LAS VEGAS – In a perfect world, Gilbert Burns would fight Jorge Masvidal then rematch Khamzat Chimaev.
Burns (20-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC) took unbeaten star Chimaev to the brink in their past outing at UFC 273 in April but was ultimately outlasted in an all-out war. Despite the loss, the former title challenger’s stock rose.
Burns recently signed a new multifight UFC deal and has been campaigning for a fight against Masvidal (35-16 MMA, 12-9 UFC), who expressed interest in the matchup himself.
“I think Jorge Masvidal is next,” Burns told reporters, including MMA Junkie, on the UFC Hall of Fame red carpet. “He already said a couple of times; I said a couple of times. Today I just got my email with my new contract with the new deal. I’m looking forward to signing that right now, but every time that they send me the new contract, I think it’s because they’re kind of working on the fight, so I hope that’s the next one. Me against Jorge Masvidal, September, October, I’ll be ready for it.”
Should a fight with Masvidal materialize, Burns thinks it would set him up for a rematch against Chimaev (11-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC). With UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman set to rematch Leon Edwards in the main event of UFC 278 on Aug. 20, “Durinho” believes Chimaev will have a hard time finding an opponent, and he’ll be happy to oblige once again.
“One hundred percent I’ll take that rematch,” Burns said. “I got two rematches I want to get done: first it’s Khamzat then the Kamaru fight. Those are two that I’m gonna keep chasing.”
He continued, “But I do believe a good win over Jorge Masvidal might put me in that spot. I know it’s gonna be hard to get Khamzat an opponent – I don’t know that crazy talk with Nate Diaz, but I’m feeling it’s gonna be hard, so that’s why I want to get that fight done with Masvidal ASAP.”
Gilbert Burns’ plans include Jorge Masvidal then a Khamzat Chimaev rematch
