Kamaru Usman vs Gilbert Burns targeted for UFC 258
After two postponements in 2020, it appears that the UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman will meet top contender Gilbert Burns in 2021. According to a report by Combate which was translated by Aaron Bronsteter of TSN, the UFC is reportedly targeting the welterweight title fight between Usman and Burns to take place at UFC 258 which is currently scheduled to take place on February 13, 2021.
Per Combate, the UFC are targeting February 13 for the re-booked bout between Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns for the UFC welterweight title. https://t.co/ZBX5A39IQj
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) November 17, 2020
The UFC has begun beginning to build their cards for the first quarter of 2021, as it was also reported on Tuesday that Chris Weidman vs Uriah Hall 2 is also being targeted for the UFC 258 PPV.
This is the third attempt to make a fight between Usman and Burns, as they were originally set to fight at UFC 251 in July of 2020, then a second booking was attempted for December of this year, but Usman needed more recovery time, and now it appears the UFC has a date set.
After Burns had to withdraw from UFC 251 in July due to COVID-19, Usman accepted a short-notice fight against ‘BMF’ champion Jorge Masvidal who surged his way into top contention with a flurry of great performances in the welterweight division. Although there was bad blood between the two, Usman was able to secure a unanimous decision victory over Masvidal in the fight, his second consecutive title defense since becoming champion.
Burns earned his top contender spot with impressive wins over Demian Maia and former champion Tyron Woodley, who Burns beat by unanimous decision.
The UFC currently has plans for UFC 257 to take place on ‘Fight Island’ in Abu Dhabi, but there is no word yet if they plan to have UFC 258 take place there as well. The UFC now has main event fights set for their first two PPV events in 2021, with the return of Conor McGregor set for January and a welterweight title fight between Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns in February.
