Gilbert Burns is willing to fight Sean Strickland at middleweight.
Gilbert Burns has offered to step in and fight Sean Strickland on short notice following Luke Rockhold’s withdrawal from UFC 268.
Burns, 35, has spent his entire career at welterweight but seems keen to fight Strickland, 30, at 185 lbs.
The former welterweight title challenger last fought at UFC 264 where he defeated Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson via unanimous decision.
Middle weight nov 06? Sign me in I fight Strickland and I meant it
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) October 12, 2021
“Middle weight Nov 06? Sign me in I fight Strickland and I meant it,” Burns posted on Twitter following the news of Rockhold’s withdrawal from UFC 268.
Burns, a former lightweight, isn’t exactly the biggest welterweight on the UFC roster which means he would be at a considerable size disadvantage against Strickland.
Strickland, though, used to compete at welterweight himself. He moved back up to middleweight in 2020 and rattled off four straight wins against Jack Marshman, Brendan Allen, Krzysztof Jotko, and Uriah Hall.
UFC 268 takes place next month, Nov. 6 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.