Dominick Cruz has seen enough of Michael Morales in the gym and under the lights to believe the undefeated Ecuadorian might be the most intriguing test yet for new UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev.
Makhachev (28-1, 17-1 UFC) dominated Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322, smothering the Australian for more than 19 minutes of control time in a lopsided decision win to claim his second divisional title. On that same night, Morales (19-0, 7-0 UFC) announced himself as a true problem at 170 pounds with a first-round TKO over top contender Sean Brady.
For Cruz, the size, strength and explosive athleticism Morales brings to the table make him a very different kind of puzzle for Makhachev.