UFC welterweights Gilbert Burns and Jorge Masvidal may well be headed for a clash. Burns himself, at the UFC Hall of Fame red carpet, told reporters (via MMAJunkie) that he’s eyeing Jorge Masvidal for his next opponent. With a new contract underway and Masvidal seeming like easy prey for an elite wrestler, the timing couldn’t be better for Burns.
“I think Jorge Masvidal is next.
He already said a couple of times; I said a couple of times. Today I just got my email with my new contract with the new deal. I’m looking forward to signing that right now, but every time that they send me the new contract, I think it’s because they’re kind of working on the fight, so I hope that’s the next one. Me against Jorge Masvidal, September, October, I’ll be ready for it.”
Burns is also looking to fight Kamaru Usman and Khamzat Chimaev once again. A win over Masvidal, he says, puts him in contention for either one.
Burns Calls out Masvidal, Masvidal Responds
“One hundred percent I’ll take that rematch. I got two rematches I want to get done: first it’s Khamzat then the Kamaru fight. Those are two that I’m gonna keep chasing.
But I do believe a good win over Jorge Masvidal might put me in that spot. I know it’s gonna be hard to get Khamzat an opponent – I don’t know that crazy talk with Nate Diaz, but I’m feeling it’s gonna be hard, so that’s why I want to get that fight done with Masvidal ASAP.”
Masvidal, appearing on The Fighter vs The Writer, echoed the sentiment. He wants Burns at his best, which means “Gamebred” wants to wrestle.
“I don’t want Gilbert to sign no contract that says no takedowns. Do your game, my brother. Do what’s gotten you here.
I know he’s a world champion in [Brazilian jiu-jitsu]. I’m trying to work on my grappling, always trying to get better. So do everything that God has allowed you to do and blessed you to do.
Definitely a fight that interests me. Before the Conor fight came up, that’s the one that called me out and I was like, this is a guy that comes to fight.
The whole world doesn’t know him but they will, because he comes to fight. He’s going to try and choke you out, knock you out, and just has a good style. I like the fight.
Once some of these legal issues I’ve got going on [are settled], I’m setting a date. That’s another reason why we’re not setting dates right now, because I’ve just got to figure out some things and then we’ll lock it in.”
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