Gilbert Burns isn’t exactly counting on the UFC to give him a title opportunity if he defeats Khamzat Chimaev on April 9.
Burns and Chimaev are scheduled to share the Octagon on the main card of UFC 273. The action will be held inside the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. It’s a big fight for Chimaev, who could very well be catapulted to a UFC Welterweight Title shot with a victory.
If Burns emerges victorious, however, he isn’t so sure about getting another crack at gold.
Gilbert Burns Expects A War
During an interview with Helen Yee, Gilbert Burns said he thinks Khamzat Chimaev will pose a tough challenge.
“I see myself winning for sure. I believe everyone I’m fighting that I’m gonna win but I see it going very hard. Especially in the beginning, he might be very strong. I do believe he’s gonna strike a little bit but I do believe he’s gonna grapple too. He’s gonna try to take me down, wrestle, stay heavy on top, good ground-and-pound, and that’s what I think he’s gonna do. I think I’ll have a lot of answers to the game and the takedown defense, getting up, a lot of striking too but I see a war. I don’t think it’s gonna be easy for me, I don’t think it’ll be easy for him.”
Title Shot Next?
Burns knows what it’s like to compete for UFC gold and he wants another chance. With that said, he isn’t betting the house on getting a second title shot if he beats Chimaev.
“Yeah [laughs]. Dana also said a lot of things that I respect when you have one opinion but later on, you change it. He keeps changing. We’ll see. I think everything’s about the performance. I gotta go there and get a finish and then I can have a title shot but it’s all about the performance nowadays. If the fight ends up being boring or being not what people expect, for sure we gotta do one more fight.”
Keep it locked on Middle Easy for all the pre-event goodness leading up to UFC 273.
