UFC welterweight Gilbert Burns is a little disappointed not to be getting a five-round fight against Jorge Masvidal. He might also be a little disappointed not to see Masvidal’s somewhat-serious “BMF” belt on the line. Regardless, Burns plans to make his opponent suffer so much over the course of their three-round co-main event at UFC 287 that it won’t make much difference.
“For sure, it’s a disappointment. I’m still waiting on the UFC. We’re talking with the UFC — if they say, ‘We don’t think so,’ I’m going to say please, come on. I don’t ask for much. I just want five rounds. You guys did five rounds for Leon Edwards and Nate [Diaz], you guys did five rounds on other occasions. Why not? I’m pushing, but we’re still waiting.
Burns Will Make Masvidal “Suffer”
It’s very hard when one guy says no – it’s very hard for the UFC to say yes. So we’ll see. I would love to have that [‘BMF’] title in place and five rounds for sure because I just think I’m going to destroy this guy.
The main goal is destroying these guys and become champion,” Burns said. “So if it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen.
Three rounds, I’m going to make that guy suffer so much in three rounds that it should be enough, but five rounds just guarantees a finish. If the fight is five rounds, I’ll finish, but if he don’t want it, it’s all good.”
Burns also wants to correct the record. A few fighters have accused him of “ducking” fights, a claim that he solidly refutes. “I respect this guy – he’s a beast.
Over 50 fights, fought in the backyard, the whole story. I respect Masvidal. Nothing against him. My only issue was I just hope these lies — these guys [need to tell the truth], ‘When the UFC offered me the fight, I said no,’ because everybody is playing games. ‘Oh the fight was never offered.’ These things bother me a little bit.
Belal Muhammad said I ducked him. I never ducked that guy. He ducked fighting me in Brazil. The fight was offered to him officially, and he turned it down. He don’t want to fight me. I just wish the whole MMA community would tell the truth about these things. I never say no to a fight. The Masvidal fight was offered to me three times. Belal Muhammad was offered and he said no.
I never said no to a fight. I wish people would really see the reality of that.” Which way do you see Masvidal vs Burns going down? Let us know in the comments.
