Gilbert Burns accuses Jorge Masvidal of using lotion or another substance to make himself slippery during their UFC 287 fight, impacting the outcome.
UFC fighter Gilbert Burns has accused Jorge Masvidal of using greasing tactics during their recent fight in Miami. Burns, who defeated Masvidal in the co-main event of UFC 287, said Masvidal felt “slippery” during the fight and believes he used a lotion to make it harder for his opponent to take him down or submit him. Burns said he knows “those old tricks those guys do” and that Masvidal likely applied lotion to his body after showering and then reapplied it every few hours.
Burns went on to say that Masvidal’s alleged greasing impacted the outcome of the fight, explaining that he would have finished Masvidal had he not been so slippery. He dominated Masvidal on the floor, but the lotion made it difficult for him to get the job done. Burns’ comments were made during the post-fight press conference.
The allegations against Masvidal have not been proven, and the UFC has not commented on the matter. Greasing, or applying a substance to the body to make it slippery or harder to hold onto, is against the UFC’s rules. The promotion has had multiple incidents involving greasing allegations in the past, including a high-profile case in 2009 when Georges St-Pierre was accused of greasing by opponent BJ Penn.
Burns’ win over Masvidal was a significant one for him and could have put him in line for a shot at the welterweight title. Masvidal, who had been on a hot streak prior to the loss, announced his retirement from the sport immediately after the fight. His alleged use of greasing tactics could cause some to question the legitimacy of his past wins and could lead to more scrutiny of fighters’ use of lotion or other substances in the future.