Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports
Gilbert Burns’ father made one bargain that completely changed course for Gilbert and his brothers.
Gilbert Burns martial arts journey started at 13 and he has his father to thank for all of it.
Burns’ dad fixed cars for a living. One day, his father saw Burns and his brothers playing with a customer’s gi. He offered the client a free service in exchange for free three month memberships for his three boys.
“There are memories from my childhood that I don’t remember much, but that one is clear in my mind. First time going to the mats, training. I was with a hoodie, we didn’t have a gi because we didn’t have the money. I liked it a lot,” Burns recalled while speaking to Bloody Elbow. “My dad said, ‘let me tell you something. If you guys really liked it make sure you do it good. You guys gotta be one of the best because I don’t have any money. You only have three months of membership. After that I’m not going to have money to pay. If you guys do good, I might ask the professor to give you guys scholarships.’”
“It’s crazy to look back and see that my dad figured all that out. Today I’m here, a three-time world champion. My brother [Herbert Burns] is a world champion. We’re both in the UFC. My older brother is a NAVY seal and black belt in jiu-jitsu. That’s crazy when I look back,” he concluded. “That one decision changed my whole life.”
Burns fights Demian Maia in the co-main event of UFC Brasilia. The handful of fighters who have beat Maia have done so by avoiding his world-renowned jiu-jitsu, but Burns welcomes grappling with his fellow Brazilian. Burns, a two-time IBJFF champion, looks forward to trading positions with ADCC champion Maia at UFC Brasilia.
“100 percent we’re gonna grapple,” Burns said with a smile. “I believe we’re going to grapple. It’s not even test, I don’t want to test. I know how good he is, I know how good I am, but I just believe we’re going to grapple… That’s Demian Maia right there. He’s going to shoot.”
Burns did not shy away from calling Maia an all-time great. After all, in nine professional losses, eight have been to world champions (5 UFC, 2 Strikeforce and 1 Bellator).
“He never lost to just a guy,” Burns asserted. “All those guys, like you said, are champions or former champions at the highest-level. He’s a future Hall of Fame, legend of the sport. People have no idea how huge he is in Brazil. He’s huge. Everyone knows Demian. The good thing when fighting in Brazil against a non-Brazilian is you get that crazy crowd in your favor. Uh Vai Morrer to the other guy… I believe Demian Maia is not getting booed. If anyone in the arena is getting booed it might be me. I hope not, but I’m ready if that is the case.”
Burns is on a UFC career best four-fight winning streak, punctuated by victories over Gunnar Nelson and Alexey Kunchenko since moving to welterweight. ‘Durinho’ credits the move to 170 for his recent success and says his wife was the one who championed the change.
“She came to me and said you can’t do those weight cuts anymore. You’re strong enough, you train with Kamaru [Usman], [Vicente] Luque, Robbie [Lawler], all the welterweights. Go fight at 170. That’s not healthy anymore. It was not the words, but the way she looked at me and told me. I said, ‘okay, I got it,’” Burns shared. “Being very honest, I couldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my wife and the support she gives me. Cooking, helping me take care of my two kids. They’re 5 and 7 right now and they are crazy. She takes care of them for me.”
Burns (17-3) fights Maia (28-9) at UFC Brasilia on Saturday, March 14. The card is headlined by Kevin Lee vs. Charles Oliveira.