Brazilian submission expert Gilbert Burns doesn’t believe his title aspirations are over just yet.
The former 170-pound title challenger, 38, fights the unbeaten Ecuadorian Michael Morales in the main event of the UFC’s latest fight card inside its Apex facility on the outskirts of Las Vegas late on Saturday night.
And according to the welterweight veteran, he’s closer than many might think to challenging for the title belt now held by his former foe Jack Della Maddalena.
“I believe I’m two wins away from the mix,” Burns said via MMA Fighting.
“I haven’t lost to jabronis, I lost to Kamaru, a champion. I lost to Chimaev, who’s fighting for the belt. I lost to Belal, who became champion. I lost to Jack, who became champion. To Sean Brady, who’s the number one contender now.”
As he correctly says, Burns has fought a who’s-who of top welterweight talent in his 11 years on the active UFC roster. However, after winning impressive bouts against Neil Magny and Jorge Masvidal, Burns has lost three straight – though these came in stern tests against Sean Brady, Jack Della Maddalena and Belal Muhammad.
“I fight everybody, so I think the UFC respects that, too,” Burns added.
“I’m on the path. I have to get back to the winning track, to believe on the adjusts I’m making. It’s not far. I believe that a good win over Morales puts me back in the game. One more big victory, it’s going to be like a movie, brother.
“Imagine that, Durinho champion, that’s a movie. It’s on me to believe and turn this movie into reality. Let’s work, let’s do our best to make this happen.”
