A welterweight title tilt between reigning champion Kamaru
Usman and Gilbert
Burns is in the works for UFC
258.
ESPN has reported that both Usman and Burns have verbally
agreed to the bout, though contracts have not yet been signed. UFC
258 takes place on Feb. 13 at an as yet to be announced location.
Combate initially reported the fight.
Usman vs. Burns has already been scheduled on two previous
occasion. A positive COVID-19 test for Burns nixed their bout at
UFC 251 in July, and then the rebooking at UFC 256 on Dec. 12 fell
through when Usman withdrew to recover from lingering injuries.
Usman enters the matchup on a 16-bout professional winning streak
that includes 12 victories within the Las Vegas-based promotion.
“The Nigerian Nightmare” claimed 170-pound gold with a dominant
five-round verdict over Tyron
Woodley at UFC 235 and has since defended the crown with a
fifth-round TKO of Colby
Covington at UFC 245 and a decision against Jorge
Masvidal at UFC 251.
Burns, meanwhile, is riding the momentum of a six-fight winning
streak in UFC competition. After beginning his promotional tenure
at lightweight, “Durinho” has impressed at 170 pounds, posting
victories against Woodley, Demian Maia,
Gunnar
Nelson and Alexey
Kunchenko in his new weight class. Since 2017, Burns has won
eight of nine Octagon appearances, with his only defeat coming at
the hands of Dan Hooker at
UFC 226.