Gilbert Burns believes impressive win over Jorge Masvidal at UFC 287 could lead to title shot
UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns believes that an impressive win over Jorge Masvidal at UFC 287 could lead to a welterweight title shot.
Burns takes on Masvidal next weekend in the co-main event of UFC 287. It’s an important fight for both men in the stacked UFC welterweight division, but especially for Burns, as he looks to get another title shot. The Brazilian beat veteran Neil Magny in his last outing by submission, and if he gets another stoppage win over Masvidal, it could help push Burns right to the top of the pecking order when it comes to a 170lbs title shot.
Of course, right now the UFC welterweight belt is held by champion Leon Edwards, and Colby Covington is said to be next in line to fight for the belt later this year. But as far as Burns goes, despite UFC president Dana White saying repeatedly that Covington is next in line, the Kill Cliff FC product believes that an impressive victory over Masvidal next weekend in Miami could help him jump the title short queue earn him his second UFC title fight.
“One hundred percent, I can steal the show and put doubt on everyone’s mind. It all depends on the performance. If I go out there and dominate this guy and finish what Colby didn’t do in this last fight, what took Kamaru (Usman) seven rounds to do. If I go out there in one or two (rounds), I think that says a lot. So we’ll see. We’re still 11 days to the fight, there’s work to do, but I’m confident that I’m going to finish Jorge Masvidal,” Burns told MMAjunkie.com in a recent interview.
While White has said that Covington is next for Edwards no matter what, Burns is going to try his very best to change the boss’s mind when he takes on Masvidal at UFC 287 and looks for another big impressive victory. For his part, Covington recently said that he’s picking Burns to beat Masvidal, but he doesn’t think it will be enough for him to get leapfrogged in the UFC welterweight title picture.
Do you agree with Gilbert Burns that he could jump the line for a 170lbs title shot with a flashy win over Jorge Masvidal at UFC 287?
