Gilbert Burns may have a storied UFC career behind him, but his appetite for competition remains unspoiled. Burns is fresh off the back of a thoroughly dominant win on the UFC 264 undercard, and already has his sights set on his next opponent. In fact, he wants every opponent in the welterweight division, all the way up to division champ Kamaru Usman.
Burns told TMZ Sports that his explicit goal is to challenge once more for the title. That means taking on Kamaru Usman. If it also means taking on any and all challengers on the way, so be it.
Gilbert Burns: “I want to fight everyone in that division”
The fact that the list of challengers in the queue includes the likes of Leon Edwards and Jorge Masvidal does not faze Gilbert Burns.
“I want the one that will get me a clear way to the title. If that’s Leon Edwards, that’s the one that I want. If I need two more fights, give me Masvidal now and give me Leon Edwards later.”
Burns went on to explain how he wants every single top fighter in the division. He lost to Kamaru Usman only a few short months ago, and knows that he must prove himself in the Octagon for the UFC to take his title claim seriously ever again.
“I’m not going to lie to you, I want to fight everyone in that division. Every top opponent I want to face. I still have a dream match with Colby. I still want a rematch with Kamaru.
I want to beat Masvidal, I want to beat Nate Diaz, I want to beat Leon Edwards. I want to beat every single guy, especially a tough one in that division.
It’s no pressure, it’s just that if you want to fight for the title, you have to beat this guy, that’s the next guy. And I do believe it will be between Leon and Masvidal for my next fight.”
Burns is currently ranked #2 in the UFC’s welterweight division. Only Colby Covington stands between him and Usman in the rankings. Dana White wants Covington to take the next shot at Kamaru Usman’s title, and Covington has been typically vocal in his pursuit of the same.
Burns’ position means that any challenger moving up the ranks has to fight him and win in order to challenge Usman for the title, and it’s clear that Gilbert “Durinho” Burns is happy with that position.
Who do you see “Durinho” fighting next? Will he fight Masvidal, who is returning from consecutive losses against Usman, or will it be upcoming challenger Leon Edwards?
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