Mar 9, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Jack Della Maddalena (blue gloves) fights Gilbert Burns (red gloves) during UFC 299 at Kayesa Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

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“Felt Like A Rock Throw” – Gilbert Burns Breaks Silence After KO Loss To Michael Morales

Gilbert Burns gives his unfiltered opinion on Michael Morales after his first round loss at UFC Vegas 106

Mar 9, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Jack Della Maddalena (blue gloves) fights Gilbert Burns (red gloves) during UFC 299 at Kayesa Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Fans would think veterans like Gilbert Burns would be used to taking hard shots after years in the UFC welterweight division. But when 22-year-old Michael Morales landed that crushing uppercut at UFC Fight Night 256, even the experienced Brazilian knew he had felt something special.

Burns has shared the octagon with some of the hardest hitters in the UFC, from Kamaru Usman to Jorge Masvidal. He has seen it all and felt it all, which makes his recent comments about Morales even more significant. When a guy who’s been trading leather with elite welterweights for years says someone hits differently, the entire division should probably listen up.

Gilbert Burns Gets Real About Michael Morales’ Power

Speaking on the ‘Show Me the Money’ podcast, Burns didn’t sugarcoat what happened in that fight. The Brazilian veteran admitted he prepared as best he could, but Morales brought something unique to the table.

“I got ready the best I could, but the guy was awkward and long. And I’m going to tell you one thing: that guy hits hard, bro, that guy hits very hard. First, he gave me like a club hook that was on the top of my head, that I felt like a rock throw, a rock on my head. I was like, man, that guy is hard, okay, I got to watch out.”

“I got ready the best I could, but the guy was awkward, long and I’m gonna tell one thing, that guy hits hard”

🇧🇷🇪🇨Gilbert Burns reflects on his defeat to Michael Morales, stating that Morales not only has favorable athletic features, but also hits “like a rock”.

🚨Our NEW… pic.twitter.com/wnIYccX7cM
— Show Me the Money Podcast (@showmethepod) May 29, 2025

What makes Burns’ assessment so compelling is his honesty about the sequence of events. He explained how Morales first caught him with a club hook to the top of his head, immediately alerting him to the danger. Then came the right hook that really did the damage, clean and precise.

What’s Next For Both Fighters

Gilbert Burns finds himself at an interesting crossroads after this setback. At 38 years old, the Brazilian veteran has nothing left to prove to anyone. Burns has always been a gatekeeper of sorts in the welterweight division, the kind of fighter who can make or break a prospect’s momentum. The loss doesn’t necessarily mean Burns should hang up his gloves just yet. He’s still got the skills and experience to trouble most welterweights on any given night.

For Michael Morales, this victory changes everything about his trajectory in the UFC. Beating Gilbert Burns is the kind of statement that puts the entire division on notice. The Ecuadorian has now shown he can handle the pressure against a respected veteran and deliver when it matters most. His combination of youth, power, and technical ability makes him exactly the type of fighter the UFC loves to build around. The welterweight division is absolutely stacked right now, with killers like Shavkat Rakhmonov, Joaquin Buckley, and others all making noise. Morales has positioned himself perfectly to be part of that conversation moving forward!

(Image Credit: Sam Navarro – Imagn Images)

Gilbert Burns

Michael Morales

UFC Vegas 106

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!