Gilbert Burns targets October or November return – preferably against Leon Edwards

MMA News

Gilbert Burns targets October or November return – preferably against Leon Edwards

Gilbert Burns has three names in mind for his next opponent, but one particular fighter stands out.

Burns (19-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) rebounded from his title-fight loss to Kamaru Usman in February with a unanimous decision win over Stephen Thompson earlier this month at UFC 264 and has been eyeing bouts with Leon Edwards, former title challenger Jorge Masvidal and fan-favorite Nate Diaz.

But if Burns could pick, he sees the streaking Edwards (19-3 MMA, 11-2 UFC) as the best option in his quest for another shot at gold.

“Leon No. 1, Masvidal No. 2, Diaz if he wants it,” Burns told MMA Junkie. “If they want it, they can get it. We’ll see. But October, three rounds, if it’s five rounds then we go November.”

Despite going back and forth on social media with Edwards, Burns admits he should have been next in line for Usman. But since Colby Covington was granted the title shot instead, Burns thinks a fight with him and Edwards before the end of the year makes perfect sense.

“I already talked to Dana right after the fight, and I don’t know,” Burns said. “We’re waiting on these guys. I want to fight – for sure I need a little time just to recover my body, get back in training and all that and get to camp. But I’ll be able to go again (in) October, November, and those are the two guys that kind of get me going more. First of all, Leon Edwards is No. 3, freaking 10-fight winning streak, that’s a fight that excites me. Guy is freaking tough. He’s been beating everybody. He has a big case to fight for the title. That’s a fight that I want. That guy is tough as sh*t, very tough, very good.

“Sometimes I talk a little crap to him, but I wish it was him fighting for the title. The guy freaking deserves it. Let’s be honest, he’s the one who deserves it. Take Colby away from there, but it’s supposed to be Leon. Let me fight Leon. I don’t know. I called him out, he was talking mad crap, too, because I criticized the way he beat Nate and then I said you’re talking sh*t, let’s fight. He’s quiet, so I don’t know. I hope we fight. It’s one of these two guys that makes a lot of sense for me, gets me going. Masvidal and Leon Edwards, so let’s see.”

With UFC president Dana White expressing interest in a potential grudge match between Edwards and Masvidal (35-15 MMA, 12-8 UFC), that could leave Burns out of the equation. But “Durinho” would completely understand if that’s the direction the promotion took, considering the pair’s heated history.

“I think they should fight,” Burns said. “I don’t see this as me, I see it as the UFC, as the fans. That’s a fight that I want to see, too. Leon cannot go out with the soda, you know. Yeah, I think they should fight. I don’t know if they will, but they should fight, and that would put me a little bit behind, but then I can fight another guy. It’s all good. I think the improvement that I got with the loss to Kamaru and the win over ‘Wonderboy,’ I’m getting to the next level. So I just want to keep getting better. For sure, I’d rather fight both guys, but if that fight happens, I’ll watch it, too. I like it.”

Gilbert Burns targets October or November return – preferably against Leon Edwards