Burns: Usman might want to dominate you but ‘I want to finish you’

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Gilbert Burns will be looking to make a statement by finishing Kamaru Usman at UFC 258. Having sparred over 200 rounds together at various gyms over the years, Gilbert Burns…


UFC Fight Night: Woodley v Burns
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Gilbert Burns will be looking to make a statement by finishing Kamaru Usman at UFC 258.

Having sparred over 200 rounds together at various gyms over the years, Gilbert Burns and Kamaru Usman know each other very well, but what separates these two world class welterweights?

According to Burns, his killer instinct will be the difference maker when he takes on Usman for the welterweight title in the UFC 258 main event this Saturday.

Burns claims ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ looks to dominate his opponents while ‘Durinho’ — who has 14 finishes to his name — is always looking for the stoppage.

“That’s the difference between me and Kamaru,” Burns told MMA Fighting ahead of UFC 258. “Kamaru looks first to domination. He wants to dominate you, put you in a bad spot, make you tired, wear you out and then beat you up. I’m different on that than Kamaru.

“I want to finish you, I want to beat you up, knock you out, submit you. If I cannot, if I think you’re going to stay there, then I think of domination. But first, I’m thinking of finishing. That’s what I’m looking for and I’m looking forward to being dangerous everywhere in that fight.”

Usman does have eight career finishes, his most recent being a TKO win over Colby Covington at UFC 245, but the reigning welterweight champion has won the majority of his bouts via decision.

UFC 258: Usman vs. Burns takes place this Saturday, Feb. 13 at the UFC Apex Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.