It is often the case in professional combat sports that fights are wary of allowing their minds to wander, looking past an opponent at the bigger fights on the horizon. But that’s exactly what UFC sensation Gilbert Burns has done this week and he’s making no apologies for it either.
The 34-year-old from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is scheduled to face-off against long-term rival and current champion Kamaru Usman on February 13 at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas. That UFC 258 headliner will be shown live on television around the world and Burns is intent on making a statement.
Burns in a fighting mood
Speaking to the press in the build-up to his welterweight fight against Usman, the tough-talking but extremely confident Burns warned he wants to fight any of the current welterweights who are brave enough to meet him in the octagon. He isn’t calling out a fighter, as many mma australia contenders do, he is calling out an entire weight division and that has certainly ruffled a few feathers in the sport.
Speaking to reporters recently, Gilbert explained to fans he is a massive threat to everyone in the decision and will prove it in beating Usman to rise to the head of the charts. Confident in his ability to beat opponents at their own game, he boasted big punching power, the ability to out-wrestle the wrestler and cause grapplers danger.
Vowing to prove these are much more than empty boasts, the kind we have come to expect from fighters approaching a career-defining bout, Burns said he would then turn his attentions to the other big names in the division. He wants to face the likes of Colby Covington, Jorge Masvidal, Leon Edwards, Khamzat Chimaev, Stephen Thompson and Michael Chiesa.
Back to winning ways
Durinho will step into the octagon in Sin City on fight night with a professional mixed martial arts record detailing 19 wins against three defeats. Of his victories, the contender has claimed eight by submission, six by knockout and five on a decision, those stats backing up his claims of being a genuine all-rounder, comfortable in all aspects of the fight game.
He last tasted defeat back in the summer of 2018 when knocked out by Dan Hooker in one round at UFC 226. Since a punishing loss would have tested the character of even the bravest warriors but Burns didn’t let it affect his long-term plans and goals. He immediately got back to winning ways and put together a run of form that pushed him back into contention for major honours.
Since last KO loss against Hooker in Vegas, Gilbert has won each of his six comeback fights with four of them on the scorecards. Victory over Olivier Aubin-Mercier on UFC 231 in Canada just five months after defeat gave Burns a quickfire return to winning ways. He has been incredibly active since, beating Mike Davis, Alexey Kunchenko, Gunnar Nelson, Demian Maia and Tyron Woodley.
Nigerian Nightmare unimpressed
Burns may have caused excitement amongst fans and pundits with his comments in the media but one man who won’t be impressed or fazed by it all is current UFC champion, Kamaru Usman. The 33-year-old from Auchi, Nigeria has worked hard to get to the summit of the division and isn’t about to give it all up without a fight.
The Nigerian Nightmare is 17-0 as a professional MMA fighter and he’s another who is comfortable with all aspects of the sport. He has scored nine by decision, seven by KO and the spare on a submission. His one career defeat came way back in 2013 against Jose Caceres.
Action-packed card
Burns vs Usman headlines an exciting UFC 258 card later this month. Other bouts of note on the card include Maycee Barber vs Alexa Grasso in the women’s flyweight division and Polyana Viana vs Mallory Martin in the women’s strawweight category.
Fight fans also get the chance to catch up on the careers of UFC stars including Maki Pitolo, Kelvin Gastelum and Rodolfo Vieira. It promises to be another action-packed night from the Ultimate Fighter Championship as the promotion continues to dominate the MMA world.
