“I feel better that I didn’t fight” Gilbert Burns admits that it’s better he didn’t face Kamaru Usman in July

“I feel better that I didn’t fight” Gilbert Burns admits that it’s better he didn’t face Kamaru Usman in July
Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns

The number two ranked UFC Welterweight contender Gilbert Burns was booked to face the Welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman, in July 2020. But Burns was ruled out of this fight at the last time due to being tested positive for COVID and Jorge Masvidal got the opportunity to face Usman.

In his latest interview with MMA fighting, Burns admits that seeing someone else facing Usman in place of him was one of the toughest moments of his life. Burns says, “I was watching that fight and I was almost in tears because when Masvidal was walking out to the fight, it was supposed to be me,”

“When I saw him walking, it was supposed to be me. I held on because my kids were here but I almost cried watching Masvidal walking in. That was my chance. It was supposed to be me. My energy level was not normal coming back, It’s a long process. I was not at 100 percent”

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Gilbert Burns admits that facing Usman that time would be a great mistake

Gilbert Burns

Gilbert Burns was badly affected by COVID that took him a long time to recover and he thinks it was in his best interest that he didn’t enter that fight without his 100%. Burns added, “I feel better that I didn’t fight, “I know that sounds weird but if I got that virus and for any reason tested negative, I was going into the fight and I wasn’t feeling good.”

“Don’t get me wrong, even if I’m not feeling good, I’m going to fight anyway. I’m not going to pull out, especially for a title fight. I’m going to give my best. I don’t know if my best will be enough but I’ll never pull out of the fight.”

“But to take me out and I got home and started getting sick, I definitely see it as a blessing.” He also admitted that it was the toughest part of his carrier as his coaches weren’t well also. Burns added, “It was very confusing, Three of my own coaches had it, Kami Barzini, Greg Jones and Vagner Rocha, but they had no symptoms.”

“Vagner felt nothing. Greg Jones and Kami as well had no symptoms. Aung La A Sang, the ONE champion that trains with us, had no symptoms. It’s confusing.” Burns is completely fit now and UFC is looking to rebook this fight for UFC 258 in February.

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