Michael Morales Details Main Event Nerves, Desire to Fight at Noche UFC

Michael Morales wasn’t immune to butterflies in his first Ultimate Fighting Championship main event.

“Sure man, I was s—ting my pants," Morales said through a translator at Saturday’s post-fight press conference. "They don't call him 'Durinho' for nothing. Whoever has to be in the cage with that guy, they would feel the nerves. He’s a guy who has fought for a title, the people that he has fought throughout his career. It was important for me to prove to him that the tough guy tonight was me.”

Those nerves didn’t affect Morales’ performance in the UFC Vegas 106 headliner, as he had former title challenger Gilbert Burns on the retreat from the outset. A series of left and right hands dropped Burns twice near the fence and ultimately forced referee Herb Dean to step in on the Brazilian’s behalf at the 3:39 mark in Round 1.

According to Morales, a high-pressure attack was all part of the plan.

“We talked about this in camp, it was actually a big focus of our camps, the reaction that he has when he gets hit,” Morales said. “We know what he does when he’s backed up against the fence, and you actually have him kind of corraled. What he does is he’s going to go for that overhand. We know that was coming. We knew that by pressuring him, that was coming and I need to counterattack. So [I] might as well not let that happen. This was something that we worked a lot with the team … We knew that we needed to pressure him, and I feel happy about the fact that the work that we put in worked.”

While Burns has lost four straight fights within the Las Vegas-based promotion, Morales had nothing but respect for his veteran opponent in the aftermath of his biggest victory to date.

“First of all, he’s a great father. I know he’s going to become a father again. He has a lot to give and there are moments that it’s not going to be your night,” Morales said. “This is about ups and downs and ebbs and flows. That’s [the way] the game goes. I would send him comfort, all the respect and the gratitude as well for actually giving me this fight.”

Morales has won six straight bouts in the UFC and looks to be a contender on the rise in a suddenly crowded welterweight division. The Ecuadorian is realistic that his fight of choice might not come to fruition, but no matter the opponent, he does have a clear date in mind for his return.

“I talked about Ian Garry. That’s a fighter that I always wanted to fight. But I know that he’s won his last fight. He’s looking up at the rankings, so I know that might not happen,” Morales said. “The biggest thing is just being healthy and the opportunity to be in Guadalajara [at Noche UFC]. I think that fight, if they’re able to make it, I would like to fight whoever in Guadalajara. I think at this point, taking advantage of opportunities, maybe the sixth, the fifth, the fourth in the rankings. We’ll take any opportunity that God gives us.”

Guadalajara, Mexico, is the site of UFC 320, which is also known as Noche UFC — the promotion’s traditional celebration of Mexican Independence Day. The card is scheduled for Sept. 13, but no fights have been confirmed for the event.