It isn’t easy to look good against Stephen
Thompson.
While Gilbert
Burns didn’t necessarily win any new fans with his performance
against “Wonderboy” at UFC 264, he was able to do exactly what it
took to earn a victory and remain relevant in the welterweight
division.
“I’m very confident right now because I was able to beat a guy that
a lot of guys lost to,” Burns said. “A lot of guys don’t want to
fight him. Colby [Covington] doesn’t want to fight him, Leon
Edwards doesn’t want to fight him. They offered it and I said
let’s go. I was able to get a win. That puts me right back in the
title picture. I have a little bit more work to do, but I’m right
there.”
By grounding Thompson in every round, “Durinho” landed the most
takedowns against the South Carolina-based karateka since Matt Brown
secured five takedowns at UFC 145 in 2012. Burns put a lasting
stamp on the victory when he maintained top position for the second
half of Round 3 and ended the fight with a salvo of
ground-and-pound.
“I was super ready for this fight. As soon as I was able to get a
hold of him, I was able to take him down and control him,” Burns
said. “I felt great.”
It was a much-needed bounce back performance for Burns, who was
coming off a third-round TKO loss to Kamaru
Usman in a title bout at UFC 258 this past February.
“That was a special moment, coming back from a loss and beating a
guy that a lot of guys couldn’t beat. I had a game plan and I was
able to execute. It felt good,” Burns said.
“If I control my emotions and keep working hard, I believe I am the
best guy. When I execute my game plan, am disciplined and relaxed,
I do believe I’m the best welterweight in the world.”
Burns has been victorious in five of his six Octagon appearances
since moving up to welterweight, with notable triumphs over the
likes of Thompson, Tyron
Woodley and Demian Maia.
That means he isn’t too far removed from the welterweight title
picture, even if there are a few athletes currently ahead of him in
the pecking order. Burns sees plenty of other attractive options
for fights at 170 pounds while he waits for another opportunity at
championship gold.
Colby is the guy right now and I respect that, but I’m next and
I’ll fight anyone that is in a position for the title shot,” Burns
said. “Leon
Edwards, Nate Diaz,
Jorge
Masvidal—they all can get it. I’m not afraid of anyone. I want
to fight every single one of these guys.”