Michael Morales appears to be the real deal.
The rising UFC welterweight star notched the biggest win of an undefeated career on Saturday with a first-round TKO of former challenger Gilbert Burns. He is the first welterweight to ever finish Burns in the first two rounds.
The win ties Morales for the third-longest win streak in the welterweight division with six, behind newly minted champion Jack Della Maddelena (eight) and top contender Shavkat Rakhmonov (seven). It has been a furious ascent for a fighter who made his UFC debut in 2022 and has looked like he has every tool needed to be considered a future title challenger.