Gilbert Burns has given his take on why Paulo Costa will be entering his UFC 294 fight against Khamzat Chimaev as an underdog.
Costa and Chimaev will be having their grudge match on October 21 in Abu Dhabi. The two have had beef for a while now, and almost came to blows at the UFC Performance Institute back in 2022. As it stands now, “Borrachinha” is a +275 betting underdog, per Bovada.
Gilbert Burns On Why Paulo Costa Is The Underdog
During an exclusive interview with Middle Easy, Gilbert Burns was asked by Mike Owens if he’s surprised Costa is an underdog given his size and how Chimaev struggled at times against “Durinho.”
“Not really because Costa, like everybody is saying is huge, he’s a big guy, but I don’t think he has the heart that I have,” Burns said. “I don’t think he has the jiu-jitsu that I have. He doesn’t have the get-ups that I have, he don’t have the submission threat that I have that kind of make Khamzat don’t wanna grapple. I think he’s very strong, a big guy, but I think he’s gonna gas.”
No Love Lost For Costa Or Chimaev
Burns then let it be known that he isn’t chummy with either Costa or his former foe Khamzat.
“I don’t like both of these guys,” Burns said. “A double knockout will be the best result.”
Closer Fight Than People Realize?
While Gilbert Burns isn’t surprised by the odds, he still believes things can play out one of two ways. “Durinho” thinks that the first round will be very telling.
“I don’t know, I think it’s a 50-50 fight,” Burns said. “If Khamzat is able to take him down, I think it’ll be a hard night for Costa, but in the other way, too, if Costa is able to defend the takedown it’ll be a hard night for Khamzat. So, I think we’re gonna see the winner how the first round goes. If Costa defends the takedowns, keep the fight on the feet, it’s gonna be his fight. If Khamzat is able to take him down in the beginning, yeah then Khamzat’s gonna get the win. So, we gotta keep an eye on that fight, but the first round is gonna tell us who’s gonna win the fight.”
Take a look at the full exclusive Middle Easy video interview with Gilbert Burns below:
