Taking over once-beaten Sean Brady this weekend, Gilbert Burns is vying for that title shot that he had as soon as earlier than. From divisional newcomer who virtually needed to beg for a combat, Burns has grown up proper earlier than our eyes. Sadly, he’s on a two combat dropping streak. However not all is misplaced. With a win, there’s priority for a title eliminator bout.
Gilbert Burns: The toolkit
Gilbert Burns has not gotten favourite therapy like different welterweight contenders (Colby Covington). However that may very well be due to his accomplishments. 22-7 in his profession of MMA. Nevertheless it’s his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu that’s intimidating for Burns’ matchups.
Gilbert Burns gained bronze at ADCC in 2015, the premier jiu jitsu event. In IBJJF, he’s notched a gold in gi (2011), and no-gi (2013). All through his MMA profession, Burns has completed 9 of his 22 wins through submission. Arm triangles, rear bare chokes, and arm bars are all ways in which Burns has gained within the UFC. However what’s scared extra folks than not is his placing has turn out to be deadly.
Six knockouts are beneath his belt. He offed Demian Maia, Dan Moret, and others through end. He damage Kamaru Usman within the two’s title combat again in 2021, almost ending the incumbent champion. Wherever he goes, Burns is deadly.
He took on Khamzat Chimaev in 2022, when Chimaev was at his most intimidating. Whereas the combat was a tough one, and Burns was determined the loser of the combat, Burns had Chimaev gasping for air and was placing on an ideal combat.
The duty at hand
Now Gilbert Burns is taking up eighth ranked Sean Brady. After dropping his shot to get in, Brady is hoping for a second shot on the division’s elite. Brady was handed the duty of ending Belal Muhammad’s hopes of a title in 2022. He was promptly overwhelmed and knocked out by the long run champion.
Brady’s obtained a slick submission recreation as properly. Along with his heavy wrestling method, Brady has cinched up 5 submission victories in his 16 skilled wins. His final was his most spectacular. He submitted Kelvin Gastelum with a kimura in spherical three. However there are extra attention-grabbing sides to his recreation: he’s defeated Craig Jones in a submission grappling match.
With Burns’ ADCC and IBJJF accolades, he’s positive to welcome the bottom method of Sean Brady. However the path gained’t be straightforward. Grown up earlier than our eyes, Gilbert Burns is now 38 years outdated, no spring hen. He has 7 years on the youthful Brady. Time is ticking for Gilbert Burns and he can not afford to lose this weekend.
The brand new reign and the outdated historical past
Surprising many, Belal Muhammad dominated Leon Edwards to seize the welterweight title. Muhammad and “Durinho” have a historical past that goes again to 2023. In that combat, Burns was considerably holding his personal when he suffered an enormous damage to his left shoulder. He partially tore his AC joint, deltoid, and entice muscle and in addition sprained his C4 and C5 vertebrae. He fought valiantly in that combat, although a one sided loss
Gilbert Burns would assuredly like that one again, particularly given now that Muhammad is the champion of the division. Burns wasn’t given an excellent hand in that combat and will have had the chance to combat Edwards for the title if he gained. As an alternative he obtained surging contender Jack Della Maddalena after almost a yr off. He was placing on one more good efficiency till he was completed in spherical three.
Gilbert Burns can not afford a 3rd straight loss. Whereas he’s been good to the corporate, at 38 years of age, dropping to a fighter like Sean Brady will set him again three years. That places him north of 40, one thing solely Glover Teixeira has been probably the most profitable with. Burns has the outdated man data now. He should use it.
