Gilbert Burns eyes July return, thinks Nik Lentz ‘makes sense’

Gilbert Burns would like to face Nik Lentz after his September loss to Michel Prazeres.

Lightweight Gilbert Burns is thinking about his next fight after a few months on the sidelines. Following a decision loss to Michel Prazeres in September 2016, Burns told Combate that July would be a good time to return and Nik Lentz would make a fine opponent.

“There’s a lot of guys I want to fight, but I understand it needs to make sense. I can’t come off a loss and ask for a Top 10 guy. I think Nik Lentz, who also lost his last fight, makes sense. He embraces a grappling match and it makes sense for the both of us and the UFC.

“Our styles match, I think it would be exciting to watch. It’s wrestling against jiu-jitsu. We have fair striking, I wouldn’t give the advantage to anybody. Sooner or later, the fight will hit the mat, my strong suit. I think I would win and climb a few steps.”

Before the loss to Prazeres, Gilbert Burns had an armbar submission win over Lukasz Sajewski in July 2016. Three of his four UFC wins have come by way of armbar.

Gilbert Burns would like to face Nik Lentz after his September loss to Michel Prazeres.

Lightweight Gilbert Burns is thinking about his next fight after a few months on the sidelines. Following a decision loss to Michel Prazeres in September 2016, Burns told Combate that July would be a good time to return and Nik Lentz would make a fine opponent.

“There’s a lot of guys I want to fight, but I understand it needs to make sense. I can’t come off a loss and ask for a Top 10 guy. I think Nik Lentz, who also lost his last fight, makes sense. He embraces a grappling match and it makes sense for the both of us and the UFC.

“Our styles match, I think it would be exciting to watch. It’s wrestling against jiu-jitsu. We have fair striking, I wouldn’t give the advantage to anybody. Sooner or later, the fight will hit the mat, my strong suit. I think I would win and climb a few steps.”

Before the loss to Prazeres, Gilbert Burns had an armbar submission win over Lukasz Sajewski in July 2016. Three of his four UFC wins have come by way of armbar.