Saturday’s Fight Night main card on ESPN+ is loaded with five strong bouts. Starting with the main event of #8-ranked Gilbert Burns vs. #12 #12-ranked Michael Morales is a quality card of parity and potential UFC Betting value. Burns and Morales will clash in a welterweight bout that could propel the winner to contender status. On the other hand, the loser could suffer a career setback that cannot be overcome. Thus, the bout carries the highest stakes. In the lightweight division, the matchup of Sodiq Yusuff and Marion Santos figures to be highly competitive with a good betting split.
UFC Fight Night Burns vs. Morales Main Card
| Date and Time: | Saturday, May 17, 2025, 7 p.m. ET |
|---|---|
| Location: | UFC APEX, Las Vegas, NV |
| TV Coverage: | ESPN+ |
Welterweight Bout
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Gilbert Burns | +575 |
| Michael Morales | -850 |
Gilbert Burns has a career sportsbook record of 22-8. In comparison, Michael Morales stands at 17-0 for his career.
Of great concern is that Gilbert Burns is riding a three-bout losing streak. Overall, Burns has lost five of his most recent eight bouts. Last time out, Burns lost a unanimous decision to Sean Brady on September 7, 2024, in Las Vegas. On March 9, 2024, Burns lost a third-round knockout to Jack Della Maddalena in Miami, FL. And then, on May 6, 2023, Burns lost a unanimous decision to Belal Muhammad in Newark, NJ.
Previously, before those losses, Burns won a unanimous decision against Jorge Masvidal on April 8, 2023, in Miami, FL. And on January 21, 2023, Burns won a 1st-round submission against Neil Magny in Rio de Janeiro.
Last time out, Michael Morales won a first-round TKO against Neil Magny on August 24, 2024, in Las Vegas. On November 18, 2023, Morales won a unanimous decision against Jake Matthews in Las Vegas, NV. In turn, on July 1, 2023, Morales won a unanimous decision against Max Grifin in Las Vegas, NV.
Lightweight Bout
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Sodiq Yusuff | +110 |
| Mairon Santos | -130 |
Sodiq Yusuff has a career UFC Betting odds record of 13-4. By contrast, Mairon Santos stands at 16-1 in his career.
Late on, Sodiq Yusuff lost his two most recent bouts. On April 13, 2024, He lost a first-round TKO against Diego Lopes in Las Vegas, NV. While on October 14, 2023, Yusuff lost a unanimous decision against Edson Barboza in Las Vegas, NV.
Previously, on October 1, 2022, in Las Vegas, NV, Yusuff won a first-round submission against Don Shainis. On March 12, 2022, Yusuff won a unanimous decision against Alex Caceres in Las Vegas, NV.
Middleweight Bout
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Dustin Stoltzfus | +230 |
| Nursulton Ruziboev | -285 |
Dustin Stoltzfus has a career record of 16-6. In turn, Nursulton Ruziboev has a career mark of 35-9-2, 2 NC.
Featherweight Bout
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Julian Erosa | +150 |
| Melquizael Costa | -180 |
Julian Erosa has a career record of 31-12. On the other hand, Melquizael Costa has a career record of 23-7.
Light Heavyweight Bout
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Rodolfo Bellato | -500 |
| Paul Craig | +380 |
Overall, Robert Bellato’s career record is 12-2-1. Paul Craig will enter the octagon with a career record of 17-9-1.
UFC Fight Night SBG Free Picks
On this occasion, Gilbert Burns offers tremendous value as a higher-ranked underdog. Burns is indeed in a rough stretch, but the price is right for the 8th-ranked welterweight.
UFC Fight Night SBG Best Bets: Gilbert Burns.