UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns knows how it feels to stand opposite Kamaru Usman in the Octagon. Burns’ incredible grappling pedigree, which includes three gold medals, was not enough to overcome the welterweight champ.
On Food Truck Diaries, Burns explained that, although Leon Edwards lost to Kamaru Usman on his way up many years ago, the English fighter may well have what it takes to dethrone the no.1 ranked pound for pound fighter on the planet.
Burns: Leon Edwards Can Defeat Kamaru Usman
“I’m telling you right now, Leon Edwards is very underrated. That guy is very good. Just think about it: a striker, long and a southpaw. That’s already tough, and that guy has a great team.
I know Kamaru pretty well, but that fight is gonna be close. That fight is gonna be close, and I think if you got these three guys, me in my opinion, Colby, Khamzat, and Leon, Leon has the best chance to beat Usman.”
The UFC welterweight title conversation has been dominated in recent years by a love (or hate) triangle between Kamaru Usman, Jorge Masvidal, and Colby Covington. Usman also defeated Gilbert Burns via TKO back in February 2021.
Usman is 2-0 against both Covington and Masvidal, and is a heavy favorite to defeat Leon Edwards when “Rocky” eventually gets his title shot. Leon Edwards, however, has not lost a fight since 2015. That sole loss came against Kamaru Usman, and Edwards has spent the intervening time working on his all-round MMA skills.
This fact is not lost on Gilbert “Durinho” Burns. Although Khamzat Chimaev’s surge through the welterweight division has many fans clamoring to see Chechen fighter challenge for the title, Gilbert Burns, who lost to Khamzat via a narrow decision at UFC 273, still thinks Leon Edwards is a more well rounded fighter. The diversity of Leon Edwards’ skillset, says Gilbert Burns, is his greatest asset.
“I think because he’s a striker, and he can grapple, and he can wrestle. Very long. These other guys are wrestlers. They can strike, don’t get me wrong. Both guys [Covington and Chimaev] can strike, but they are wrestlers. That guy [Edwards] is a striker.
I think out of these three guys, Leon has more chance to beat Kamaru, and I think that fight is gonna be close. Kamaru is very smart. He’s been there a couple of times. I think he’s gonna take the fight very serious, but if he doesn’t, it’s a mistake. It’s a rematch, now fighting for the title. That guy’s been waiting for the opportunity.”
Do you agree with Gilbert Burns? Let us know in the comments.
