The fight that will define if Usman can keep the UFC welterweight title for the third time has been postponed or canceled on three different occasions. Another title fight at UFC 258 will see Amanda Nunes, who is top of the pound-for-pound women’s rankings, defending one of the two titles that she currently holds against UFC featherweight Megan Anderson.
The first time the UFC set Burns vs. Usman to face each other in the octagon was back in July, but Burns tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of the fight. Jorge Masvidal replaced Burns and was defeated via unanimous decision by the champion, Usman.
The UFC rescheduled the bout’s date to December 12, but Usman suffered an undisclosed injury and asked for more time to prepare. The promotion decided to make the UFC welterweight dispute happen on January 23 before ultimately changing it again to February 13.
Burns said that he is still waiting on a contract. However, the best ranked UFC welterweight contender is confident that it is in Dana White and the UFC’s interest to make the fight happen.
Burns had two fights this year, winning both. The first, against Demian Maia, came via knockout, and the most recent against Tyron Woodley was a unanimous decision by the judges. Burns has fought in the UFC welterweight division since 2014.
UFC welterweight Gilbert Burns was a Jiu-Jitsu World Champion before joining the UFC
An expert at grappling, the Brazilian UFC welterweight is a three-time Jiu-Jitsu World Champion and World Cup gold medalist. Two other Brazilians, UFC light heavyweight Ronaldo’ Jacare’ Souza, and former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum, are other notable UFC fighters to have finished at the top of these grappling tournaments before joining the promotion.
B.J. Penn, a former UFC welterweight champion, was the first American gold medalist of the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship. He also made history in the UFC, being the second fighter to win two different divisions.
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