UFC Fight Night 62 isn’t getting much fanfare, and it’s understandable considering the lack of star power on the card. But there are definitely a batch of intriguing prospects to watch out for on the card, and one of them is Gilbert Burns.
Burns, a 28-year-old Brazilian, trains out the Blackzilians gym in Boca Raton, Florida, and in a gym known for its high-end talent the undefeated mixed martial artist still stands out.
A black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and a multiple-time world champion in that martial art, Burns has looked sensational since debuting in MMA in 2012, going 9-0 with eight of those victories coming by way of stoppage. He is so far 2-0 in the UFC, earning a Performance of the Night award against Christos Giagos at UFC 179 in his UFC lightweight debut, as well as a decision victory over Andreas Stahl in his Octagon debut at UFC on FOX 12.
With three wins by knockout, five wins by submission, and an additional win on the judges’ scorecards, Burns has proven that he is a winner in this sport, and that he is definitely someone to watch out for in the near future within the UFC lightweight division. And there’s no doubt in my mind that the UFC matchmakers have noticed, based on who they originally booked him against for this card.
Until injuries took him out of the fight, former Strikeforce lightweight champion and perennial top-10 lightweight Josh Thomson was due to fight Burns. That bout represented by far the biggest test of Burns’ young career to date, but it also represented his biggest opportunity, as a win over Thomson would have shot Burns well into the top 15, and possibly, depending on whether he stopped Thomson or not, the top 10.
But as luck turned out, the 36-year-old Thomson pulled out with injuries with just a month until the bout, leaving Burns with little options for his opponent. He ended up being booked against UFC newcomer Alex Oliveira, and the two will clash on the main card in a fight Burns is a heavy favorite in.
While a win over a nobody like Oliveira won’t build up Burns in the eyes of most fans, it will keep him busy and active, and hopefully for his next fight the UFC will give him a step up, provided of course he wins this fight. To be honest, I don’t necessarily think Burns ever deserved a guy of Thomson’s caliber, but I understand what the promotion was trying to do with that. If Burns wins, hopefully another fighter in the top 15 becomes available for Burns, because this is a talented fighter that I truly believe in.
I’m not necessarily looking forward to Burns vs. Oliveira, just because I don’t think it’s a competitive fight, but hey, at the end of the day watching a guy like Burns is a treat, and if he can pull another Performance of the Night out of his bag of tricks, I’ll go home a happy fan. So keep your eye out for Burns, because this is one talented mixed martial artist. I’m pretty sure you could soon be seeing him fight the best of the best — and then we’ll find out exactly what he’s made of.
• Gilbert Burns vs. Alex Oliveira
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UFC Fight Night 62: Maia vs. LaFlare (formerly UFC Fight Night 62: Faber vs. Assuncao) takes place on March 21, 2015 at Maracanazinho Gymnasium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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