Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Gilbert Burns tested positive for coronavirus and was pulled from the upcoming UFC 251 pay-per-view (PPV) main event on July 11 in Abu Dhabi, paving the way for fellow welterweight contender Jorge Masvidal to step in and take his place on super-short notice.
Consider Nate Diaz a fan of those circumstances.
“Real fights are better fights,” the Stockton slapper wrote on Twitter.
I’m not sure what constitutes a “real” fight since Burns undoubtedly earned his crack at the 170-pound title, currently held by the 16-1 Kamaru Usman. “Durinho” is the winner of six straight, having recently defeated former champion Tyron Woodley on ESPN.
“Real? I would maul you,” Burns (19-3) fired back. “I will out-grapple you and out-box you… and I’ll slap you up, don’t talk about real.”
Diaz (20-12), who disappeared after getting filleted by Masvidal in the UFC 244 main event last November in New York, has competed just twice over the last four years is probably not in a position to hand down critiques on the current state of welterweight matchmaking.
Depending on his recovery timeline, Burns is likely to get the winner of Usman-Masvidal at the end of the year, unless something wacky happens in the UFC 251 main event or the fight is close enough to warrant an immediate rematch.
See the finalized UFC 251 fight card and line up here.