“Heavy hands with good wrestling,” After taste of Khamzat Chimaev brawl, Gilbert Burns invites Islam Makhachev to have tussle at 170 lbs
UFC welterweight contender, Gilbert Burns revealed his future plans to get a shot at the title and a rematch with Khamzat Chimaev ahead of UFC 287 bout with Jorge Masvidal.
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Islam Makhachev (left to right) and Gilbert Burns (Image Courtesy - UFC/ MMA Junkie)
UFC welterweight, Gilbert Burns has been scheduled to fight Jorge Masvidal at UFC 287 as the co-main event. Burns is a former welterweight title contender and is one of the most successful welterweights in UFC history.
Gilbert Burns is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and is a hard-hitting 170-pounder. With heavy hands and sharp grappling, Burns is a betting favorite in the upcoming bout against Jorge Masvidal. Masvidal is currently on a three-fight skid and hasn’t fought since March 2022 due to an ongoing legal battle with former teammate and best friend (now bitter rival), Colby Covington.
In an interview with Australian MMA duo, Submission Radio, Burns was asked to express his thoughts on the UFC 284 super fight between Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski. “I would love to have this fight…I almost made it to Perth… but I got a call to fight in Miami this April. It was a close fight but I think Islam did just enough to win. If he chooses to move up I would like to fight him. Heavy hands with good wrestling, it would be a great matchup,” Burns told Submission Radio.
Although Islam Makhachev has not fully expressed interest in moving up to 170 lbs, recent developments and difficulties in making 155 lbs have created doubts in the Gilbert Burns crosshair since the Brazilian welterweight had previously challenged and hoped to fight Masvidal.
Gilbert Burns reveals plans to knockout Jorge Masvidal into retirement
In his latest interview with Submission Radio, Gilbert Burns was asked about his opponent in his next welterweight matchup, Jorge Masvidal. Burns has been training in Miami since moving up to welterweight. The Brazilian fighter revealed his intentions in the upcoming bout.
“I want to finish the fight, second round submission or knockout. I think a spectacular knockout that gets everyone fired up, the fans, the media but I’m also a BJJ artist and I like putting submissions,” Gilbert Burns said. “But for my career, I think an overhand right hook, a crazy combination or a straight right would get the job done,” Burns added.
Former welterweight title challenger, Gilbert Burns has had one of the best welterweight runs in UFC history. However, the fighter has failed to get his hands on UFC gold after coming close against Kamaru Usman (in the first round) in 2021. He lost the fight via knockout.
Since then, Burns has had one loss, to up-and-coming welterweight, Khamzat Chimaev in a closely contested fight at UFC 273 and has two victories, over Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson and Neil Magny respectively. A win over Jorge Masvidal could possibly put Burns back in talks for title contention with the winner of Usman vs Edwards 3 at UFC 286.
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Debabrata Samal
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