
USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, May 20: Michael Morales surges
USA TODAY Sports
UFC Fight Night 256 is in the books with a welterweight contender making his impact felt.
In the main event, Michael Morales announced his official arrival into the conversation of the division's elite when he made quick work of former title challenger Gilbert Burns and won by first-round TKO at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Check out the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings.

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USA Today
18 minutes ago
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UFC on ESPN 72 books late addition on days' notice
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USA Today
4 hours ago
- USA Today
UFC on ESPN 72 pre-event facts: Anthony Hernandez's takedown game tops at 185 pounds
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Hernandez is one of five fighters in UFC history to land 100+ significant strikes and 10 or more takedowns in a single fight during his UFC Fight Night 245 win. Merab Dvalishvili, Colby Covington, Kamaru Usman and Cain Velasquez also accomplished the feat. Steve Erceg vs. Ode Osbourne Steve Erceg's (12-4 MMA, 3-3 UFC) three-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn't earned a victory since March 2024. Iasmin Lucindo vs. Angela Hill Angela Hill (18-14 MMA, 13-14 UFC) competes in her 27th UFC strawweight bout, the most appearances in divisional history. Hill is one of two females in UFC history to make 25 or more octagon appearances. Jessica Andrade was first to accomplish the feat. Hill's 12 victories in UFC strawweight competition are most in divisional history. Hill has earned 10 of her 13 UFC victories by decision. 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Andre Fili (24-12 MMA, 12-11 UFC) competes in his 25th UFC featherweight bout, the third-most appearances in divisional history behind Darren Elkins (28) and Max Holloway (27). Fili's 12 victories in UFC featherweight competition are tied for fourth-most in divisional history behind Holloway (20), Elkins (18) and Cub Swanson (15). Miles Johns vs. Jean Matsumoto Miles Johns (15-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) defends 71.3 percent of all opponent significant strike attempts in UFC bantamweight competition, the second-best rate in divisional history behind Vaughan Lee (71.5 percent). Elijah Smith vs. Toshiomi Kazama Elijah Smith (8-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC), son of UFC veteran Gilbert Smith, is one of two second-generation fighters in company history. Ryan Couture, son of UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture, also accomplished the feat. Priscila Cachoeira vs. Joselyne Edwards Priscila Cachoeira's (12-6 MMA, 4-6 UFC) 40-second knockout at UFC Fight Night 168 is the fastest stoppage in UFC women's flyweight history. Cachoeira's two knockdowns landed in UFC women's bantamweight competition are tied for second-most in divisional history behind Amanda Nunes (six). Uros Medic vs. Gilbert Urbina Uros Medic (10-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) is 2-2 since he moved up to the welterweight division in July 2023. Medic has earned all 10 of his career victories by stoppage. He's finished all four of his UFC wins by knockout. Medic is one of eight fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a spinning back elbow. He accomplished the feat at UFC 291. Gabriella Fernandes vs. Julija Stoliarenko Gabriella Fernandes (10-3 MMA, 2-2 UFC) stopped her opponent despite a -28 significant strike differential at UFC Fight Night 248, the second-largest disparity in UFC women's flyweight history. Julija Stoliarenko's (11-8-2 MMA, 2-6 UFC) is one of three females in UFC history to compete in three weight class. J. Andrade and Valerie Letourneau also accomplished the feat. Stoliarenko's 42-second win at UFC 276 marked the second-fastest submission in UFC women's bantamweight history behind Ronda Rousey's 14-second stoppage over Cat Zingano at UFC 184 in February 2015. Cody Brundage vs. Eric McConico Cody Brundage (11-7 MMA, 5-6 UFC) is one of 14 fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a slam. He accomplished the feat at UFC on ESPN 52. UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.


USA Today
6 hours ago
- USA Today
Florida football tops toughest 2025 schedules list, per USA TODAY Sports
The Florida Gators are riding into the 2025 college football season with plenty of optimism. But according to a preseason analysis from USA TODAY Sports, they'll also be facing the toughest schedule in the country–ranked No. 1 on the list. The ranking is based on the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll, which offers an early look at the national landscape before the season begins. For Florida, that early snapshot makes one thing clear: a stacked lineup of ranked opponents is waiting. The grind starts in Week 3 with a road trip to the No. 9 LSU Tigers, followed by another away game against the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes. The Gators then return to the Swamp to face No. 1 Texas in what should be one of the most high-profile matchups of the early season. From there, the Orange and Blue head to No. 21 Texas A&M, making it four straight games against ranked opponents. Now that's a stretch that few teams would want to face. The late-season slate is just as daunting. The annual rivalry against No. 4 Georgia opens in November, followed by a road trip to No. 15 Ole Miss. The regular season wraps up in Gainesville against No. 18 Tennessee. Every week is a challenge, with no obvious break on the schedule. Florida football finished strong last year, and head coach Billy Napier will have his team aiming high. But sitting at No. 1 on the toughest schedule list means any playoff run will require navigating one of the most demanding paths the SEC, or the country, has to offer. Here is everything USA TODAY Sports writer Jordan Mendoza said about Florida's tough schedule in 2025. What USA TODAY Sports said about Florida's schedule "There's palpable hype in Florida after the strong finish to last season, and the Gators get rewarded with the toughest schedule in the country. Week 3 starts a stretch of three consecutive games against top 10 opponents: at No. 9 LSU and at No. 10 Miami ahead of a home game with No. 1 Texas. "The grind doesn't stop afterward with a trip to No. 21 Texas A&M the following week. There's the annual meeting with No. 4 Georgia to start a November schedule that also includes heading to No. 15 Mississippi and playing host to No. 18 Tennessee." USA TODAY Sports' top 10 toughest schedules Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.