Gilbert Burns could find himself on the cusp of title contention with a win Saturday.
Burns (18-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC) faces former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley in the UFC on ESPN 9 headliner looking to enter the title race.
But sitting on the 170-pound throne is his good friend and teammate, Kamaru Usman. And while it may complicate their training situation, Burns said he would have zero hesitation fighting him.
“I’m professional. He’s professional,” Burns told MMA Junkie. “The numbers, being a No. 1 contender, being a champion – we’re talking about opportunities. I have a family. He has a family. … It’s going to be awkward because I don’t know where we’re going to train. I don’t know if one guy will have to move out to do a camp. But yeah, for sure. We’re fighting. It’s on me. He’s already the champion. I’ve got to go out there and perform my best against Tyron Woodley to get the shot, but yeah, for sure we’re fighting.”
It was just a few weeks ago that the two were sharing a practice room, where Burns was taking insight from Usman on Woodley, the man he dethroned to win the title.
“The last time that we worked was when we sparred the week of the Jacksonville fight,” Burns said. “That Tuesday, we sparred a couple of rounds. I asked a lot of things about Tyron Woodley. We talked and he gave me a lot of great insight. I still have a great relationship with Kamaru.”
UFC on ESPN 9 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The event airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.
