LAS VEGAS – Max Griffin is not exactly happy with his matchup against Michael Morales.
The 37-year-old welterweight veteran is set to take on Michael Morales on the main card of Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 47 at the UFC Apex. This booking made Griffin (19-9 MMA, 7-7 UFC) feel like he’s been set up to be a stepping stone for Morales (14-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC), who’s unbeaten and just 24 years old – and that has Griffin fuming.
“I have a thing for these new guys: I get offended,” Griffin told reporters at Wednesday’s UFC on ESPN 47 media day. “So it’s another guy, 14-0, fought Trevin Giles. That was a terrible fight from Trevin Giles. He beat him in the beginning but burned his arms out, getting sloppy, and got knocked out. … He (Morales) ain’t fought nobody. It’s not even about who y’all fought, but I am me. I am him. I’m not the guy you want to fight when you’re that raw, that new.”
Although there’s something to be said about Morales’s promise and rise, Griffin is not getting caught in a bad career moment. “Pain” is 4-1 in his past five bouts, with the lone defeat coming to Neil Magny in a close, split decision.
Griffin is puzzled to see his opponent favored on the betting odds and is motivated to prove them wrong.
“I think for me, it’s more that they’re sending a guy that they think can beat me, and he’s the favorite,” Griffin said. “I don’t like that. I don’t even know how he is the favorite. Because he’s younger? I don’t know, but my homies are cashing in, I can tell you that. Cash that, baby.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 47.