5 fighters to watch at UFC 277

Anthony Smith is set to fight Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 277
Anthony Smith is set to fight Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 277

#4. Michael Morales - UFC welterweight

Michael Morales has a record of 13-0
Michael Morales has a record of 13-0

Michael Morales may be flying under-the-radar at the moment, but should he win another fight on Saturday, that will surely come to an end. The Ecuadorian fighter is 13-0, and at just 23-years-old, he is one of the best prospects currently signed to the UFC roster.

Michael Morales, who earned his contract on Dana White's Contender Series, made an emphatic debut earlier this year when finished Trevin Giles inside one round. On Saturday, he will face Adam Fugitt, who will be making his debut inside the octagon in the bout.

Unsurprisingly, Morales is a heavy favorite to win, and fans can expect to see him showcase just how talented he is on Saturday night. Anything less than a stoppage victory will be somewhat of a let-down, so it will be interesting to see if he can live up to the very high expectations.


#3. Matthew Semelsberger - UFC welterweight

Matthew Semelsberger has a record of 10-3
Matthew Semelsberger has a record of 10-3

MMA media may not be labeling Matthew Semelsberger as a future champion, but he does have a proven track-record of producing explosive fights. That was on full display in 2021, during which he had two of the three quickest finishes of the entire year.

Those 15 and 16 second knock-outs are reason enough to ensure you do not miss Semelsberger's bout this weekend. His opponent, Alex Morono, is riding a three-fight winning streak and has shared the octagon with legends like Anthony Pettis and Donald Cerrone.

For anyone looking for a measured, technical bout, this one may be a bit of a dud, but for anyone else, this fight is almost guaranteed to be one of the most entertaining on the entire card. Semelsberger clearly has incredible power in his hands, and should he produce another big finish on Saturday, he could be set for big things.

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