MIAMI – [autotag]Gilbert Burns[/autotag] doesn’t see [autotag]Jorge Masvidal[/autotag] retiring with a loss at UFC 287.
Burns (21-5 MMA, 14-5 UFC) meets Masvidal (35-16 MMA, 12-9 UFC) in Saturday’s welterweight co-main event at Kaseya Center. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.
Masvidal, who has lost his past three fights, has said openly that a fourth-straight setback could signal the end of his career. But with “Gamebred” recently signing a multi-fight deal, which his former manager claimed makes him “top 5 highest-paid” fighters in the UFC, Burns doubts he leaves all that money on the table.
“I don’t like the fact that a fighter starts thinking about retirement, talking about retirement,” Burns told reporters, including MMA Junkie, during Wednesday’s UFC 287 media day. “I don’t think he’ll retire. I think I’m going to beat him, but I don’t think he’ll retire. I think he’s making a lot of money on these fights.”
[lawrence-related id=2630792,2630480,2628698]
Burns compared Masvidal to Nate Diaz, who despite alternating wins and losses, continued to be a lucrative name and draw for top-tier opposition in the UFC before parting ways with the company.
“He might take a little time off, try to get an easy fight, but he’s going to be the new Nate Diaz of the division,” Burns added. “He’s going to be that superfight guy that comes and he sells a lot of pay-per-views. I don’t think he’s done.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 287.