Undefeated Ecuadorian phenom Michael Morales put his 14-0 record on the line against a 14-fight UFC veteran in Max Griffin at UFC Vegas 76.
Max Griffin may be 7-7 in the UFC, but his losses and wins have come against some of the best welterweights in the division. This was the toughest test of knockout artist Morales’ young career, and at only 24 years of age he passed that test.
The pair traded in the center to start the fight, both men landing. They were both light on their feet thereafter as they worked out the range between them. Morales was clearly the longer fighter but he struggled to land on Griffin when Max went straight back to avoid. The striking volume was low; they each threw the occasional low kick but Morales missed on most of his combos and Griffin threw mostly singular jabs. Until, that is, Griffin landed a straight right which momentarily stunned Morales.
Max then shot for a takedown but Morales got the underhooks and defended it. His right eye was now swelling heavily. Griffin had another takedown defended and this time held Morales in the clinch for a while after. Morales landed a good knee and got away, back to distance. Morales bit down on his mouthpiece and went forward more after that but still had trouble tracking Griffin down in the rest of round one.
The second round began slowly but thirty seconds in Morales landed two 1-2 combinations that each hurt Griffin, one after the other. Morales stalked his hurt prey on the feet and landed another right hand as he had Griffin’s back almost right up against the fence. He let off the pressure a bit thereafter though and Griffin seemed to recover. Morales landed a couple sharp jabs but often whiffed on wild swinging overhands to follow up. He periodically swarmed forward with combination punches but the rapid retreats of Max Griffin got him out of the way of most of the strikes in time.
With two minutes left in the round Max shot a takedown but Morales defended it with confidence. With fifty seconds left Michael Morales landed a superman punch that wobbled the legs of Griffin. While he swarmed for the finish though, referee Kerry Hatley stopped the fight for an incidental groin strike. Griffin was soon recovered and the fight resumed. The round ended with Morales pressing the action once more.
The final round started with all to play for as it could be 19-19; Morales almost definitely won the second round but the first could have gone either way. Griffin landed some shots of his own to start round three but began to get wild on the feet, overextending himself. Morales defended a takedown and then landed a big flying knee, but Max stayed on the feet. Morales defended another takedown after that but Griffin got into the body lock in the clinch. He picked up Michael and put him down but Morales got right back up and hit a switch to escape the position.
Back in the striking each man swung for the fences. Griffin waited for opportunities to run forward, head down, into takedown attempts. That ducking was dangerous and he soon paid for it as he ducked into a flying knee, but Griffin survived it. Morales then threw him to the mat with a neat Muay Thai sweep. Going into the last minute the round still hung in the balance. Most of each man’s strikes missed in that final minute. Griffin tried for another takedown late but Morales reversed it and threw him to the ground, where the round finished.
The judges scorecards were up in the air going into the decision, but it felt as if Morales had done enough to get the win. When Joe Martinez read the scores out they unanimously had it for Michael Morales, who remained undefeated and got his fifteenth professional victory.
Official Result: Michael Morales def. Max Griffin by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
