Gilbert Burns still wants Jorge Masvidal, but also has Plan B options
UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns still wants to fight Jorge Masvidal next, but he has Plan B options in case that doesn’t work out.
Burns has not fought since April when he lost a unanimous decision to Khamzat Chimaev in a “Fight of the Year” contender. After taking a much-deserved break, he is now looking to get back into the cage later this year or early next year. Burns has been vocal about challenging Masvidal next, but at this point, that fight has not been booked yet. It’s still the goal of “Durinho” to fight “Gamebred” next, but he also has some alternative options.
Speaking to AG Fight in a recent interview, Burns once again stated his desire to step into the Octagon with Masvidal, but if that fight doesn’t go down, he has some others in mind.
“It’s a soap opera and I want to fight for a while. I’m just calm because there’s an event in January in Rio, because if I didn’t, I’d be crazy asking for a fight. But as there is this event, they must be trying to play there. They want it to be against Masvidal, they want it to happen. They asked me and him, we accepted. They tried to put it on November 12 and he said he couldn’t, because he was coming from wrist surgery and November was close. So, he pushed it to December or January, but he doesn’t have a contract,” Burns said.
“But if this whole soap opera stays, give me another guy. It doesn’t have to be Masvidal, the UFC and I want it. Every guy who comes from defeat wants to win and I do. If he does, he’ll be cool because he’s known and he’ll help me become popular, be in Brazil, but if he doesn’t want to, there are people who want to. Plan B could be whoever beats Belal (Muhammad) and Sean Brady, this is a good fight. There’s Geoff Neal, who challenged me and is another option.”
Regardless of whether it’s Masvidal, the winner of Muhammad vs. Brady, or Neal, Burns’ next fight will be met with plenty of anticipation by the fans of the sport.
Who do you want to see Gilbert Burns fight next?
