Undefeated lightweight Omar Morales put his perfect record on the line at UFC Jacksonville, when he took on Gabriel Benitez. The bout came as part of the early prelims, airing live on ESPN+. Coincidentally enough, Morales had briefly been linked to a fight with Alexander Hernandez at UFC 249 (at the point that card was being held in April). That fight fell through, but the pair still wound up on the same card, facing different opponents: Hernandez would face Drew Dober later in the night.
Benitez, meanwhile, was looking to bounce back from a loss to Sodiq Yusuff at UFC Jacksonville.
Gabriel Benitez opened the action with a leg kick, and Morales pressed forward. Benitez looked to start working the jab but Morales slipped away and fired back with a straight. Benitez landed a hard body kick and Morales pressed forward; Benitez then looked to counter. Morales landed a nice head kick and Benitez attempted to close the distance, landing a left hand. The two exchanged kicks then Morales moved in for what looked to be a body shot. Instead, he was stopped in his tracks by a counter left from Benitez. Benitez continued to use his movement and landed a solid kick that caused Morales to rush forward with a flurry, but the wily Benitez used his movement to avoid most of the damage. Morales moved in again but Benitez caught him on the way in with a punch and looked to have stunned him for a moment. Morales continued to press forward and launched a flying knee as Benitez’s back was to the cage just as the round came to a close.
Benitez opened the second with a hard leg kick that Morales checked. Undeterred, Benitez then fired a straight punch that Morales slipped away from. Benitez looked for the jab again followed by a leg kick. Moralaes fired back with a body kick that found the mark. Benitez tried to answer with his own but Morales blocked it, then moved forward and landed a right hand in return. These two were rather scrappy. Morales fired a body kick that Benitez caught for a moment but had to release. While Omar Morales tried to keep the pressure on, Benitez landed another stiff counter punch. He then landed a body punch but Morales fired back with a right that pushed Benitez back. Morales threw a punch, high kick combination that Benitez blocked, Benitez then threw a 1-2 that just found its mark. Morales now pressed forward and threw a spinning back fist that Benitez ducked under and looked for the take down, but the round came to a close before he could do anything with it.
Benitez landed a body kick to start round three, followed by a pair of jabs. Morales came back with a knee to the body that came up short. Benitez now pressured as Morales backed up while he looked to land a pair of leg kicks. Benitez answered back with his own leg kick then the two exchanged rights. Morales now looked to take control and pressed the action as he landed a stiff combination. Morales looked for another combination but Benitez ripped a counter to his body in return. They exchanged again with Benitez landing a hard right he followed that shortly with a 1-2. Morales backed off for a moment then rushed in with a flying knee that Benitez was ready for and defended. Morales continued to press forward and landed a nice right to the head of Benitez , he then landed a liver shot. As the round came to a close the two fired off a flurry of punches to finish the fight.
So you want to be a fuc*ing fighter? #UFCJAX pic.twitter.com/KYmustcEkH
— Mike Fridley (@mikefridley) May 14, 2020
When all was said and done, Morales had the victory. Benitez, meanwhile, was sporting a nasty gash on his shin.
Official Result: Omar Morales def. Gabriel Benitez by unanimous decision (30-27 29-28 29-28)
