Preview: UFC on ESPN 62 ‘Cannonier vs. Borralho’

Welterweights

Michael Morales (16-0, 4-0 UFC) vs. #12 WW | Neil Magny (29-11, 22-10 UFC)

ODDS: Morales (-800), Magny (+550)

It’s time once again for Magny to put a top welterweight prospect to the test. Magny overcame a rough start to his UFC career and put together a shockingly successful run over the course of 2015 and 2016, fighting five times per year and winning nine of those 10 bouts. That streak landed “The Haitian Sensation” in the welterweight rankings, and he has remained there since, essentially serving as the gatekeeper for the promotional Top 10. Magny takes an approach that has been surprisingly tough for the opposition to crack, as his game is built around two ideas. Magny will first use his long frame to flick out strikes at his opponents from range, and once they are frustrated enough to close distance, he drags them into a sneakily strong clinch game that usually exhausts them over time. It’s a trap that opponent after opponent has fallen into, with the caveat that things tend to get blown wide open if someone can beat Magny handily in one of those two phases. Magny has suffered some rough losses against foes who have either chopped him down from range or proven to be physically stronger grapplers. At 37 years old and after an active decade of fights, it does appear Magny is starting to slow down in his last handful of performances, though his January win over Mike Malott was a reminder of just how tough he remains. Malott was handily winning the fight for the better part of two and a half rounds until Magny suddenly turned things around and scored a finish. Next on the docket is Morales, who has marked himself as a high-upside talent since his win on the Contender Series in 2021.

Representing Ecuador and fighting out of Mexico, Morales was a fairly straightforward knockout threat on the regional scene before mixing things up on the Contender Series, staying patient against his toughest opponent to date and coasting out a decision victory. That’s where things have stayed for the better part of Morales’ four-fight UFC career. He has found some knockouts against Trevin Giles and Adam Fugitt but hasn’t really pressed the action, relying on his athleticism and vision to see him through some striking matches from range without much of a greater plan. It’s hard to complain, given that Morales has an undefeated record against some solid competition at just 25 years of age, but it will be interesting to see if and when he can hit another gear to truly lay the wood on opponents like his talents would suggest, even though it might take him having to suffer some adversity to get there. It’s unclear if Morales will fall into the usual Magny trap of clinching with the American. By default, it does seem like this could wind up as a fairly frustrating striking match, with Morales content to trade with Magny from range at a pace that never gets above a simmer. That could wind up as a coinflip, but Morales’ perpetual potential for something more—and Magny seemingly being on a slow decline—gives the prospect the edge. The pick is Morales via decision.

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Cannonier vs. Borralho
Ricci vs. Hill
Valentin vs. Loder
Ofli vs. Alves
Morales vs. Magny
Shahbazyan vs. Meerschaert
The Prelims