Tag: Gilbert Burns

5 Questions That Need to Be Answered Heading into UFC 258

UFC 258 is just around the corner. Saturday’s card, which will emanate from the Apex facility in Las Vegas, will be headlined by a welterweight title fight between dominating champion Kamaru Usman and surging contender Gilbert Burns…

UFC 258 is just around the corner. Saturday’s card, which will emanate from the Apex facility in Las Vegas, will be headlined by a welterweight title fight between dominating champion Kamaru Usman and surging contender Gilbert Burns…

Kamaru Usman to Gilbert Burns: “I Showed You The Game”

As far as Kamaru Usman is concerned, he will not be staring across the cage at a former teammate at UFC 258 but rather a common foe. By now, it is well known that Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns were training partners for multiple years and developed a …

As far as Kamaru Usman is concerned, he will not be staring across the cage at a former teammate at UFC 258 but rather a common foe. By now, it is well known that Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns were training partners for multiple years and developed a strong bond through training sessions inside the […]

Quote: Usman & Burns Both Know How Their Fight Will End At UFC 258

UFC lightweight Dan Hooker believes that Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns both have an idea of what the outcome will be when the two meet on February 13. Kamaru Usman will face arguably his toughest challenge to date when he defends his welterweight cham…

UFC lightweight Dan Hooker believes that Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns both have an idea of what the outcome will be when the two meet on February 13. Kamaru Usman will face arguably his toughest challenge to date when he defends his welterweight championship against Gilbert Burns at UFC 258.  What makes this assignment so […]

Stephen Thompson: Gilbert Burns Is Kamaru Usman’s Toughest Matchup Yet

Burns UsmanStephen Thompson believes Gilbert Burns will be Kamaru Usman’s toughest fight yet. Burns is set to finally collide with Usman for the welterweight title when they headline the upcoming UFC 258 pay-per-view event taking place February 13 in Las Vegas. It will be a clash of former teammates as well but even casting that aside, […]

Burns Usman

Stephen Thompson believes Gilbert Burns will be Kamaru Usman’s toughest fight yet.

Burns is set to finally collide with Usman for the welterweight title when they headline the upcoming UFC 258 pay-per-view event taking place February 13 in Las Vegas.

It will be a clash of former teammates as well but even casting that aside, Thompson believes Burns has all the tools to be Usman’s toughest matchup so far.

That said, he still believes Usman’s wrestling will play a role.

“I think this is going to be Kamaru Usman’s toughest fight for sure,” Thompson told the “Weighing In” podcast (via MMA Junkie). “I mean (Burns has) got the ground, he’s a high-level jiu-jitsu practitioner, he’s got good striking, he’s been knocking dudes out. So I think he’s the better well-rounded fighter he’s faced, even Colby Covington. But Usman, on top of that, he’s an intelligent fighter. He’s got pressure and cardio for days. He’s got a gas tank like no other, but I do believe he can outwrestle Burns.

“I think he could wrestle him and neutralize his jiu-jitsu. His top game is really, really good, especially up against the fence. If he can get him pinned up against the fence where he’s able to control his opponent’s hips, I think he’s got it. But the thing is, getting in there. Burns’ striking is fast. That dude’s explosive. He may not have the reach Kamaru does, but he’s explosive and you saw it against Tyron Woodley. He knocked him down, something I wasn’t able to do.”

Despite the praise for Burns — who has been on one heck of a run since moving up to welterweight from lightweight — Thompson ultimately sees Usman coming out on top to earn his third title defense.

“I believe Kamaru Usman could do it,” Thompson added. “I like Kamaru Usman, I think he’s a great champ. I think he holds the title very well. I’m going for Usman, man. I think Usman’s got it.”

Perhaps one more win could see “Wonderboy” himself get the next crack at the title.

Who do you have winning between Usman and Burns?

Gilbert Burns Eager To Fight Khamzat Chimaev In The Near Future

BurnsUnlike others in the division, Gilbert Burns is excited about the prospect of facing Khamzat Chimaev. Burns is set to challenge Kamaru Usman for the welterweight title in the UFC 258 headliner which takes place February 13 in Las Vegas. Should he get the victory and become the new welterweight champion, he could end up […]

Burns

Unlike others in the division, Gilbert Burns is excited about the prospect of facing Khamzat Chimaev.

Burns is set to challenge Kamaru Usman for the welterweight title in the UFC 258 headliner which takes place February 13 in Las Vegas.

Should he get the victory and become the new welterweight champion, he could end up facing Chimaev next. That’s because the red-hot Chimaev is set to take on Leon Edwards on March 13 with many observers expecting him to get a title shot if he wins.

Of course, it took Chimaev quite a while to land a ranked contender in Edwards as the latter himself didn’t want to face an unranked opponent until he was pressured by the UFC. Other contenders like Stephen Thompson also had no interest in facing the unranked Chimaev.

However, Burns is eager to test himself against the undefeated prospect — regardless if he is ranked or not.

“Khamzat, I think I match up very good. I cannot wait to fight Chimaev,” Burns said on the TSN MMA Show (via MMA News). “He’s one of the guys that I really want to fight.

“I want to grapple, I want to scramble with him, I want to see his wrestling, how high level he is. I want to grapple with him. I want to scramble. I want to strike with him.”

Both fighters are managed by Ali Abdelaziz so it’s definitely possible that Burns is just bigging up a fellow client. However, the Brazilian has also shown that he is eager to face anyone, anytime so it would make sense that he is eager to face Chimaev whose stock is undoubtedly high within the sport.

Perhaps the stars will align and we will get to see that fight later this year.

Who do you have winning between Burns and Chimaev?

Gilbert Burns: I Cannot Wait to Fight Khamzat Chimaev

If Gilbert Burns was not next up for a title shot, it appears he would not have hesitated to be Khamzat Chimaev’s first ranked opponent. Prior to Khamzat Chimaev being booked against Leon Edwards, it appeared the UFC was having a hard time finding him …

If Gilbert Burns was not next up for a title shot, it appears he would not have hesitated to be Khamzat Chimaev’s first ranked opponent. Prior to Khamzat Chimaev being booked against Leon Edwards, it appeared the UFC was having a hard time finding him an opponent they felt was appropriate. Though Neil Magny repeatedly […]