Gilbert Burns explains why he took 'big risk' in facing Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 273
BOCA RATON, Fla. – Gilbert Burns signed up for what many at the top of the UFC’s welterweight division were avoiding: a fight against Khamzat Chimaev.
The former UFC title challenger welcomes Chimaev to the elite of the division and looks to become the first person to hand the rising star his first defeat. The are set to meet on the pay-per-view main card of UFC 273 on April 9.
Burns (20-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC) sees Chimaev as a big gamble given there has yet to be a blueprint on how to beat the 27-year-old. But even then, there was never a thought of passing up the fight for Burns.
“I have two objectives in the UFC. The first is fight against the toughest in the division, and the second is become champion,” Burns told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “And to be champion you need to fight against whoever. I’m not going to be picking and choosing: ‘Oh I want this one, I want that one.’ No.
“Whoever the UFC puts in front of me, I’ll fight. I wanted to fight with Colby (Covington), but he had a fight, so Khamzat was the only one that wanted to fight. I know he’s a big risk and he’s No. 11 and very tough, but if I want to be champion, I need to fight everyone. I’m following the example of Glover Teixeira and Charles Oliveira. I need to fight everyone. He’s tough and a big risk, but I still want to fight him.”
Burns is coming off a dominant decision win over Stephen Thompson in July 2021 at UFC 264. It was his first fight since he came up short in his title fight against Champion Kamaru Usman in February 2021. The Brazilian is 7-1 in his past eight bouts and hasn’t lost to anyone outside of the champion in four years.
“Durinho” has his eyes set on a rematch with Usman. He’s determined to become champion and thinks he’s already making the changes needed to get that done.
“That’s my objective,” Burns said. “I made many mistakes against Kamaru and I was able to look at the fight and identify all the mistakes and see what I can do better. I’ve been working extremely hard to earn the next opportunity for the belt. I’m working really hard. So that’s my objective: take all challengers and wins and fight for the title.”