Can Gilbert Burns rise to the occasion?
I’d put Gilbert Burns in the same category occupied by Brit Leon Edwards and, previously, by current welterweight champ Kamaru Usman. All three have been fighters with elite-level talent, but perhaps without the big-name upside that makes them a worthwhile risk for higher-ranked fighters. It’s meant all three men have had to do the hard yards to get to the sharp end of the 170-pound division, with their results and performances doing the talking for them.
Burns’ submission skills are good enough to put away just about anyone in the division, but his evolving striking skills now make him a legitimate threat wherever the fight goes. He fell in love with his hands a little a few fights back and ended up getting punished by Dan Hooker, but since then has found a happy balance that has seen him reel off a string of impressive victories.
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Now, after pushing hard to land himself a big fish, Burns (18-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC) has a monster on the hook. Former champ Woodley is one of the division’s undoubted A-listers, and is one of the most dominant welterweight champions in UFC history. If Burns can do a demolition job on “The Chosen One” all bets are off on the Brazilian being thrown into the title mix at 170.
The big question is can “Durinho” deliver in the biggest fight of his career so far?
Next up: A heavyweight prospect with his eyes on the division’s big names
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