Just 22 years old, Morales was one of the more impressive prospects to come through the UFC APEX during the most recent season of the annual talent-search series, posting a unanimous decision win over Nikolay Veretennikov to improve his record to 12-0. Training out of the Entram Gym in Tijuana alongside fellow UFC 270 competitor Genaro Valdez, the youngster from Ecuador has tremendous height and reach for the division and an abundance of upside heading into his first appearance inside the Octagon.
Giles arrives in Anaheim set to compete in a third division after making his debut at light heavyweight and spending the last seven fights competing at 185 pounds. The Texan has posted a 5-3 record in the UFC to date, and earned wins over Brendan Allen and Ryan Spann on his way to the Octagon, so if he can tap into those talents and bring his power with him to welterweight, he could be a factor in the welterweight class.
Silvana Gomez Juarez vs. Vanessa Demopoulos
Strawweights looking to rebound following disappointing results in their respective debuts meet, as Silvana Gomez Juarez squares off with Vanessa Demopoulos.
The 37-year-old Argentine Juarez, who trains out of the Entram Gym in Tijuana, suffered a first-round submission loss to Loopy Godinez in early October, prior to her scheduled appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series. Before that setback, “La Malvada” had earned four straight victories and 10 wins in her first 12 starts.
A fixture for Legacy Fighting Alliance, Demopoulos has not been able to replicate her success there in a pair of appearances in Las Vegas, coming up short in her DWCS date with Cory McKenna in 2020 and again in August when she filled in for Tracy Cortez opposite JJ Aldrich. The 33-year-old grappler should be buoyed by the success her former opponent Godinez had against Juarez and could really use a victory as she enters her sophomore appearance.
Matt Frevola vs. Genaro Valdez
In the lone lightweight battle of the evening, Matt Frevola looks to get things moving in the right direction again as he welcomes Genaro Valdez to the Octagon for the first time.
The 31-year-old “SteamRolla” started his career with six straight wins, including a victory on the first season of Dana White’s Contender Series, but has struggled to find consistent results since, going 2-3-1 through his first six UFC appearances. Last time out at UFC 263, Frevola was stopped in seven seconds by short-notice newcomer Terrance McKinney.
Like Morales, Valdez represents the Entram Gym and arrives in the UFC with an unblemished professional record. He moved to 10-0 with a second-round stoppage win over Patrik White last October to secure a contract, but is taking a considerable step up in competition here.
Saturday’s contest is a chance for Frevola to “return the favor” in a way, as he was once the undefeated DWCS alum making his first start in the UFC, only to get quickly stopped and handed his first loss. Will he be able to do the same to Valdez or will “El Rayadito” maintain his clean sheet through his first foray into the UFC cage?
Kay Hansen vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius
Business kicks off in the flyweight division, as Kay Hansen makes her return to the Octagon opposite Canadian rookie Jasmine Jasudavicius.
Hansen appeared poised to be one of the leaders of the youth movement in the 125-pound weight class after earning a third-round submission win over Jinh Yu Frey in her debut, but following a loss to Cory McKenna in her second outing, the Californian spent all of 2021 on the sidelines working through some personal matters. Just 22 and carrying a wealth of experience for someone her age, Hansen still has the potential to join the likes of former opponent Erin Blanchfield, Miranda Maverick, and Casey O’Neill at the vanguard of the new wave of talent climbing the ranks in the flyweight division.