Gilbert Burns believes a spectacular finish against Jorge Masvidal at UFC 287 could make a case for him being the next welterweight title contender, despite Dana White’s support for Colby Covington.
Gilbert Burns may be the only welterweight who doesn’t fault Colby Covington for becoming the next No. 1 contender despite not competing for the past year. It was quite surprising when Dana White declared Covington next in line against UFC champion Leon Edwards, even with Belal Muhammad waiting in the wings with an impressive nine-fight unbeaten streak. While it would be understandable if Burns was upset given his status in the division, he won’t begrudge Covington for seizing the opportunity, but he still hopes that an emphatic win over Jorge Masvidal at UFC 287 changes the conversation.
“Colby was very smart,” Burns said. “I’ve got to give credit to this guy. Because one year [on the sidelines], he was supposed to be out of the rankings. He fought Masvidal last March 5, and out of the blue this guy goes there and does the weigh-ins and it’s like, wow, this guy is smart. I’ve got to give it to him. We’ll see what’s next. I think I have the opportunity to put doubt in Dana White, all the critics, all the fans, all the media, if I go out there and get a spectacular finish against Masvidal. I can make a case to be the next one for the title. If not 100 percent, you put a lot of doubts — ‘Burns is next.’ That’s in my power now. I’m working on it. I believe I can put a lot of doubts in these guys’ minds with my performance.”
Burns won’t complain about Covington getting a title shot, instead focusing on his opportunity to potentially change the narrative with his fight against Masvidal. Deep down, Burns wonders if the UFC struck a deal with Covington to allow the assault case to go away in exchange for a title shot. However, even if that turns out to be true, Burns won’t be angry about how Covington became part of the title fight conversation. “I don’t hate on Colby,” Burns said. “I don’t think he offered, ‘Hey, let me make weight [as a backup at UFC 286].’ I think something happened with the UFC that, Masvidal and Colby, both can’t fight, so I think it’s a good deal going on with these guys — they drop the charges, something like that.”
As Burns prepares for his fight at UFC 287, he actually points the blame at Edwards due to his shared history with Masvidal. Edwards’ claims that a Masvidal win at UFC 287 would put “Gamebred” on the champ’s wish-list for potential opponents means Burns must be hyperaware that he’s going to get the best out of Masvidal, especially with the chance to steal a title shot from Covington hanging in the balance. Burns promised he would try to make a statement at UFC 287, saying, “I want to savagely beat these guys.” He emphasizes that he wants to dominate his competition and earn more than just the two checks from a victory. “If I go there and get a decision against Masvidal, I’m going to be freaking mad. I don’t want that. I want to dominate him from the beginning to the end, knock him out, TKO or submission. That’s what I want to do. A decision isn’t going to make me happy.”