel I can improve all the time, and I want to continue to improve. I feel like I can keep doing this for a long time in my career, going into 50 years old.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 47.

Max Griffin offended by booking against Michael Morales: ‘They’re sending a guy that they think can beat me’

Max Griffin is determined to derail the hype from unbeaten prospect Michael Morales.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Max Griffin[/autotag] is not exactly happy with his matchup against [autotag]Michael Morales[/autotag].

The 37-year-old welterweight veteran is set to take on Michael Morales on the main card of Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 47 at the UFC Apex. This booking made Griffin (19-9 MMA, 7-7 UFC) feel like he’s been set up to be a stepping stone for Morales (14-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC), who’s unbeaten and just 24 years old – and that has Griffin fuming.

“I have a thing for these new guys: I get offended,” Griffin told reporters at Wednesday’s UFC on ESPN 47 media day. “So it’s another guy, 14-0, fought Trevin Giles. That was a terrible fight from Trevin Giles. He beat him in the beginning but burned his arms out, getting sloppy, and got knocked out. … He (Morales) ain’t fought nobody. It’s not even about who y’all fought, but I am me. I am him. I’m not the guy you want to fight when you’re that raw, that new.”

Although there’s something to be said about Morales’s promise and rise, Griffin is not getting caught in a bad career moment. “Pain” is 4-1 in his past five bouts, with the lone defeat coming to Neil Magny in a close, split decision.

Griffin is puzzled to see his opponent favored on the betting odds and is motivated to prove them wrong.

“I think for me, it’s more that they’re sending a guy that they think can beat me, and he’s the favorite,” Griffin said. “I don’t like that. I don’t even know how he is the favorite. Because he’s younger? I don’t know, but my homies are cashing in, I can tell you that. Cash that, baby.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 47.

Video: UFC on ESPN 47 media day interviews

Before UFC on ESPN 47 on Saturday, 14 athletes from the card are scheduled to speak to reporters Wednesday at media day.

LAS VEGAS – The UFC schedule for July kicks off Saturday with UFC on ESPN 47, which takes place at the UFC Apex with a card that airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.

A middleweight bout serves as the main event, with [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] (26-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC) taking on [autotag]Abus Magomedov[/autotag] (25-4-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) in a matchup between one established contender and an opponent looking to make a splash in just his second octagon appearance.

Before fight night arrives, though, 14 athletes from this weekend’s card spoke to reporters Wednesday at media day.

If you happen to miss any of the individual sessions on the live stream above, check below for the archived videos of each media day session.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 47.

Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (April 24-30)

All the UFC and Bellator fight announcements that were first reported or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.

MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.

But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.

Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC or Bellator.

Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie from April 24-30.

Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (Nov. 28-Dec. 4)

All the UFC and Bellator fight announcements that were first reported or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.

MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.

But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.

Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC or Bellator.

Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie from Nov. 28-Dec. 4.

Unbeaten Michael Morales injured, out of UFC Fight Night 216 vs. Rinat Fakhretdinov

Michael Morales won’t fight again in 2023.

[autotag]Michael Morales[/autotag] will have to settle with just two fights in 2022.

The unbeaten welterweight prospect suffered a fractured toe on his right foot and has been ruled out from what was a scheduled bout against Rinat Fakhretdinov at UFC Fight Night 216 on Dec. 17 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

The news was first reported by DeporVito on Wednesday. Morales (14-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) confirmed the news shortly after on Twitter.

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It’s unknown if Fakhretdinov will get a replacement opponent or pulled from the card all together. The UFC has yet to make an official announcement.

Morales, who fights out of Entram Gym in Tijuana, Mexico, was looking to make it 3-0 in the octagon. He debuted at UFC 270 in January with a first-round knockout against Trevin Giles. He then followed up that performance with another first-finish, stopping Adam Fugitt by TKO.

The latest UFC Fight Night 216 lineup now includes:

  • Jared Cannonier vs. Sean Strickland
  • Damir Ismagulov vs. Arman Tsarukyan
  • Julian Marquez vs. Deron Winn
  • Tafon Nchukwi vs. Jamal Pogues
  • Sergey Morozov vs. Journey Newson
  • Amir Albazi vs. Brandon Royval
  • Albert Duraev vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk
  • Rinat Fakhretdinov vs. opponent TBA
  • Rafa Garcia vs. Hayisaer Maheshate
  • Saidyokub Kakhramonov vs. Said Nurmagomedov
  • Alex Caceres vs. Julian Erosa
  • Tafon Nchukwi vs. Vitor Petrino
  • Jake Matthews vs. Matt Semelsberger

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Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (Sept. 26-Oct. 2)

All the UFC and Bellator fight announcements that were first reported or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.

MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.

But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.

Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC or Bellator.

Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie from Sept. 26-Oct. 2.

Young Blood: The 17 youngest fighters on the current UFC roster

The UFC recently signed the youngest fighter in company history. Here are the 17 fighters 23 years and under in the UFC.

When Dana White offered [autotag]Raul Rosas Jr.[/autotag] a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series, he made history.

Rosas’ signing is impending, which will make him the youngest fighter in UFC history at just 17. He is also the only teenager on the roster and one of only 17 fighters 23 years old or younger.

Thirteen of said fighters have already made their promotional debuts, while Rosas and three other recent signees eagerly await their first UFC walks.

Scroll through the list below to see the 17 youngest fighters in the UFC.

Michael Morales doesn’t plan on rushing his way to the top after second UFC win

Take a look inside Michael Morales’ TKO win over Adam Fugitt at UFC 277 in Dallas.

DALLAS – [autotag]Michael Morales[/autotag] beat Adam Fugitt with a third-round TKO Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC 277 in Dallas.

Take a look inside the fight with Morales, who stayed unbeaten and picked up his second knockout in two UFC fights in 2022.