Gilbert Burns, the Brazilian welterweight fighter known as ‘Durinho,’ is eager to return to the octagon but has shifted his focus away from a potential matchup with Colby Covington. In a recent interview with MMA Junkie released on May 17, Burns expressed his hesitation in pursuing a fight with Covington due to the complexities involved in the negotiation process.
While Burns had previously targeted Covington as a potential opponent, he now feels that the drama surrounding Covington’s reluctance to sign a contract makes the matchup too complicated.
During the interview, Burns clarified that the “drama” he referred to pertains specifically to Covington’s unwillingness to commit to a fight contract rather than Covington’s infamous trash-talking persona. Despite his interest in facing Covington in the past, Burns now believes there are other compelling matchups for him at welterweight.
In discussing his career trajectory, Burns emphasized his belief in his elite talent but indicated a willingness to face a variety of opponents. He mentioned several fighters he finds intriguing, including Joaquin Buckley, Geoff Neal, and Sean Brady.
Burns expressed a pragmatic approach to opponent selection, stating that he is not currently in a position to pick and choose his opponents. Instead, he relies on the UFC to match him with opponents, demonstrating a straightforward approach to fight negotiations.
Burns’ shift in focus away from Covington comes after experiencing setbacks in his recent fights. Following his victory over Jorge Masvidal at UFC 287, Burns suffered consecutive losses to Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena. These losses likely prompted Burns to reassess his priorities and consider alternative opponents.
Notably, Burns was recently called out by Joaquin Buckley following Buckley’s victory at UFC St. Louis. While Buckley gained attention for calling out Conor McGregor in the octagon, he mentioned Burns backstage as a more realistic opponent he is interested in facing. This acknowledgment underscores Burns’ status as a respected contender within the welterweight division.
