Preview: UFC 260 Prelims

Featherweight

Omar Morales (10-1, 2-1 UFC) vs. Shane Young (13-5, 2-2 UFC)

ODDS: Morales (-190), Young (+155)

Fun featherweight prospects square off in this undercard affair. After a rough late-notice debut against Alexander Volkanovski, New Zealand’s Young has brought excitement every time he has stepped inside the Octagon. Scraps against Rolando Dy and Austin Arnett were entertaining affairs, but Young’s last fight ended in unfortunately quick fashion due to a head kick from Ludovit Klein. Therein lies the worry for Young. While he is aggressive and can push a pace, he may not have the high-level athleticism to get above a certain tax bracket in a deep featherweight division. Here, he will look to rebound against Venezuela’s Morales. The once-beaten Morales has an odd resume—he is already well into his 30s and has fought inconsistently over the last decade—but he hit the ground running after getting signed off Dana White’s Contender Series. His long frame and patient range striking flummoxed Dong Hyun Ma, but it was a subsequent win over steady veteran Gabriel Benitez that got people excited about Morales’ potential. Coming off of a big win, it was odd to see Morales cut down to featherweight, but he looked like much the same fighter; he just wound up a bit outgunned against Giga Chikadze. There is an entertaining dynamic at play here. Young is willing to get off to a hot start and apply pressure and pace, while Morales builds over time and has all the physical advantages in his favor. Young could just swamp the Sanford MMA rep early and put the “Venezuelan Fighter” in a hole from which he cannot escape on the scorecards, but the call is for Morales to hit enough big shots early to get his own momentum going sooner rather than later. In an under-the-radar contender for “Fight of the Night,” the pick is Morales via decision.

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