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Gilbert Burns is optimistic about his change to the welterweight division after two wins since August.
Former lightweight fighter Gillbert Burns seems to have finally found his home in the welterweight division. With two wins in the new weight class after taking short notice bouts against Alexey Kunchenko and Gunnar Nelson, ‘Durinho’ is now on a two-fight winning streak fighting with just one month and a half between both matches.
However, the 33-year-old still believes he has more to show in his coming fights. In an interview with Ag Fight, Gilbert made it clear that he is still evolving as a fighter as been studying the game more seriously than ever.
“This move to a heavier division made me more relaxed, more self-aware. I feel well when I train. I don’t have to worry about it (cutting weight) and it made me pay attention to details during a fight. This is my best moment, but the best is yet to come.”
“I’m getting more seasoned.” Burns continued. “I learned a lot from the Vitor (Belfort) days, and I’ve been learning from my wins and my losses. I’m studying more. I’m becoming an MMA nerd. From Saturday to this day, I’ve watched my fight about 20 times. Things I did wrong and can’t do anymore. People say you learn when you lose, but why do I have to learn only when I lose? The mistakes are always there, but when you win, there’s that euphoria, emotion, and then you don’t notice the mistakes. I’m analyzing more, I’m filling my gaps. I don’t need to lose to evolve.”
With three wins in 2019, one of them still in the lightweight division, Burns does not feel like taking the rest of the year off. Instead, Gilbert called out welterweight veteran Neil Magny in his post-fight speech after decisioning Nelson in Copenhangen. A win over Magny would most likely make Durinho finish the year with a spot in the rankings, which he believes to be doable, since Burns feels like it’s a good match for him.
“Magny is ready to fight. He is a good match for me, he’s a well-known guy. I like what he brings to the table and he would put me up there. I think it’s a fight that makes sense, because he’s been inactive and I’m the new guy in the division, I’ve been putting on good performances. He’s a guy that interests me a lot.”
Currently on a four-fight winning streak, Burns (17-3) has not lost a fight since a July 2018 knockout loss to Dan Hooker. Before the Mike Davis win, Durinho also scored an unanimous decision win over fellow grappler Olivier Aubin-Mercier, back in December 2018.